Christine Mauersberger

Small Sketches in stitch this past week

2012-02-16T10:54:00.000-05:00

These are sketches created over the last weekend.

I've been reading about structures, both cellular and crystalline. These are 2 small stitched pieces that came from my thoughts.

I don't usually use hand-dyed fabrics or commercially dyed fabrics, although I do advocate for using what one has on hand. The colored pieces are from scraps I collected from an acquaintance.
I will most likely use eco-dyed bits and pieces for a more-fully-realized artwork.

Intimate Stitches - Fiber Philadelphia

2012-02-10T09:19:00.003-05:00

Thanks to an invitation from fellow fiber artist, Erin Endicott , and gallerist Bruce Hoffman, I'll have 3 works in this show at Kellijane during FiberPhiladelphia.

If you're in or near Philadelphia, PA, there are many textiles exhibits at a variety of venues to see. I wish I could go, but my work will be there for me. This is the first time my work travel outside Ohio. woot!

I'll post the works after the show opens on March 2, 2012

Cheers!
C

George Mauersberger

2012-02-06T10:26:00.003-05:00

George Mauersberger from CPAC on Vimeo.

George is one of 20 artists who won a Creative Workforce Fellowship with a super nice financial award.

This is a terrific program. I live in the only County in the United States that awards artists a grant of this size and scope!

See more of George's work here.

Work in Progress this week

2012-01-29T09:03:00.000-05:00

A few pieces I'm fleshing-out.

Both relate to cells within the human body. They are intended to be fantasy.

The first is about a harmonic cell life.

The second piece is about how bad cells might attach themselves to hemoglobin.

I will most likely continue to stitch on the first, but I think the 2nd piece is done.

Thoughts appreciated.

Cheers!

Natural world in Paper Cuts

2012-01-27T11:28:00.000-05:00

Claire Brewster

London, UK

We likey the sky - it always looks like birds are having fun when it's really windy and they get blown by the wind

You Can See My Heart

When Do We Stop Counting, 2011

Cut UK population map, pins, foam board, box frame

Claire is takes here inspiration from her surroundings where she lives in London. Using old maps, atlases and other found papers, she creates divinely detailed paper cuts of flowers, birds and insects.

See more here.

and her blog here.

Low Commitment Projects

2012-01-20T07:25:00.001-05:00

Tae Kitakata (Hawaii) and Brittany Powell (Oregon)

Sandwich Artist

O'Keeffe Sandwich

Johns Sandwich

Mondrian Sandwich
images via low commitment projects

One project each and every Monday morning of 2012.

Tae and Brittany met each other in art school. Now that they are back in their home states, they are sharing ideas and concepts via these simple sketches.

I find it fresh, exciting and fun.

Brava ladies! These two young women have a great deal of creative juice to extract for years to come. They are on my 'must watch' list.

See more here.

p.s. I just adore a project they did together at art school where they created a roaming art gallery space.

Black and Blue Lines

2012-01-18T21:28:00.000-05:00

Lucas Grogan
Melbourne AU

X Disarm X
Installation
2011

X Disarm X #1
Ink, watercolor, and acrylic on matt board, 2011
31.5 x 22.5 cm

X Disarm X #3
Ink, watercolor, and acrylic on matt board, 2011
32 x 24 cm

In this series called Black and Blue, Grogan has appropriated Aboriginal Australian techniques to focus on the inclusion of Aboriginal art practices by non-indigenous Australians to work with the Aboriginal community on sharing techniques to bring a better understanding and appreciation of the culture as a whole.

Lucas Grogan is a Melbourne based artist who uses needlepoint, installation, painting and drawing to explore themes of isolation, inclusion and cultural collisions, through an autobiographical lens.

So many lines...

See more here.

new stitches - Update

2012-01-02T19:19:00.003-05:00

Happy New Year dear reader,

It seems I always have energy for many new stitches at the start of the new year.

I hope you do as well.

One of my friends gave me a few pieces of lovely old linen, I thought I'd put some marks on it.

Here's a little drawing and a few stitches for your eyes.

Let's see where this goes.

C.Mauersberger, new stitches- more progress

C. Mauersberger line drawing, 2012

C. Mauersberger, work in progress, 2012

Where will you go this year?

Female Dilgence

2011-12-30T18:58:00.000-05:00

Marita Kratz
Diessen, Germany

via Marita Kratz

In 2006, Marita Kratz started thinking about how a modern woman lives by the antiquated guidelines of an "ideal" woman. No doubt, you're familiar with the old "standards"...she must be kind, good, caring, loving, and beautiful...

Marita attempts to exaggerate traditional ideals and seeks interaction with the public.

She began a project as a visual investigation of female diligence.
In 2006, Marita spent hours putting her diligence into crocheting 12 roses one day.

Soon, other women joined in and offered help to crochet white roses for her piece.

Today she has 10,000.

She has installed the roses in multiple venues between 2007 and 2011.

Read more about this interesting performance artists here.

Sending warm thoughts

2011-12-24T14:09:00.000-05:00

Small Challenge (or nothing)

2011-12-22T11:07:00.000-05:00

Contents of the envelope my 93 year old mother, Bertha Sulak, gave to me this week.

Learning about Kantha and Sujuni Stitching

2011-12-18T13:08:00.000-05:00

Kantha stitching, first attempt, C. Mauersberger, 2011

I attended a 2 day workshop at the Cleveland Museum of Art with Dorothy Caldwell on December 3-4, 2011, hosted by the Textile Art Alliance of the CMA.

The primary activity we did was to create small pieces using the running stitch in the manner of the women in the Bihar region of India called Sujuni and Kantha.

Detail of Kantha-stitched quilt.

