If you’re in Albuquerque this summer and can get thee to the Fabric of New Mexico textile arts exhibit, get thee there for sure! It’s a très classy show. Below you’ll find some highlights from the opening night reception.
“This exhibit stretches the limits of fiber art to celebrate the full range of innovative creativity in fabric, including quilting, macramé, embroidery, rug hooking, and work with plastics, paper, metal, and wire. Curated by artist Martin Terry as part of the Two Moons exhibit series, the Fabric of New Mexico [includes] over 20 contemporary fiber artists working in New Mexico today.”
Find the full schedule of related events including fiber art workshops and demos at FUSIONnm.org. More info HERE.
Three of my pieces are in the Fabric of New Mexico show: WHIMSY up above, HOLES, and a couple of segments from the RIBBON RUG JOURNAL.
Several mixed media pieces by Kathryn Lazier.Kathryn Lazier’s GREENMAN (felt; fabrics; yarn; dyed, moldable batting; machine and hand stitching; fabric stiffener)
BALLET FOLKLORICO OUTFIT / TRADITIONAL CHIAPAS TOP AND SKIRT provided by Sally Moon of W!ild Moon; handmade in Chiapas, Mexico.
LA CHURRITA with maker Vivienne Riggio. (Papier mache head and horns; raw churro sheep’s wool; upcycled textiles and necklace.)
MISSING by Carol Sullivan (Wooden disc; milk carton with typing; wooden stick with smooth, multicolored cotton; twine; beige suede; red permanent marker; crystals; bone mutton; various findings; red suede; metal wolf; black permanent marker on white cotton; feathers; gold pin; red bandana; gold pin; acrylic batting.)
WEAVING THROUGH TIME by Sara Miller. (Acrylic paint; wool felt; cotton fabric; wool and silk roving; rayon thread.)
DAY by Mika Maloney. (Merino wool yarn (with cotton/poly cord); scrap leather; dried flowers on driftwood.)
AUTUMN LEAVES by Terri Lagerway. (Weaving on branch.)
BEE PEACEFUL by Patricia Halloran. (Wire; wet and needle felted wool felt; embroidery floss; recycled cotton backing and stuffing.)
WAVES by Maria Jonsson. (Recycled metal; magnet wire.)
SIPHONOPHORE by Betty Busby. (Artit overpainted cotton batik; machine stitching; artist painted linen; cotton knit; EVA foam; paint marker; hand stitchin with perle cotton thread.)
FANTASY GARDEN, freeform crochet, by members of the New Mexico Crochet Guild.ALCHEMY (part of a pair) by Laurie McCann. (Wire grid and wire mesh; Chinese pot lids; yarn; coins.)JELLIES (part of a pair) by Laurie McCann. (Wire grid and wire mesh; Chinese pot lids; yarn; coins.)
And lastly, WHY NOT GO OUT ON A LIMB by Molly Mooney. Tom and I liked this one soooo much that we’re purchasing it. It’s going to look perfect in our living room, currently dominated by a large TV. (Found tree branch; hand-dyed wool fiber; found and repurposed bells; beads and ceramic pieces; sari fabrics; ribbons.)
“Holes” – mostly repurposed textiles hand-hooked on monk’s cloth; 68″x33″x0.75″
The Fabric of New Mexico exhibit opens Friday, July 1 at Fusion in downtown Albuquerque. All are cordially invited to the opening reception, 5:30-8:00 p.m.
This exhibit stretches the limits of fiber art to celebrate the full range of innovative creativity in fabric, including quilting, macramé, embroidery, rug hooking, and work with plastics, paper, metal, and wire. Curated by artist Martin Terry, the show includes work by twenty New Mexico artists including Sara Miller, Larry Schulte, Betty Busby and Judith Roderick.
More information about Fusion can be found HERE. Also, the gallery will be open for the Summer Sundays Markets, Last Fridays (of each month), theater events, and concerts. See EVENTS. If you can’t make it to the gallery any of those days, please contact High on Hooking, and we can have the gallery opened up for a private viewing.
Note: Parking is available just across the street in the city parking lot.
Learn All About Global Textile Hub ‘s 2021 Juried Virtual Exhibition “Re-Imagined,” a Collaboration with a Difference-
Make the Ordinary Extraordinary!
IN THE STUDIO WITH GLOBAL TEXTILE HUB – AUGUST 26, 2020; 7-8 PM EASTERN (5-6 PM MOUNTAIN); Brought to us by Karen Miller Studio.
