
Artist Statement:
“Local Support” is an artwork inspired by the magic of our immediate surroundings, and celebrates our local, natural area. Often overlooked, beautiful Ohio rocks are delicately wrapped in colorful yarn to draw your attention, like little gifts. All the yarn was sourced from Southern Ohio homesteads that raise sheep and alpacas. I corresponded with the homesteaders, I learned the animals’ names. We connected and supported each other during this project.
While some of the yarn has been left its natural color, others have been dyed using natural materials: avocados, onion skins, red cabbage, madder, lac, marigolds, weld, and dandelions. There is an abundance of versatile plants that can be used in so many ways! This piece highlights the beautiful colors of nature through the dyed yarns, while celebrating the subtle and important elements of nature.
Wrapping the rocks was a meditative process. By holding each rock and turning it over in my hands, I paid attention to their unique details and thought about how each natural element in our world plays an important part in our ecosystem. I hope visitors take some time to pause and appreciate the beauty of nature all around them. And that beauty can spread. Take a rock, move a rock, give a rock.
The materials were fun to work with, I learned a lot, and I’ve grown in my appreciation for what resources, opportunities, and materials we have right in our own backyard.
Thank you to Ironhorse Homestead, Red Flower Farms, and Tarheelbilly Farm for the gorgeous yarn from your adorable animals.
Photo Gallery
Meet the artist:

Mallory Feltz
Mallory Feltz is a visual artist who has always enjoyed building things and is interested in a wide variety of materials. She earned her BFA in Sculpture from University of Cincinnati, DAAP (2006), and MFA in Sculpture at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, LA (2009).
Intrigued by themes of domesticity, family dynamics, and childhood memories, Mallory mixes traditional sculptural and craft techniques with multiples-based sculptures, participatory artworks, and installations. Her work has been exhibited locally and nationally. In 2017, Mallory was chosen as one of 35 international artists to create a light-based sculptural installation in the inaugural BLINK Cincinnati, and was selected again to create artwork for BLINK 2019. Mallory has two permanent outdoor sculptures – in Hamilton, OH and Brookline, NH. For the month of February 2022 she was an artist in residency at Olive Stack Gallery in Listowel, Ireland. She lives in Cincinnati, Ohio with her husband and dog, and is the Director of Exhibitions & Public Art at Kennedy Heights Arts Center.
You can view more of her work on her website www.malloryfeltz.com