21 individual "blocks" stitched by 21 women in the workshop held in Cleveland, OH, 2011

3 blocks after MUCH more stitching

This 2-day workshop was just grand.

Dorothy introduced us to the work of the women of Bihar, India. She brought samples of their work for us to inspect and she presented 2 informative powerpoint lectures filled with many many more informative images.

For those of you who have attended any of Dorothy's workshops, you'll know that she gives each person her unfailing attention.

My friend and fellow artist, Mary Ann Tipple, also posted about it here.

This morning I decided to draw a bit to workout some imagery apropos for a Kantha-inspired piece.

I began by looking at the Pointsettia plant on my table.

Then I drew.

We'll see what happens next...

Marks like Murmerations

2011-12-17T06:05:00.000-05:00

Camilia León

Santiego, Chilé

These drawings remind me of the video of the collection of starlings called Murmurations post last month.

Camilia León marks are simple and lovely.
More can be found on her website here.

Enjoy!

Wind algorithyms

2011-12-15T20:25:00.001-05:00

Peter Jellitsch
Vienna, Austria

STB/S02/130°, ink & pencil on paper, 75 x 75 cm (unique), Peter Jellitsch 2011

STB/S01/130°, ink & pencil on paper, 75 x 75 cm (unique), Peter Jellitsch 2011

The hand drawing is an essential part of my work. It allows me a physical acquisition of invisible digital calculatory work and includes, of course, mistakes and instinctive extension. (Peter Jellitsch)

See more here.

Regret: Undo, Cntrl + Z, Reply All

2011-12-11T09:58:00.006-05:00

Kathryn Schulz
the world's leading wrongologist
Author, Journalist, Public Speaker

Apropos of this time of year, when we tend to think about what we've done.
Good. Bad. Unfortunate.
You may agree (or not) with what Kathryn says. I like it.

I encourage you to watch the video to the very end, it's well worth it.

"If we have goals and dreams and we want to do our best, and if we love people and we don’t want to hurt them or lose them, we should feel pain when things go wrong. The point isn’t to live without any regrets, the point is to not hate ourselves for having them… We need to learn to love the flawed, imperfect things that we create, and to forgive ourselves for creating them. Regret doesn’t remind us that we did badly — it reminds us that we know we can do better.”

She wrote Being Wrong, Adventures in the Margin of Error

What do you think about regret?

Mind Map in a Museum Exhibit

2011-12-04T21:22:00.001-05:00

Focus Fiber 2011-12

Mind Map

(and detail)

40" x 41"

2011

Hand-stitched Silk/Wool embroidery thread on Linen

I've been waiting to share this artwork with you. I wanted to post a pic earlier this year, now I can!
I made this piece in during a time earlier this year as I worked through making a decision about my future. I was offered a once-in-a-lifetime position as a curator to a major art collection.
How does one say no to a rewarding and gratifying career?

It wasn't easy, but I said no.

The only way I could handle the decision-making process was to dive into my artwork.
Hand-stitching pointed the way. It comforted me.

The small marks by my needle and thread became the conduit for release of my thoughts as I meditated over my decision.

I am humbled and pleased to announce that the artwork is included in Focus Fiber: 2011-12 a juried exhibit of contemporary fiber art at the Canton Museum of Art, Canton, Ohio. I posted a blog about the entry to the show earlier this year

The Textile Art Alliance of the Cleveland Museum of Art co-sponsored this show.

The Opening Reception is this Thursday, Dec. 8, from 6 - 8 pm.

If you live within driving distance, come join us for the opening.
Or plan a visit to the museum from now through the first week of March, 2012.

I'll post more pictures later this week of other artists' works in this show.
There are some grand artists in the exhibition, I cannot wait to see it all in person.
Congratulations to all the artists who were selected!

Thankful for a Creative Life

2011-11-24T10:10:00.001-05:00

In the USA today we celebrate Thanksgiving to mark the day when In 1621, the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians shared an autumn feast.

Many individuals and families will share a meal today and talk of what they're most thankful for in their own lives.

For me, I am thankful for a creative life.
And for all the readers who peek in on my blog to seek information, inspiration, and connectivity with other like-minded individuals around the world.
Thank you for reading and commenting.

Here are 2 manifestos that I enjoy reading from time to time to remind me that the power to live a brilliant life is forever within ourselves.

1. Holstee Manifesto

Here's a short video made by a group of bike-lovers and creators that visually illustrate this manifesto:

2. An Incomplete Manifesto for Growth. This design manifesto was first written by Bruce Mau in 1998, articulating his beliefs, strategies, and motivations.

1. Allow events to change you. You have to be willing to grow.

Growth is different from something that happens to you. You produce

it. You live it. The prerequisites for growth: the openness to experience

events and the willingness to be changed by them.

2. Forget about good. Good is a known quantity. Good is what we

all agree on. Growth is not necessarily good. Growth is an exploration of

unlit recesses that may or may not yield to our research. As long as you

stick to good you’ll never have real growth.

3. Process is more important than outcome. When the

outcome drives the process we will only ever go to where we’ve

already been. If process drives outcome we may not know where we’re

going, but we will know we want to be there.

4. Love your experiments (as you would an ugly child).

Joy is the engine of growth. Exploit the liberty in casting your work as

beautiful experiments, iterations, attempts, trials, and errors. Take the long

view and allow yourself the fun of failure every day.

5. Go deep. The deeper you go the more likely you will discover

something of value.

6. Capture accidents. The wrong answer is the right answer in

search of a different question. Collect wrong answers as part of the

process. Ask different questions.

7. Study. A studio is a place of study. Use the necessity of production

as an excuse to study. Everyone will benefit.