Note that this is a “special” IN THE STUDIO to take place in the evening in North America. It is also a free event, but you must reserve a place. See info below.
The exhibition theme “Make the Ordinary Extraordinary” challenges textile artists from around the world to collaborate with each other or artists from other disciplines. The aim is to promote the diversity of textile art practices.
Jo Franco and Judi Tompkins, two of the three Australian organizers (with Kira Mead) are pioneers and innovators for textile exhibitions in a virtual online gallery – Global Textile Hub. Their first juried show featured Southern Hemisphere fiber artists using a variety of rug making techniques with mixed media. This premiered in 2018, as the 2021 exhibit will, with a launch during Sauder Village Rug Hooking Week in August. Susan Feller is the lead juror of three discussing what the judges will review.
A Virtual Exhibition format is not a simple slide show of entries. The viewer will be able to “tour” the gallery exploring each entry and turning corners to see more. Artist statements and descriptions tell the stories of the makers and the “third” artist the collaboration created.
“Re-imagined” a Collaboration with a Difference – Make the Ordinary Extraordinary is a 2021 Juried Virtual Exhibition coordinated by the GlobalTextileHub.com.
Call for entries deadline Sept 30, 2020.
Opening Date 11th August 2021.
IMPORTANT: This talk will be held on August 27, at 7:00-8:00 pm EASTERN. This is a free, but ticketed event and you must reserve your ticket before the event using the link in this event. Find tickets on the Eventbrite page. After purchase, Eventbrite will send you an email with the link. If you do not receive this after purchasing, look in your spam filter as it may be there. On the day and the time of the talk, you will use the link in the Eventbrite email to access the talk. You may be asked to log into Eventbrite so keep a note of the email address that you used and your password. Also, if you are not familiar with Zoom and how it works you may want to go to the Zoom website where there are free online tutorials of the Zoom features.
In the Studio FAQ’s: PLEASE READ
* Will this talk be recorded for viewing later?
Unfortunately, no. Due to the logistics involved, we decided some time ago to keep these events live. Hopefully if you can’t make it to this talk, you’ll be able to make it to a future talk.
* Help! I bought a ticket and I can’t find the link. Now what?
It is strongly advised that you log in, or make an Eventbrite account, BEFORE purchasing tickets. This will help to avoid any problems with accessing the link on the day of the event. On the day of the event, you will need to LOG INTO YOUR EVENTBRITE ACCOUNT to use the event Zoom link. If you are having trouble finding the link, look at the top of your Eventbrite account and click on your profile. A drop down menu will appear and you will see a link for “tickets”. Clicking on this will give you access to all of the tickets you have purchased and you will easily be able to access the link that way.
* It’s the day of the talk and I’m having trouble finding or using the link for the talk. How can I find help?
It is very advisable to LOG INTO THE EVENT A FEW MINUTES EARLY to be sure that you have no trouble with the link, and if you are having trouble the organizer can help you out. You can email or message the event organizer up until 12:30pm Eastern on the day of the talk for help. ONCE THE EVENT STARTS, however, messages and emails are not able to be monitored.
* I’m finding it distracting during the talk seeing all of the other participants on my screen. What can I do?
During the event the organizer will put the screen setting on “spotlight view” so that the presenter is the focus on your screen. Depending on your device, you may still see audience members on your screen and changing your setting from “gallery view” to “speaker view” should help with that.
Susan Feller walks you through what you need to know about exhibiting your artwork.
IN THE STUDIO WITH SUSAN FELLER – JULY 22, 2020; 1-2 PM EASTERN (11-NOON MOUNTAIN)
West Virginian artist Susan Feller approaches exhibiting artwork from a variety of experiences: as a gallery owner, as a juror, as a curator of event collections and online exhibits, and as an artist. This presentation will help anyone in those categories to prepare and evaluate their art for exhibit. Not planning an exhibit? In the very least, you’ll come out with an appreciation for the preparation involved.
An artist’s journey is extensive: from building up a body of work and joining arts organizations to submitting entries to shows and proposals for solo exhibits, and then perhaps working with galleries and museum curators. In addition, artists must deal with acceptance AND rejection of their work. Making art is only a small part of an artists journey.
Using her own upcoming solo exhibit as an example, Susan will address what’s required from exhibit invitation to show opening. She’ll comment on writing an artist’s statement. She’ll touch on guidelines to follow for the various venues available: galleries, museums, events, and even virtual online presentations.
