Today we’d like to introduce you to Janet Petrell.
Hi Janet, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My journey into using zipper teeth as paint, began in 1979, as a challenge in 4-H to recycle a common household item at would be thrown away after it’s intended use was fulfilled. It was an Earth Day challenge so I looked at egg cartons, soda pop bottles and felt little inspiration but then I looked at my growing pile of broken zippers that came from my sewing and I began to see Pussy Willows. After this simple start, I started to experiment with designs, different types of zippers, canvas materials to constantly evolve my artform. I use glue to sketch out my pieces and then I use what zippers I have on hand to dictate what I can create from my imagination. I like to use metal to reflect movement, thickness of the zipper to provide shadowing and depth, and the colors. Zippers come in every color known. I often get asked if I paint my zippers. No. But a challenge is that every red zipper is not the same even though its red. What keeps me creating with zippers are thinking of new designs, sizes, shapes, and different canvas materials like mirrors, glass, floppy discs, and ceramic.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I have not been able to create very much during the COVID pandemic and during unsettling socio-economic events. I get too overwhelmed and find that art does not heal my worries so I travel to find more inspiration or change my environment so I can create again. I have created zipperart in Singapore, Belize and Finland. Like an artist with an easel in the garden, I am creating with a canvas, glue, scissors and zippers. Creating my art also takes a toll on my body. Repetitive cutting of zippers causes swelling in my thumb joint and strain in my elbow. I have never used toxic glue to adhere my zippers so I have not exposed myself to dangerous chemicals on my skin and fumes.
Other challenges that I have was to break through been taken seriously as an artform. It is also a challenge to declare that I am not a multimedia, textile or 2D piece of artwork. I am my own unique “other” and many art fairs and exhibits do not understand that a medium can truly fulfill an “other category”.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
When I was 26, I was diagnosed with inoperable advanced cancer. I was facing treatment to reduce a cancer tumor the size of a basketball. I volunteered for a clinical research study with increased the amount of treatment that I would receive over the standard of care. I went through three months of hell and came through with being told that I was cancer free. This experience profoundly changed me. I realized that the only thing that you have in this world that is truly yours is what is in your memories and heart. So I started a career as being a clinical research professional, bringing new cancer therapies to patients just like me to save their lives and traveling the world. My art helped me along the way as an outlet to release the pressures of my work and sadness with a therapy did not work as expected.
I had a 15 year break from zipperart after my cancer treatment. During this time period, my mother took up creating art from zippers. I decided to help her. I cleaned up pieces, framed them, prepped them for sale, found promotion, sale outlets and exhibitions. I also went through great lengths to find her broken zippers to use for her art. She created art up to just before death. Then after she died, I looked at all of the zippers that I had found for her and did not have the heart to give up on the art form so I started creating again.
What am I most proud of? I love that I create art from an object that otherwise would have ended up in a landfill. I love that people bring me zippers that their mother or grandmother gently ripped out of clothing to be used again but as artwork. I love that when people see my art, they want to touch it, admire it and make it their own. I love that my art transcends language and culture. I have exhibited my art around the world. I did a four city tour of Finland in November of 2024. My art was exhibited in Pori, Turku, Helsinki and Hollola. I was expecting to hear different comments then what I normally hear while exhibiting in the USA but it was the same- are these beads, where did you get this idea, I never thought that zippers could be used in this way, and my usual all time heard comment is “I have never seen this before”.
What sets me apart from others? I am apart of of an artist group, The Art League of Cheatham County, Tennessee. Every year we have an juried art exhibit of our members. We have painters, sculptures, photographers, weavers, printers, potters, and me. We compete against each other for prize money. I usually do not have any expectations because the categories of this competition are 2d, 3d, photography and student artist. I always complain that my art should not compete against 2d artists and it is not 3d and certainly not photography but I entered as a 2d with little expectation of winning anything. I do it because it challenges me to create a piece for competition instead of a sale. So, the competition also had a “people choice ” award which had the second largest money prize. While driving to the event, I complained to my husband that I would not win any award that evening but I was attending to see everyone’s work and support my fellow members. The final two awards were to be announced and my name was not mentioned until the People’s Choice award was announced- it was me. Someone who had no recognition in the community and a art form that was not painted, printed or sculpted.
I do not attend a lot of juried art fairs like full time artists attending events every weekend. It takes me a long time to create my art. I have to gather the zippers, cut the cloth away from the zipper teeth, clean up loose threads, figure out my design, find the size and shape of my canvas, and then the creating process- I glue each zipper to the canvas which take time for the glue to dry before I can place another zipper. A large piece like 4 feet by 4 feet takes 4 months of non-stop work to create and over a thousand zippers. But, I do randomly attend local events, and I have heard visitors to my booth exclaim, I remember you- you are the zipper artist! I just love your work. Where have you been?
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I get the majority of my zippers from people taking the time to send or personally give me zippers. One of my sources has been a developmental group home from my home area of Eveleth, Minnesota. The residents get discarded clothing from Goodwill and shred them into rags and they remove the zippers for me. They take the time to remove the cloth from the zipper teeth. They come to me with the pulls still intact so I have removed the zipper pulls and send them to another artist based in Venice Beach, California who creates art pieces from the pulls.
My friends and family have helped me to “process” my zippers by cutting away the cloth. I actually use the cloth to create cat toys-having to throw something away- not in my ethics.
Fellow artist have given me design inspiration ideas. My husband and his cousin have made frames for me. I have had my friends help me sell my art at events and set up exhibits.
I have taught my zipperart technique to my Great Nephew who has made his own pieces that have sold along mine. I hope that after I pass, that he will continue this unique artform. I also have mentioned my mother and my collaboration with her in a previous passage.
Pricing:
- $40 for 4 x 4
- $65 for 4 x 6
- $90 for 8 x 10
- $250 for 18 x 20
- $500 to $12,000 for larger sizes
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.zipperworks.com
- Instagram: Zipperworks
- Facebook: Zipperworks
- LinkedIn: Janet R Petrell