8. Drift. Allow yourself to wander aimlessly. Explore adjacencies. Lack

judgment. Postpone criticism.

9. Begin anywhere. John Cage tells us that not knowing where to

begin is a common form of paralysis. His advice: begin anywhere.

10. Everyone is a leader. Growth happens. Whenever it does,

allow it to emerge. Learn to follow when it makes sense. Let anyone

lead.

11. Harvest ideas. Edit applications. Ideas need a dynamic, fluid,

generous environment to sustain life. Applications, on the other hand,

benefit from critical rigor. Produce a high ratio of ideas to applications.

12. Keep moving. The market and its operations have a tendency to

reinforce success. Resist it. Allow failure and migration to be part of your

practice.

13. Slow down. Desynchronize from standard time frames and

surprising opportunities may present themselves.

14. Don’t be cool. Cool is conservative fear dressed in black. Free

yourself from limits of this sort.

15. Ask stupid questions. Growth is fueled by desire and

innocence. Assess the answer, not the question. Imagine learning

throughout your life at the rate of an infant.

16. Collaborate. The space between people working together is

filled with conflict, friction, strife, exhilaration, delight, and vast creative

potential.

17. ——————————. Intentionally left blank. Allow space for

the ideas you haven’t had yet, and for the ideas of others.

18. Stay up late. Strange things happen when you’ve gone too far,

been up too long, worked too hard, and you’re separated from the rest

of the world.

19. Work the metaphor. Every object has the capacity to stand for

something other than what is apparent. Work on what it stands for.

20. Be careful to take risks. Time is genetic. Today is the child of

yesterday and the parent of tomorrow. The work you produce today

will create your future.

21. Repeat yourself. If you like it, do it again. If you don’t like it, do it

again.

22. Make your own tools. Hybridize your tools in order to build

unique things. Even simple tools that are your own can yield entirely new

avenues of exploration. Remember, tools amplify our capacities, so even

a small tool can make a big difference.

23. Stand on someone’s shoulders. You can travel farther

carried on the accomplishments of those who came before you. And

the view is so much better.

24. Avoid software. The problem with software is that everyone

has it.

25. Don’t clean your desk. You might find something in the

morning that you can’t see tonight.

26. Don’t enter awards competitions. Just don’t. It’s not

good for you.

27. Read only left-hand pages. Marshall McLuhan did this. By

decreasing the amount of information, we leave room for what he called

our “noodle.”

28. Make new words. Expand the lexicon. The new conditions

demand a new way of thinking. The thinking demands new forms of

expression. The expression generates new conditions.

29. Think with your mind. Forget technology. Creativity is not

device-dependent.

30. Organization = Liberty. Real innovation in design, or any

other field, happens in context. That context is usually some form of

cooperatively managed enterprise. Frank Gehry, for instance, is only able

to realize Bilbao because his studio can deliver it on budget. The myth

of a split between “creatives” and “suits” is what Leonard Cohen calls a

‘charming artifact of the past.’

31. Don’t borrow money. Once again, Frank Gehry’s advice. By

maintaining financial control, we maintain creative control. It’s not exactly

rocket science, but it’s surprising how hard it is to maintain this discipline,

and how many have failed.

32. Listen carefully. Every collaborator who enters our orbit brings

with him or her a world more strange and complex than any we could

ever hope to imagine. By listening to the details and the subtlety of their

needs, desires, or ambitions, we fold their world onto our own. Neither

party will ever be the same.

33. Take field trips. The bandwidth of the world is greater than that

of your TV set, or the Internet, or even a totally immersive, interactive,

dynamically rendered, object-oriented, real-time, computer graphic–

simulated environment.

34. Make mistakes faster. This isn’t my idea — I borrowed it. I

think it belongs to Andy Grove.

35. Imitate. Don’t be shy about it. Try to get as close as you can. You’ll

never get all the way, and the separation might be truly remarkable.

We have only to look to Richard Hamilton and his version of Marcel

Duchamp’s large glass to see how rich, discredited, and underused

imitation is as a technique.

36. Scat. When you forget the words, do what Ella did: make up

something else … but not words.

37. Break it, stretch it, bend it, crush it, crack it, fold it.

38. Explore the other edge. Great liberty exists when we avoid

trying to run with the technological pack. We can’t find the leading edge

because it’s trampled underfoot. Try using old-tech equipment made

obsolete by an economic cycle but still rich with potential.

39. Coffee breaks, cab rides, green rooms. Real growth

often happens outside of where we intend it to, in the interstitial spaces

— what Dr. Seuss calls “the waiting place.” Hans Ulrich Obrist once

organized a science and art conference with all of the infrastructure of

a conference — the parties, chats, lunches, airport arrivals — but with

no actual conference. Apparently it was hugely successful and spawned

many ongoing collaborations.

40. Avoid fields. Jump fences. Disciplinary boundaries and

regulatory regimes are attempts to control the wilding of creative life.

They are often understandable efforts to order what are manifold,

complex, evolutionary processes. Our job is to jump the fences and

cross the fields.

41. Laugh. People visiting the studio often comment on how much we

laugh. Since I’ve become aware of this, I use it as a barometer of how

comfortably we are expressing ourselves.

42. Remember. Growth is only possible as a product of history.

Without memory, innovation is merely novelty. History gives growth a

direction. But a memory is never perfect. Every memory is a degraded

or composite image of a previous moment or event. That’s what makes

us aware of its quality as a past and not a present. It means that every

memory is new, a partial construct different from its source, and, as such,

a potential for growth itself.

