de Dieu [from God] - Marie Noelle Fontan Natural Textiles Artist

Today I had the pleasure of not only meeting natural textiles artist Marie Noelle Fontan, but I also had the pleasure of helping her put together a slide show of her art for my class. Oh ... my ... God. There were moments that I nearly stopping breathing. Forever. Like - I was so satisfied seeing her art that I would've been ok dying at that moment. Really.

Marie Noelle is from France and spends a couple of months out of the year living in Antigua. Her happening to be in Antigua at the same time our class - and her visiting our class to give a presentation - was a such a gift.

When I say "natural textiles artist" I mean this: Marie Noelle collects nature from around the world, and weaves it directly into a composition using the loom that her Mom used to make her clothes when she was a young child. You heard me: She uses nature she finds - coconut, leaves, husks, beans, sticks ... etc - and weaves them into a delicate 'textile.'

Her art is perfectly composed, and uses the natural form of her findings to create beautifully gestural, perfectly delicate, and incredibly graceful pieces. Breath-taking really. And I just saw photos.

And Marie Noelle is just like her art - beautifully composed, humble, and full of grace. I have died and gone to heaven.

Marie Noelle giving the presentation:


Some of her work I pulled off her website:









Olga, Marie Noelle, and Me (a truly prized photo):