Bring your questions! Possible topics can include: selecting a theme for an exhibit; pricing your artwork; gallery promotion; what jurors look for when selecting work for shows, and choosing images of your work to submit to calls for entry. I bet you can come up with others.
Susan L. Feller is an award winning fibre artist, author, and teacher. She is a frequent contributor to Rug Hooking Magazine and has had her work featured in, and been a judge for, their Celebration of Hand-Hooked Rugs annual publications. Susan frequently exhibits her work across North America. You can learn more about Susan and see her work at www.artwools.com, or follow her on Facebook at Susan L. Feller Artwools and on Instagram @artwools
Looking forward to seeing you there!
IMPORTANT: This talk will be held on July 22, at 1:00-2:00 pm EASTERN. This is a ticketed event ($6 Canadian) and you must purchase your ticket before the event using the link in this event. Find tickets on the Eventbrite page. After purchase, Eventbrite will send you an email with the link. If you do not receive this after purchasing, look in your spam filter as it may be there. On the day and the time of the talk, you will use the link in the Eventbrite email to access the talk. You may be asked to log into Eventbrite so keep a note of the email address that you used and your password. It is advisable to log into the talk a few minutes early so that if you have any trouble with the link you will have time to fix it before the talk begins. Also, if you are not familiar with Zoom and how it works you may want to go to the Zoom website where there are free online tutorials of the Zoom features.
Who would’ve thunk that a t-shirt artist would be featured in a nearby gallery? Thanks to friend and guild-mate Nancy, I thunk thought it and was able to see the exhibit before it closes come March 23. Thanks so much, Nancy!
If you’re interested in fiber art at all and are near Santa Fe before March 23, I urge you to take an hour or so and head to form & concept, a gallery you can easily find on South Guadalupe Street in the Railyard District. Warning: You’re gonna love the gallery and will need more time.
The t-shirt artist in question is Nika Feldman. BTW, she not only considers herself to be a fiber artist, but a rag picker as well. Bless her heart; I know where she’s coming from. (Have you seen my rugs hooked out of recycled t-shirts? Bed sheets?) I had a great time looking at the various pieces, which are made of recycled t-shirts, pop tabs, and embroidery (which she’s very good at).
Here is an example of one of Feldman’s t-shirt pieces: “Hooded Cape.” (Photo courtesy of form & concept Gallery.) Yes, it’s comprised of nothing but old t-shirts, pull tabs, and stitchery!
While Feldman calls t-shirts the most ubiquitous – and cheapest – universal clothing made by Western culture, and that’s true, I’m not sure that I agree with her that the shirts are always recognizable even when cut up and taken apart. I know that I regularly have to tell folks that many of my rugs are hooked from old t-shirts. And the disbelief that they mouth. Granted, my strips are looped; some of hers hang free. Still, given what Feldman does with hers… The embellishments, especially when one sees her prowess with a needle and thread, are fantastic.
I fully concur with her message and only wish that I could state what I’m trying to do with my own art so succinctly:
The message…she said, has to do with modern North America’s mass production systems.
“It’s disposability, it’s like how we can make life more convenient, and more convenient, and more convenient?” she said of the narratives that this continent’s clothing conveys. “It comes at an unsustainable cost to the Earth.”
Fast fashion that often falls apart – have you ever wondered why that trendy tank top developed a hole after only one wash? – is a big part of the fashion industry’s unsustainability. That and our culture’s fickle fashion sense are why Feldman and I can both find so many t-shirts to use in our artwork. Savers, Goodwill, friends and relatives can supply us with all we need.
The pieces in the exhibit are “garment-like” rather than actual garments. This, according to Feldman, allows us to look deeper at them and to see them as art rather than just wearable fashion to be purchased and then put on. (For how long?) Indeed, she spent time in the fashion industry earlier in her career(s). I find that an interesting idea especially since my own goal when hooking a rug with t-shirts and other recycled materials is that it also be usable – as a rug, a table runner, or what-have-you. Regardless, I very much enjoyed looking at Feldman’s art, and I encourage you to make a run to Santa Fe before it disappears.
The exhibit by Nike Feldman is called Spirits in the Material World. It’s at form & concept on South Guadalupe in Santa Fe till March 23.
“I was so into fiber, because of its comforting and protective qualities, but at the same time it is a medium associated with struggle and women’s work,” she says. “Then I got into the whole concept of felt, because it’s incredibly strong but it presents in this soft, vulnerable way.” The artist’s mastery of the medium and her emotional language-building express the deeply personal in a way that holds broader relevance to humanity, voicing ideas about growth, human connection and personhood.