43. Power to the people. Play can only happen when people

feel they have control over their lives. We can’t be free agents if we’re

not free

Creative Workforce Fellowship Award

2011-11-19T16:45:00.001-05:00

George Mauersberger
Cleveland, OH USA

Hed 11

30 x 44 in. - pastel - 2011

George received a wonderful award this year, the Creative Workforce Fellowship (CWF).

The CWF is made possible by the generous support of Cuyahoga County citizens through Cuyahoga Arts and Culture, the Fellowship is designed to strengthen the voices of 20 outstanding artists each year.

George has been able to spend most of the year in his studio making art and doing what he loves to do. The Fellowship allowed him to take a sabbatical from teaching this year. (He is Professor of Art at Cleveland State University)

I've written about George here once before. I think you'll agree the award is well-deserved.

The piece above was made during the Fellowship year. The work itself won the Juror's Choice Award in the Midyear Show 2011 held at the Butler Institute of American Art, Youngstown, Ohio

Murmuration

2011-11-15T09:54:00.001-05:00

A collection of starlings is called a murmuration.
Liberty Smith and Sophie Windsor capture a rare moment.
This is a lovely video. Pour a cup of something warm and watch.

Link Here

Mojo

2011-10-30T10:21:00.001-04:00

1. Self-confidence, Self-assuredness. As in basis for belief in ones self in a situation.

I felt that I lost my mojo in August. I think I found it again.

Pushing Paper and Paste

2011-10-16T12:26:00.000-04:00

Mary Button Durell
San Francisco, CA

The Piles, 2011

tracing paper, wheat paste and acrylic

17 x 18 x 16 in

60, (detail), 2011

tracing paper, wheat paste and acetate

43 x 29 x 1 1/4 in

Asteroid, 1999

tracing paper and wheat paste

48 x 42 x 108 in

Work in Progress, Studio, 2011

Loving these.

Tracing paper, wheat paste, some acrylic paint.

Swoon.

See more of her work and learn about her process here.

Flawed and Beautiful World

2011-09-22T18:53:00.000-04:00

Alexis Mackenzie

San Francisco, CA

Milk Grass

(2011) Hand-cut collage on found paper, 12 x 14 1/2 inche

Short Night of the Glass Dolls

(2010). Hand-cut collage on found paper, 12 x 14 inches

Alexis Mackenzie carefully cuts images from her large collection of books and illustrations to compose these lovely and strange collages.

She states" My general intent, throughout all my work, is to portray the world as a flawed thing of beauty - a place that shines brightly, but has a dark side to match."

See more on her website here.

Printmaking for Barter

2011-08-26T18:41:00.000-04:00

Zygote Press
Cleveland, Ohio

Do you want access to printmaking, but don't have the money?
Do you live in Cleveland or nearby?
You can barter for print facility access at Zygote Press.
See this note from Liz Maugans at Zygote Press in Cleveland!

Hello everyone-

As fall nears, Zygote is currently recruiting volunteers (interns) who would like to help out in the printshop-office for barter access to presses and facilities. We are looking for peoplewho want to utilize the shop in exchange for press-time hours. Incentives like ...taking free classes, participating in group projects and being apart ofa dynamic shop are benefits of this opportunity. We ask for 10 hours in exchange for shop access per month. If interested, please contact: intern coordinator Elizabeth Emery at emeryspeaking@gmail.comThanks,Liz Maugans

FYI

I have used Zygote Press facilities and they are amazing. I would have never been able to use presses or inks if it weren't for Zygote. I learned a great amount of information about printmaking just by showing up!

magic feather for Jude

2011-08-22T11:09:00.000-04:00

Light as a feather and magic to behold.

Here's my stitched feather for Jude Hill's Magic Feather Project

Reclaimed silk from a blouse I picked up at a local thrift store. Kudzu leaves bound and wrapped within the fabric, immersed in the dye bath at Shakerag in 2010. (Not the silk robe shown in this blogpost). I wore this blouse and then decided to share it with Jude.

I backed the silk with reclaimed wool from a dismantled wool jacket from same thrift storer.

Look at the feather-shape that appeared!

I knew this was the piece to send to Jude.

Why not send your own?

Curious? Jump over to Jude's blog and find magic in every piece of cloth she stitches.

Humbled and Happy on a Hot day in Cleveland

2011-08-08T18:41:00.001-04:00

Arrived at my door today:

In this photo: Book Jacket - Second Skin, Choosing and Caring for Textiles and Clothing,

mailing package, and the black linen I'm currently stitching with wool/silk thread.

the new book by India Flint, Second Skin.
One of my pieces can be found in the Gallery chapter, on p. 174-75.

286 pages

Approximately 9" x 11" x 1" deep.

all images by permission ©India Flint, 2011.

But you'll have to order your own copy to behold the deliciously-filled, gorgeously designed book. It was printed on 100% recycled paper and feels good in your hands. Ah!

I am giggling with delight that Murdoch Books champions India Flint. Furthermore, the book designer, Toyoko Sugiwaka, created a beautiful layout and design to complement India's writing and artwork.

This book is a masterpiece.
To read it is to hear India's voice, smooth and strong, dispensing abundant information amid mouth-watering photos about selecting and caring for textiles and clothing while using less of our earths non-renewable resources.

I am humbled to have been included in such an important and timely publication. India has also included the work of other wonderful artists with whom you may be acquainted like Dorothy Caldwell, Jude Hill, Anu Touminen, and several more who work with pre-used materials.

