There is meaning woven into the fiber of Seth Damm’s art. His colorfully dyed cotton rope creations speak a subtle language of artistry, history and culture. And the rope’s pull has commanded Damm’s attention for more than a decade spent exploring the potential of every strand.
A Seattle native, Damm’s early work focused on media including painting and printmaking, but a friend’s invitation to join a Marfa, TX jewelry show would transform his career. With three weeks to prepare a collection, Damm, who had “never even thought of making anything wearable or jewelry related,” entered new territory. “Sometimes as an artist, those are the scariest places but also where… a part of my brain clicks in, and it becomes very open to possibilities around me.”
He bought a box of raw cotton rope and found “love at first sight.” As he recalls, “I liked the smell of it, the feel of it. There was something intriguing there. I just started to play with it, put it on my body, and try to figure out how to turn it into something. That was the beginning. Very quickly people were interested in it in a way I had never had with anything else I had made.”
Early shows sparked interest among collectors, fashion insiders, and store owners, including high-end retailers like Barney’s. Neon Zinn (a nod to historian and social justice advocate Howard Zinn) gained a following, with works appearing on television shows, fashion runways, and in Architectural Digest (featuring Damm’s recent work for interiors – a collection of large-format pieces designed to be stretched and pinned as wall hangings).
Today, Damm lives and creates in New Orleans. He feels grateful for the rope that’s held him. “I have found a thing that actually allowed me to commit to it [for 12 years] which I think is a rare opportunity… Luckily, I jumped on it when I had the chance because at the time… I felt it could slip away pretty easily if I didn’t tell this inanimate thing, ‘I care about you, and I want to see where this could take us.’”
Neon Zinn pieces are available locally at the Good Shop and online through the brand’s website, neonzinnn.com, and Instagram @neonzinn.
