sweets candied world.

I saw this piece somewhere??? and LOVE it and was excited to explore the work of Klavonne Luther a little more.


The work combines ceramics, collage, and bit of fabric for a fantasy Marie Antoinette-like world.


Her statement says:

Culturally, the act of selecting and consuming food carries with it associations ranging from basic necessity to psychological comfort, indulgence, and vice. Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin (1755-1826) a French lawyer and politician who gained fame as an epicure and gastronome said, “Food is all those substances which, submitted to the action of the stomach, can be assimilated or changed into life by digestion, and can thus repair the losses which the human body suffers through the act of living.” Much like Brillat-Savarin’s philosophy, my work expresses the cultural, psychological, and physical manifestations of a precarious relationship with food as it is sought to fill emotional voids and buoy vulnerable relationships, making the difficulties of life more bearable. I am drawn to the concept of food as a source of comfort, mending and becoming part of the body and expressing these ideas visually.


See more here.

stress and rest.

Yesterday went by in a stressful blur. I awoke to a sick cat while I was preparing to go out of town, had a fussy baby at my feet, and an overwhelmed husband in my house.

Still trying to figure our what is wrong with the cat- but praying it is nothing big.
Cannot do anything for the husband but be there for him.
Flew 2 hours with T in tow to Asheville to spend some time with my parents.

Very happy to be writing this in the quiet of their mountain house, with bugs chattering outside the window.
Looking forward to a break from all the stress from the city and getting around to finishing some interviews and things. But also hoping to get some stitching done. But really just hoping to rest and get a break to jump back into things when I get home.

Above is my piece, 8 months, I have better pictures coming I just need to upload them. But I am starting to feel fully happy with it. Though I still think I may add just a but f paint into the figure. What do you think?

inspired by...

Look what I inspired... I love, love, love it. This was made by, Eleanor, a student of Mrs. Textiles and she is only 15!!!. Wow, I cannot wait to see what comes from her. Apparently after seeing my work in class she was inspired and came to this piece. I love its simplicity of black and white and the mass of hair but yet still maintaining so much texture.

I have often received emails from teachers or students that have been inspired by my work and it is always such a wonderful and humbling experience, but rarely do I get the privilege of seeing the work I have inspired. So yay!!!

You can read my feature today by Mrs. Textiles here.
A couple of weeks ago I mentioned the upcoming Do Ho Suh show here in NYC there is a great article on it here.


This is what is happening in my studio.

dark night.

I have featured Brooklyn based artist Todd Knopke before but a friend of mine sent his website my way recently and reminded me of his AMAZING work. I especially love his images that are in night settings, through his composition and use of varied fabrics he infuses them with light in such a surprising and powerful way.
I feel as if his newest work has a little bit of a darker edge then the work I reviewed last time and I am intrigued.

He has no statement on his website and though in some ways his work is self explanatory I also think there is a depth to it that I would like to know more about. I cannot believe I missed his show here last year but the interview with the show is great.


Unlike a lot of contemporary artists using "quilting" techniques Todd's work has a refreshing freedom and wildness to it. He tends to read more like a crazy quilt. Todd say's this about the fabrics he uses:

Right now I’m most interested in my friends’ and family’s used clothes, sheets, and towels. Cutting into a pair of cords my brother wore at age 10 that still has a note in the pocket, or my sister’s 11th-grade prom dress that literally smells of 1988, folds time and enriches the work. One of the many beauties of fabric is that it’s everywhere and worn everyday. I’ve taken a shirt off my back because it was the right green to make a grassy patch.

I would have LOVED to see this fantastical installation. See much more of his work and detail shots here.

tiny moments...

ack... my week has been so long. I am emotionally spent for so many reasons. But I did have a great morning in the studio yesterday. I think I finally finished a piece I have been working on forever. But have to let it sit for a few days to decide. (and as I am writing this thinking maybe it needs a touch of paint added?)

It is funny with my work there is this big chunk that is obvious work and I rapidly see the progress and then towards the end there are all of these little tiny moments, small things, random stitches to finesse and truly complete the work. And it always shocks me how long this side of things takes.

But if I do determine this piece is finished I will feel a great sense of relief. I have never struggled so much with one work.

Otherwise I am loving the fact that the weather has cooled and my studio has returned to being a place of pleasure. I am heading out of town soon and look forward to the break but am also very much looking forward to heading back into the studio refreshed in September.

space....

Does your brain ever feel like a complete mess of stuff? Mine does. So I am enjoying the new work of painter Hang Nguyen. They are like the last beautiful cob web once you have cleared everything else out.


There is a wonderful sense of calm and space in these 3 dimensional "paintings." Even amongst the chaos space to just be.


Lovely sense of color too.

See more work here.

PUSH it!!!!

The amazing work of Cayce Zavaglia.

Yesterday, I received my pre-copies of the AWESOME new book, Push Stitchery: 30 Artists Explore the Boundaries of Stitched Art, edited by the incredible Jamie Chalmers, a.k.a the MR. of Mr. X Stitch. This book features 30 contemporary artists using the needle as their tool of choice.

a shot of the inside cover.

All of the artists utilize embroidery as one of their main mediums of artistic expression. The skill, scale, and approach is incredibly diverse. Keeping with the trends that I have seen many of the artists are working with narrative.

I love the work of and am totally inspired by Rosie James and am delighted to be amongst her.