Thank you India.
Off to read every lovely page...
And if you don't already own a copy, make sure you pick up her first book,
Eco Colour

Threadlike Marks

2011-07-13T22:11:00.000-04:00

Danielle Mysliwiec

Untitled

2010

Oil on wood panel

18 x 18 inches

Untitled
2009
Oil on wood panel
24 x 18 inches

Fortress

2006

Oil on Wood Panel

24" x 18"

(Detail) Fortress

All images copyright of Danielle Mysliwiec, 1998-2011

When I saw Danielle's paintings, I thought that these must be stitched marks.
How can this be a painting?
I wrote to Danielle.
She graciously wrote back a nice statement about her work.
I remain intrigued and could look at these paintings all day long in amazement.
Please feel free to explore her website here

"In my recent body of work I have been creating oil paintings and works on paper that present themselves as woven abstractions. In order to push the boundaries of the material, I have experimented with creating unfamiliar textures or “brushstrokes” with the paint by extruding it to create a threadlike mark that is repeatedly applied and which slowly builds a three dimensional surface. The paintings present multiple experiences depending on the viewer’s place in the room and the textures respond to the changing light of the day, creating images that are in constant flux as shadows shift and detail is highlighted or hidden."

Empty lots

2011-06-27T10:09:00.000-04:00

Chad Gerth

Chicago, IL

Chicago & Kedvale

Armitage & Kenneth

Armitage & Kilpatrick

Chad created this series of photographs mounted each image on plexi.

(each is approximately 16" x 20").

all images copyright, Chad Gerth

Chad photographed empty lots in Chicago in 2008.

His images capture the state of the urban environment as they transition from their recent occupied past to an unknown and uncertain future.

See more here.

Embroidery in New York City

2011-06-25T15:54:00.000-04:00

If you are in New York City sometime between now and July 2, 2011, there's a terrific show of embroidery artwork at the Heskin Contemporary.

Two artists from 2 countries using embroidery and stitching techniques in 2 different contexts.

Jazmin Berakha
Buenos Aires, Argentina

Images, permission of the artist

I appreciate Jazmin's use of pattern to create the positive spaces in her compositions.

These glimpses into daily life of girls are fun and thoughtful.

I don't know the titles or sizes of her work.

Jazmin, if you read this, please comment!

and
Nicola Ginzel

Monochromatic Fragment, No. 2
2009
cardboard matchbox, thread
2.25" x 3.75"

Nicola's work contains the anthropological cast-offs and detritus of life that many of us are attracted to and incorporate in our own artwork via collage work and other mixed media techniques.

Please take time to browse both of their websites.

Jazmin Here and Nicola Here.

Fresh work from a recent college grad

2011-06-24T11:27:00.000-04:00

Dena Haden

Massachusetts, USA

Together, 2010

wax, thread and ink

50" x 62" x .5"

image via Dena Haden

Holding a Hole, 2010

wax, paper, ink

18" x 8"

image via Dena Haden

Dena Hadden received her B.F.A. from the University of Massachusetts Darthmouth in 2004 and her M.F.A. from the Philadelphia Academy of Fine Arts in 2008.

No doubt, she is on the road to a long career exploring and manipulating various media.

See more of her innovative mixed media artworks here.

Farewell FiberArts Magazine

2011-06-16T11:11:00.001-04:00

It is with sadness and dismay that I remove the link to FiberArts Magazine from my blog.

Interweave Press is discontinuing it's publication.

No doubt, many of you received the email notification yesterday in which they state,

"...The support for Fiberarts has not been strong enough over the past several years to keep it in circulation. As a result, the Summer 2011 issue of Fiberarts will be the last one Interweave will publish...".

I have read FiberArts Magazine since the late 1970's when I was first introduced to Textile Art by my wonderful high school art teacher, Ms. Sandy Stemen.

These are changing times for publications including newspapers and printed books. I wrote a note to the editor of FiberArts asking to consider retaining the magazine as an e-zine. Perhaps others feel similarly.
Perhaps you'll write to the editior.

Where else are we going to see new and unexpected textile artwork?

I find much of my information by pleasant happenstance. Using the internet, I dig, and click, and click onto to links embedded within blogs to find new and exciting textile art.

Where do you go to find interesting fiber art to discover?

It is my hope that we continue to support other noteworthy publications, such as Hand/Eye Magazine, Selvedge, American Craft, to name a few.

What publications do you like to read for Textile Art information?

Please share!

Search Amazon.com for fiberarts magazine

Power Gridlock

2011-06-10T18:06:00.000-04:00

Recent photos

Marks of the natural growth (climbing vines) and of and of the man-made (power stations).

found on my travels around my hometown.

Power Station (Left) vs. Metropolitan School Administration Building (Right)

I wish the public school system were as strong as the smallest roots and tendrils of the vines that attach themselves to the facade of the stone building. Ironically, the Cleveland Public School system is in dire straits these days.

Creation and Destruction for the Sake of Discovery

2011-06-08T16:07:00.000-04:00

Katheryn Norris
Cleveland, OH USA

Photo via Annalemma

Click here to read more about Kate

Kate is my niece, her first piece of nonfiction that has just been published on Annalemma
She has taken a real experience in her life and made art.
I wish I could do that with my work.
It's a quick read that has long lingering thoughts for me about how I observed these events.

Read here
Natural Mechanics

WIP

2011-06-02T19:49:00.000-04:00

Stitching on hand dyed fabric

Work in progress, the finish piece will be approximately 20" wide, 27" long

For a small change of pace, I pieced some hand-dyed fabric together and decided to stitch on it. After I composed the colored ground, stitching ensued...

The cotton fabric was dyed by my friend, Diana Angus, who is a generous soul and lovely woman, let me borrow her stash when I went to Crow barn in April this year.

I love connections. I met Diana at the same time I met India Flint here. Both Diana and I as well as many others (I'm sure!) want India to visit Ohio. Perhaps she will one day.

