Fiber obsessions run rampant in The Wall Street Journal

I always joke that fiber is my alphabet. I can say an unlimited range of things. It can be friendly or aggressive, very sexy or totally pure. It goes from the absolute minimalistic to this intricate, laced, chaotic world.
— Sheila Hicks, artist

I am thrilled to see this article in The Wall Street Journal. The art world's new obsession is fiber! It's very exciting to see so many Bay Area connections like Josh Faught who lives and teaches here and Margo Wolowiec who completed her MFA at California College of the Arts. I can relate to the desire to feel the fibers. They deserve all of this attention.

 Read "The Art World's New Material Obsession: Fiber" in The Wall Street Journal here.

Clockwise from top left: A selection of fiber-based works by artists Sheila Hicks and Ann Cathrin November Høibo; ‘Nudes 9,’ one of Erin M. Riley’s selfie-inspired tapestries, made of wool and cotton; a work by Igshaan Adams; Graham Wilson’s ‘Tunnel…

Clockwise from top left: A selection of fiber-based works by artists Sheila Hicks and Ann Cathrin November Høibo; ‘Nudes 9,’ one of Erin M. Riley’s selfie-inspired tapestries, made of wool and cotton; a work by Igshaan Adams; Graham Wilson’s ‘Tunnel Vision’ made with oil, twine and canvas; a work by Margo Wolowiec. Image courtesy of the WSJ.

Talk on September 4th in Lincoln, NE

 

 

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"There is something better to aim for, and that is soul. Or heart. Or something."

Lynley of Lynley Quilts blog has posted an honest and wonderful review of Unconventional & Unexpected. I love how she talks about how the book pushes her creative process and spurs new thinking about quiltmaking!

Read Lynley's review on her blog here.

Fret Not Yourself visits Found/Made

Pools of light emphasized the rich colors and textures of the quilts and brought the soft patinas of the wood into focus. I was especially struck by the quilts he hung as if they were on a clothesline blowing in the breeze. Obviously, that image evokes strong, early family memories for both of us.
— Ann of Fret Not Yourself

I had the loveliest time touring Ann and her friends through Found/Made at the San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles. She wrote beautifully about the exhibition in her blog, Fret Not Yourself.

Read Ann's article on Fret Not Yourself here.

Be sure to check out Found/Made before it closes on November 1, 2015.

Found/Made featured as part of SoFA Sunday

I had the distinct privilege of leading a lecture of Found/Made which included words from the artists and collectors whose pieces are in the exhibition. I was delighted that this lecture on a Sunday afternoon was part of a larger celebration of the arts and culture happening in San Jose as part of SoFA Sundays. 

Read about SoFA Sundays and see images from the talk here in the San Jose Mercury News. Be sure to check out Found/Made before it closes on November 1, 2015.

Guest Curater Roderick Kiracofe talks to exhibit guests during the opening reception at the "Found/Made" exhibition at the San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles during the first SoFA Sundays, in San Jose, Calif., on Sunday, July 26, 2015. (Josie …

Guest Curater Roderick Kiracofe talks to exhibit guests during the opening reception at the "Found/Made" exhibition at the San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles during the first SoFA Sundays, in San Jose, Calif., on Sunday, July 26, 2015. (Josie Lepe/Bay Area News Group)

About three years ago, the city and arts groups decided that the forgotten, triangular park dedicated to the city’s founders should become an open, urban square for artistic activities from music and poetry to fabric art and drama. The city did the spade work, beautifying the place, while the arts groups planned the programming.

The groups include the San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art, Museum of Quilts & Textiles, MACLA and two theater companies, San Jose Stage and City Lights. When all decided recently to open their doors every Sunday, they came up with SoFA Sundays — once a month — to give their patrons something to do before or after in the new square.
— Joe Rodriguez, San Jose Mercury News

"All bets are off wherever you may roam."

Textiles has allowed me to combine my varied interests into an art form that fuses fashion, art, and most importantly function together in one piece.
— Ben Venom to Content Magazine

Content Magazine visited Ben Venom's work in Found/Made. Because Content is a magazine that covers the innovative and creative culture of Silicon Valley, it is easy to see why they are interested in Ben's work.

Read the article in Content Magazine here.

Image courtesy of Content Magazine

Image courtesy of Content Magazine

Material Obsession visits Found/Made

This is an experience NOT to be missed no matter what kind of quilter you are... traditional, modern... art or crafty... beginner or experienced.
— Kathy Doughty of Material Obsession

I had the loveliest time taking Kathy Doughty and friends through Found/Made at the San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles. I'm thrilled that she would include her thoughts on both the exhibition and Unconventional & Unexpected in her dynamic blog, Material Obsession. It's amazing to see others respond to the quilts and the artwork in the same way that I do: as a treasure seeker, wondering what the quiltmaker was thinking, enjoying and questioning tradition. Thank you to Kathy and everyone at Material Obsession.

Read in Material Obsession what Kathy has to say about Found/Made.

 

Found/Made is open until November 1, 2015 at the San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles.