Weaving Looms over Boise with Barbara Balkin

Barbara Balkin’s artistic journey began in childhood, nurtured by family outings to L.A. museums, botanical gardens, and countless camping trips. “My interest in art began as a child,” she reflects, “inspired by frequent family excursions... and lots of camping trips.” That early spark led her to a degree in Interior and Environmental Design from UCLA, laying the foundation for a career that would span interior design, ceramic tableware, fiber art, and teaching.

Her work has graced the pages of Bon Appétit, Good Housekeeping, L.A. Daily News, and Boise Weekly, and she’s decorated sets for Disney Studios and commercials for General Electric, Vons, and Kraft Foods. “It was quite thrilling... to visit Neiman Marcus in Beverly Hills, and see my ceramic teapots on the shelf there.” Yet accolades have never dulled her hands-on, humorous approach.

Teaching is central to her practice. “The Studio started in 2008 as a summer art camp in Studio City, California, where the children entered through a back gate. Get it?” she laughs. After relocating to Boise in 2010, Back Gate Studio blossomed into a welcoming space for all ages and abilities. “Everyone has the capacity to create,” she insists. “I enjoy sharing the creative process with others.”

Nature is both her muse and medium. “Being a fiber and mixed media artist, and surrounded by the stunning natural environment of Idaho, I can’t help but incorporate nature’s elements into my woven wall hangings.” Her looms are often crafted from y-shaped branches or repurposed objects. “Lately, I weave on bicycle wheels, wood tennis rackets, farm tools, and old metal sprockets,” she says with a grin. “Just in case you come across a vintage car grill... please give me a call! Really... I mean it.”

Her process is intuitive and ever evolving. “With an idea of the final design, the work changes and is constantly informed by the individual character of the fibers... Some ideas work as expected; some do not. And that’s where my fun begins and new ideas are explored.”

Barbara’s humor extends to the business side of art. “I would never do retail again... especially when I’m the one making the product. If I was smart, I would have invited other artists in and charged them a rental fee.”

Ultimately, her work invites viewers to reconnect with the natural world. “I hope my art is a way for others to enjoy nature while indoors, sparking memories of landscapes they have visited, and compelling them to spend more time experiencing the magnificence of the outdoors.”

In September, Barbara's art will be featured at Catalyst Arts Collaborative as Artist of the Month. Join us on First Thursday, 9/4, from 5-7pm to get 10% off Barbara's work in Catalyst's gift shop!

From fiber to found objects, Barbara Balkin continues to weave together intrigue, humor, and the beauty of nature one imaginative loom at a time.