BTW (slightly incongruous to this post)...India's new book, Second Skin, will be released on July 1, 2011. You may want to pre-order a copy.

Geometric Connections

2011-05-18T09:50:00.000-04:00

Catherine Ulitsky
Pelham, MA, USA

At first glance, I thought these were drawings of geometric shapes onto photographs. Then I read the titles.

The black dots are European Starlings in flight (as a flock).
Catherine has painted connections between the birds to show a faceted geometric shape.

So now look at them again with their titles.

Hadley Starlings (Flock #8) . 2006 . Acrylic and oil on photograph . 22 1/8" x 18 1/2" 1/2"

Hadley Starlings (Flock #9) . 2006 . Acrylic and gouache on photograph . 22 3/4" x 19"

Hadley Starlings (Flock #10) . 2006 . Acrylic and gouache on photograph . 22 1/8" x 18

Catherine photographs and draws near where she lives in the Connecticut River Valley of Massachusestts and in the Hudson River Valley of NY.

See more of her work here.

Exceptional Experience

2011-05-04T12:55:00.000-04:00

Nancy Crow Timber Frame Barn Workshops
Baltimore, Ohio USA
If you blink you might miss the Crow farm entrance,

And its refreshing landscape leading you

towards Nancy's house

and turn the bend to the Crow Timber Barn Workshop

Kitchen/eating area

Yummy Lunch (all meals where prepared and served by Chef non-pareil, Margaret Boys-Wolf)

(Nancy's Class)

Our classroom downstairs

I spent last week in Southern Ohio at the Crow Timber Frame Barn to attend a workshop given by Terry Jarrard-Dimond. I've written about her here.

It was an exceptional class filled with well-planned lessons leading us to push our minds forward into thinking about our work and ideas called: What If? Building Pathways to Creative Work

Please click on this link to her blog here to see pic's and read about what we did.

It was intense.

It was mind-expanding.

And I would do it all over again.

You can do it too!

She's teaching at Quilting By the Lake in Syracuse, NY for 5 days

July 18 - 22, 2011

Here's her class description

Terry's coaching and processes for exploration will be the best gift you can give yourself.

Deadline Extended for Entry to Focus: Fiber 2011-12 to MAY 15, 2011

2011-04-22T21:09:00.000-04:00

This just in from The Textile Art Alliance of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Focus: Fiber 2011-12
Juried by Dorothy Caldwell

Deadline for entry EXTENDED to May 15, 2011.
That means all entries must be post marked by May 15, 2011.

You are eligible to enter if you live in one of these 8 U.S. states:

Illinois
Indiana
Kentucky
Michigan
New York
Ohio
Pennsylvania
West Virginia

What is Focus: Fiber 2011-12?
A regional juried contemporary exhibit sponsored by The Textile Art Alliance of the Cleveland Museum of Art and the Canton Art Museum in Canton, Ohio.

The exhibit will be juried by internationally recognized fiber artist Dorothy Caldwell and will be mounted at the Canton Museum in Canton, Ohio. The Textile Art Alliance will produce a color catalog to accompany the exhibition.

Entries due ~~April 30,2011,~~ MAY 15, 2011

To print the prospectus form click here (PDF).

I encourage you to enter! This will be a terrific show.

I previously wrote about Focus Fiber here.

Symmetry

2011-04-19T15:37:00.000-04:00

I like to make associations between objects or things observed.
Chances are you do too.
Watch the video below for some inspiration.

Symmetry from Everynone on Vimeo.

A few more threads

2011-04-11T09:49:00.000-04:00

I've added a few more stitches on my work in progress.
Speaking of a which...
The lovely artist, Terry Jarrard-Dimond who I wrote about here has posted a few threads about my work on her blog today.

Her questions made me think more deeply about expressing myself.

I hope you enjoy the interview and while your at it, stop by her website to gaze upon her show-stopping artwork here.
Thank you Terry. I am overwhelmed with your interest and kind words.

Working through a Decision

2011-04-05T11:37:00.001-04:00

I've had to work on myself lately and work to make a decision about my future.

Whether to keep making stitches and to continue to help with the care of my aging mother, or to jump into a huge, once-in-a-lifetime, curatorial position that would have been life-altering, challenging and a huge ego-boost, but would have taken me away from my passion.

These are some of the stitches made while thinking about big changes.

It was painful to decide, ultimately, stitching will continue to sustain me.

So glad I have a community of artists who support my decision and an amazingly loving and supportive partner who is my rock.

The next map

2011-03-30T16:52:00.000-04:00

Continuing the thread I started last week, I'm working on how to translate maps onto fabric.
I posted last week about a project I'm working on here

This is machine stitched work on black linen.

Using my sewing machine with the feed dogs dropped,
I'm following the GPS trails from the map sent to me by my collaborator.

Can any one guess what U.S. city this might be?

work on my design board

stitched area @36" wide x 22" high

Work in process

2011-03-22T18:19:00.000-04:00

I met a woman who studies the way cell phones, computers, and other technologies are helping us connect and become more human in new ways.

I wrote to her and asked if she'd like to do a collaboration where I will stitch some of her movements through her physical space.

Sorry can't give away every detail yet.
But can share some pictures of work in process.

Cut paper map, approximate size is 36 x 40 inches

blue and black etching inks

Brayer inked up and ready to roll

Pieces of fabric after running my cut map parts through the press

Nine pieces of fabric stitched together

Four corners (detail)

Detail

Next step is to continue to make prints and meditate on the work to decide what whether to stitch, cut, overprint, mark, or none of the above.

I'll share more pic's as the process continues.

