Empty lots

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.