Book of the Month

Betsy Greer, ed. Craftivism: The Art of Craft and Activism (2014, Arsenal Pulp Press, Vancouver). Front cover, a textile trompe l’oeil, with the image actually printed on a flat sheet of heavy paper.

Craftivism: The Art of Craft and Activism edited by Betsy Greer describes more textile and fiber pieces than any other medium. If you want to understand the lifelong impact that a communal art/craft project can have, just read the essay in this excellent book by L.J. Roberts on her experience of walking through the NAMES Quilt on the Washington mall when she was a young teenager. Namita Gupta Wiggers sums up the power (and yes, potential fun) of Craftivism on the back cover: “Betsy Greer reminds us that revolutions are small before they are grand. In the spirit of craftivism, she gives voice to others, sharing their stories to demonstrate how collaborations—as much as action and listening—can effect change.”

Lesley Turner, Forest Reliquary [top half], 2014 (28 x 16 in.), vintage tablecloth, earth dyes, leaf skeletons, deer bones, maple samaras, fern spores; earth dyeing, spore printing, hand stitching.

Surface Design Association Show Touring Canada

Edge of the Forest features textile art by 53 Canadian makers working in printing, felting, quilting, weaving, various types of hand stitching, and other techniques. As the artists engaged with the sylvan theme of the show, they produced textured, colorful works resplendent with images and intimations of leaves, branches, bark, twigs, flowers, etc. The next venue to host the exhibition is located in Victoria, BC.

http://edgeoftheforest.ca/

Heather Debreuil, Open Window – Cesis, 2014 (24 x 18 in.), hand-dyed batik, cotton, Misty Fuse. Inspired by a photograph by Lauma Cenne.

Heather Debreuil Solo Exhibition

This seems to be a month for Canadian artists! Currently on view at AOE Gallery in the Shenkman Arts Center, Ottawa, is Cityscapes: Collages in Cloth and Stitch by Heather Debreuil. Her very graphic imagery interprets ordinary urban scenes, imbuing them with an iconic presence via her own hand-dyed cotton and bold stitching. The show, presenting 47 pieces, runs through March 13.

www.artsoe.ca

Ebony G. Patterson, installation view from Dead Treez at the Museum of Arts and Design. Photo: Butcher Walsh © Museum of Arts and Design.

 Ebony G. Patterson at the Museum of Art and Design, New York

Patterson is one of my favorite artists in the infamous Saatchi collection, working with painting, mixed-media installations, and jacquard photo tapestries. She lives in Jamaica, her place of birth, and Kentucky, teaching painting at the University of Kentucky in Lexington. Her ironically ornamental images and objects at MAD until April 3 concern gender, race, and inequality. This exciting artist is only in her mid-thirties and I’m very curious to see how her work evolves. Patterson’s exhibition Dead Treez is her first solo show at a museum in New York City.

http://madmuseum.org/exhibition/ebony-g-patterson-dead-treez

Cover (detail), Afghanistan, 1900-1950 (silk, wool, cotton; patchwork). The Textile Museum, Washington, D.C. Gift of James W. Lankton.

 Central Asian Textiles on View in Washington, D.C.

One year ago, The Textile Museum’s new building at George Washington University opened, with an impressive 53,000 square feet of galleries. On view until May 29 is a monumental exhibition Old Patterns, New Order: Socialist Realism in Central Asia. While the title may seem a bit dry, the textiles are eye-popping and the museum web site provides an informative gallery guide. (If only all museums could offer their gallery guides online!) Soviet influence in central Asia introduced modernist ideals, and the exhibition grapples with the tension between these ideals and the cultural identity of textile producers.

http://museum.gwu.edu/old-patterns

Creativity Workshop: Art Quilt Inspirations

The rumor is correct! I am finally teaching a week-long workshop based on ten years of critique experience. Coming in late September, Creativity Workshop: Art Quilt Inspirations, with a maximum of only twelve participants. For more information and to register for my workshop, go to:

Stony Point Center

This entry was posted on Sunday, February 28th, 2016 at 11:04 am and is filed under Textile & Fiber Art. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.