Iced Intuition

2011-02-21T13:27:00.000-05:00

Little did I know that an ice storm was brewing when I drew this yesterday:

Drawing, 2.20.2011
charcoal on BFK

Outside my door today

Getting Lost in the Marks of Louise Despont

2011-02-07T19:52:00.000-05:00

Louise Despont
Lives and works in Brooklyn, NY, U.S.A.
represented by
Nicelle Beauchene Gallery, NYC, NY, U.S.A.

Blue Moon, Pondicherry
67 x 48 inches
Graphite and colored pencil on antique ledger book pages

Detail

Blue Moon, Pondicherry

Look at how large the piece is! It was installed for an exhibition at Nicelle Beauchene Gallery

King & Queen, Day
13.5 x 16.5 inches
Graphite and watercolor on antique ledger book pages

Garden Aerial
13.5 x 18.5 inches
Graphite on antique ledger book pages

I have been looking at the work of Louise Despont since I came across it 2 weeks ago and cannot let go of looking.
I long to see it in person and wrote to her to ask for permission to reproduce these images. She graciously agreed.

To me, Louise has created something entirely new whilst simultaneously encouraging the eye to think the work was uncovered from a secret enclave, hidden for hundreds of years. I am awe-struck at the quiet beauty of her marks on antique papers and mesmerized by the mystical nature of the images.

And I want to stitch them, to allow my eye and hand with thread to re-trace the marks she has made on paper. Perhaps I will in a dream one day.

Please visit Louise's website here to view more amazingly complex drawings. Her site is a delight, grab a cup of your favorite tea or coffee and spend some time getting lost in her marks.

Louise studied Semiotics and Studio art in college and completed a Fulbright Research Fellowship in India in 2009-2010. These are just a few interesting tidbits of information about Louise you can find on her CV here.

All images by permission of Louise Despont

Taking a walk

2011-01-23T19:48:00.002-05:00

Walldorf, Germany and surrounding areas
January, 2011
When you arrive in Walldorf, you must go for a walk.

It's easy to do, since there are trails and paths where ever you go.

The moss grows thick and green.

Although, sometimes, the Germans like to control the shape of trees and other growing things.

And other times, the brush grows wild.

And the waters run still.

And the night is quiet, and you can smell fires burning from the neighbors fireplaces and you sleep really well.

When you are in Walldorf.

Wishing You Courage in the New Year

2010-12-31T17:12:00.000-05:00

by Mike Monteiro Prints available at 20x200 here

There is a an unabashed realism to this sentiment and yet, I wouldn't advise living one's life this way.

I try not to burn bridges and rather hold relationships as carefully balanced with mutual respect.

Of course, that doesn't mean I haven't wished to burn a bridge or two.

At the dawn of a new year, it's a time to reflect on the past and move forward with the new.

May you each move ahead with bright ideas and the courage to act on your dreams and desires.

Courage

c.1300, from O.Fr. corage (12c., Mod.Fr. courage) "heart, innermost feelings; temper," from V.L. *coraticum (cf. It. coraggio, Sp. coraje), from L. cor "heart," which remains a common metaphor for inner strength. In M.E., used broadly for "what is in one's mind or thoughts," hence "bravery," but also "wrath, pride, confidence, lustiness," or any sort of inclination. Replaced O.E. ellen, which also meant "zeal, strength."

Time is Your Friend

2010-12-27T08:50:00.000-05:00

India Flint
Mount Pleasant Region, A.U.

Artist, writer, and botanical alchemist, India Flint has been on my radar since I met her in early 2009 while we were both in a master class given by Dorothy Caldwell. Throughout that week, I watched India create one of the most glorious pieces of cloth as she quietly and deliberately kept stitching newly dyed fabric each day. Curious to learn how she achieved her results, I decided to attend a workshop under her instruction this past summer at Shakerag.
Her methods have changed my decision making about how I create art. Interested? You can learn more too!

Her newest book, Eco Colour Botanical Dyes for Beautiful Textiles has been released in the United States. If you have the the desire to use less caustic/toxic chemicals in your own artwork (and who isn't?) then this is the book for you. I've read it cover-to-cover and have experimented with using plant materials found right outside my door with favorable results.

If you're not familiar with her work, please click on any of these links to be transported to her world of wonder: her website here or blog here and her world-wide sewing circle here

She is a featured artist in the current issue of FiberArts Magazine.

You can learn from India herself in the new year. She'll be teaching in a wide range of places throughout the world: from New Zealand to Switzerland and from Wisconsin to Maine. See her complete 2011 teaching schedule here.

I hope you immerse yourself in this good book and find yourself in one of her delightful and professionally fulfilling workshops soon.

Write to me, tell me whether you've attended one of her classes or have read her book, or are part of the world-wide sewing circle.

I'd love to hear from you!

Happy Christmas with a Gingerbread house on top

2010-12-24T16:16:00.001-05:00

Miniature Gingerbread house 2010

May your Christmas celebrations be filled with warmth and cheer.

Sending warm thoughts to each of you!

Christy's houses are larger than mine. We used the same instructions with different results.

Last year, my friend, Christy and I made these wonderfully simple little houses see here.
This morning, we made them again. A new tradition is born.
Yum!

Lapsed Time

2010-12-17T09:28:00.000-05:00

Beili Liu
Assistant Professor, College of Fine Arts, University of Texas, Austin

Bound #2

Thread, needle, red oak (reclaimed shipping crates), 6'x10'x18"

2009

Detail

2D Work I Wish Gold, Chinese Spirit Money (Yellow Paper), incense, set of 9, 4.5"x8"x1" each

Detail

Beili Liu works with a wide variety of materials from needles and thread to digitally processed images. She allows the materials evolve over time. She begins a project and manipulates them over time, sometimes over a period of months before the final work reveals itself. Often her experiments with one project lead to another new project.

See more here.

Monothon Part II

2010-12-04T19:15:00.000-05:00

Monothon 2010

Here's some pic's from the Monothon Show at Zygote Press.

the show is up through Dec. 31, 2010.

All sales benefit Zygote Press, a non-profit printmaking co-operative in Cleveland, Ohio.

Carpets I, 2010, monoprint, Christine Mauersberger

Carpets II, 2010, monoprint, Christine Mauersberger

Picture of the studio where I've been working this past month.

Liz Maugans got me re-hooked on printmaking.

Monothon Month

2010-12-02T21:04:00.001-05:00

Zygote Press
Cleveland, Ohio
It's been 20 years since I've used a printing press.
Liz Maugans at Zygote Press invited me to participate in a month-long event making monoprints for the annual Monothon* event.
Here's some of what I did

I found two small cotton tea towels and affixed fabric circles to the surface of them

and mixed up inks to my own color liking.

and ran them through the press and printed them on Rives BFK 100% cotton rag paper.

this photo: Mary Ann Tipple

This picture is a print.

Not the actual towels.

Here's a detail

Same two towels using a olive green ink

Same 2 towels using a mix of a sick pink. I cut them out after they were printed, and have done a little stitching, these are paper, not fabric.

I'll take pictures of the final two prints I created for the Holiday Show opening on Dec. 4th and post them.
Cheers!

*Monothon is an annual event at Zygote Press that encourages regional artists to come to Zygote and try their hand at making prints. This year, we welcome artists: Mark Yasenchak,Chris Mauersberger, Dante Rodriguez, Kristin Bly, MarkKeffer, Stephen Yusko, Gadi Zamir, Darius Steward, and Hilary Aurand. A selection of their prints will be exhibited at our OFF THEWALL Holiday show, and sales will benefit Zygote Press.

The HoneyBee/Zerolandfill and Pepsi Refresh Project

2010-12-01T15:54:00.001-05:00

Zerolandfill
Cleveland, Ohio, usa

A few of my close friends started a project called Zerolandfill in Cleveland, Ohio.
I've posted about them here.

ZeroLandfill is a community project that collects expired samples from interior designers and distributes these creative materials to under-resourced arts educators. Inspired by honeybee behavior, ZeroLandfill follows a principle found in nature…a lot of waste is created but nothing is wasted.

And they give everything away for FREE.
So...
They need money in order to continue to do good works.

Pepsi is giving away $1,300,000 each month to fund great ideas through a project called Pepsi Refresh Project.

I think that Zerolandfill is a great idea and we can help them win $25,000.00.
Vote for them on the Pepsi refresh project HERE
You may vote once a day from today, Dec. 1, 2010 through Dec. 31, 2010.
I hope you agree with what my friends are doing and feel compelled to vote.

embroidery on found photographs

2010-11-16T21:42:00.000-05:00

Stacey Page
Athens, GA, USA

This is a vintage photograph with hand sewn embroidery by artist, Stacey Page.

The frame measures approximately 2.5 inches by 3.5 inches with the photo itself slightly smaller.

Stacey's stitching on found photographs make me chuckle a bit. I love the idea of stitching on found materials.

See more of her work here.

I am currently stitching on paper and found clothing, I find that the more I work in my studio, the less time I have for posting on my blog.

I'll post some of my newer work soon.

Call for Entries: Textiles in a Tube

2010-10-26T19:40:00.000-04:00

Textiles in a Tube

is a competitive exhibition challenging artists to "redefine" what textiles and textile materials and work can be.

My friend and fabulous textile artist, Terry Jarrard-Dimond is the juror for the exhibit.

If your work is accepted, it must fit into a 3"diameter x 36" long tube.

The gallery is operated by Greenville Technical College and is a nice, new, professional space in a redeveloped area of Greenville.

For prospectus, please visit Terrys blog here, where you may find the link to the show prospectus.

or click here

then click on the link in the right hand corner

for the Textiles In A Tube prospectus and entry form.

Enter, Enter Enter!

I've posted about Terry on my blog here.

Abecedaria Project

2010-10-20T23:30:00.000-04:00

Morgan Conservatory
Cleveland, Ohio USA

For the third year in row, the Morgan Conservatory presented a book arts exhibit by members of Art Books Cleveland called the Abecedaria Project.
I was intrigued with this alphabet book.
Artist, Anne Weissman hand-stitched each page.
It's a delightful piece, wish I had stitched it!

If you're in the neighborhood, it's a must see.

The show is up through November 26, 2010.

Morgan Art of Papermaking

Conservatory & Educational Foundation

1754 E. 47th Street

Cleveland, OH 44103

Gallery Hours: Tuesday. - Saturday. 10:00 to 4:00

The Kindness of Strangers

2010-10-08T20:24:00.000-04:00

Banksy cat

image copyright artofthestate

I haven't touched my knitting needles in several years.
And hardly a crochet hook.

Today, I was required to wait 30 minutes before I was allowed to leave the waiting room at my allergists' office after having injections.

With bright blue crochet hook and warm orange wool in hand, I attempted to crochet a bit during my wait.

A kind woman saw me struggling.

Whatcha makin'?

Oh...I don't know how to crochet, but I want to make a little bow.

Do you want to single crochet?

Yes!

She cast on stitches and showed me how to do a thing or two.
The nurse called her into the honeycomb rooms behind the door for her appointment.
Said the nurse, Whatcha doing? Spreadin' joy?

We both smiled.

I watched her disappear behind the door and sat and crocheted a little bit of orange heaven.

Sometimes a stranger has a thing or two to teach you.