Jamie has truly created an invaluable resource to those of us inspired by the stitch. He has managed to put together the best of what is happening in thread all in one book.


In addition to it being a totally gorgeous little book, with images of all the artists work, there is also a little Q & A with each artist, a bio, and an artist image. It was so fun to see the faces of so many artists whose work I love.

one of my spreads in the book. (buy it and you can see it all.)

The book is truly a gem and a MUST have in your library and you also cannot beat the price. The book is not quite available yet but you can pre-order yours here.

I am truly honored to be included in this book and humbled by the insane talent that it holds in its pages. Check out this link to see all the artists included in the book.

glean from life to make something powerful!

Another opportunity to take a class with me at the wonderful and amazing Textile Arts Center.
In September I will be teaching:

Autobiographical Embroidery

Glean from daily observation to create a one of a kind personal artwork by creating a visual "diary sampler" of embroidery stitches, incorporating abstraction and pattern or confessional writing and images. The "diary" of stitches will be explored as a daily act and observation. We will discuss the creative use of diaristic writing and daily life documentation, while looking at examples of contemporary fiber artists and learning traditional stitches.

This class will open up your creativity in making needle work pieces and unique works of art. Participants are encouraged to bring text and found fibers that have meaning for them. All necessary materials are included. Any additional fabrics and materials will need to be supplied by the student based on their vision. Also, we have Open Studio time for students to put their new knowledge to practice!

Sign up here and I will be offering a class in Manhattan in October!!!

sheets in my window.

image from here.

I spent a few hours today with my projector, after taping sheets on all my windows to try to block the light. And... it was great. I have the rest of this piece drawn so I can work more on it this week. As well as a totally new work drawing started. So on a day I thought I could get nothing done I actually did. Of course I forgot to photograph the drawings...


I also got my press page on the website all up and running. It is still missing a few things and a few images need to be re-done but... it is a start. I was actually super excited to see all the stuff together. It made me feel a good sense of accomplishment. And there is a sneak peek of my feature in the awesome new book coming out edited by Jamie Chalmers.

And I am in another catalogue and book that will not come out until next year too!

Take a look if you like.

pile up, disintegrate, settle...

I remember the work of Sara Jones in one of the Textile Arts Center exhibits last year and I also remember being disappointed that I could not find her website. I am unsure as to if I just finally found it or if it is new but I am again reminded of how much I like her combination of skillful painting with thread.


She incorporates thread in different ways, sometimes as almost an abstract addition to the work...


sometimes as a part of the drawing itself.


But the mix of texture and the hand is so fun to see.


And her straight up works are incredibly lovely as well.


She has no statement on her site but most of her work seems to explore domestic space and architecture that has been left to pile up, disintegrate, settle, etc... sometimes seeming from age and neglect sometimes from disaster. I would love to learn a but more about the concept and inspiration behind her work since there is so much variation.



See it here.

horse power.

I love this work by artist Keith Bentley. So simple and striking.


The juxtaposition of discarded automobile parts with horse hair makes me think of how the horse, as a utilitarian animal, died with the creation of the automobile. And how as a result are perhaps discarded as beings in our society more.

There are so many interesting ideas behind the horse and the car. The show piece, the pride of owner, the replacement of ones that are broken.

Love.

more.

More website updates....

Now you can see a gallery of work in process...


and a gallery of exhibition installations.

The press page is next.

Mark you calanders....

Hey, don't I know a lot of these artists!!!!! Awesome.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2011 FOR TROY NiGHT OUT

in - organic

Sixteen artists from across the U.S. bring the Capital Region a unique twist to textile art

Opening Reception: Friday, August 26, 2011 from 5 to 9 pm

Featuring the work of

Bren Ahearn

Jennifer Andrews

Keith W. Bentley

Ali Della Bitta

Lindsay Chandler

Ben Cuevas

Sage Dawson

Sierra Furtwangler

Tod Hensley

Sara Jones

Aaron McIntosh

Morgan Gesell Milders

Hang Nguyen

Sonya Philip

Cathryn Sugg

Drew Testa

in - organic showcases how fiber has become a dominant medium of choice by artists across the country. With innovative adaptations to historically rich techniques and materials, these sixteen artists are invigorating these mediums with new perspectives and applications. in - organic includes a range of works that integrate fiber with painting, sculpture, drawing, assemblage/collage, and installation, while addressing topics that range from the body to politics, memories to the environment. These textile works -- previously allocated to the periphery of artistic dialogue as kitsch, craft, or hobby art -- are gaining recognition with a captivating energy that is recontextualizing traditional notions of “craft.” The exhibition draws work from coast to coast, including California, Montana, Texas, Georgia, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New York.

in - organic was curated by area artist Jennifer Hunold, whose fiber works and drawings have been exhibited locally at Saratoga Arts, Albany Center Gallery, and University Art Museum, and at the Textile Arts Center in Brooklyn.

What: in - organic

Opening Reception: Friday, August 26, 2011 from 5 to 9 pm

When: August 26 through September 16, 2011

Where: Collar Works, 444 River Street, 3rd Floor, Troy, NY 12180

* * *

Collar Works is an art space dedicated to the support of emerging and under-represented artists working in any media, exhibiting culturally relevant contemporary artworks.

All events are free and open to the public. Otherwise Collar Works is currently open by appointment only.

Image credit: Lindsay Chandler, Central Landfill, Smithfield, Rhode Island

blissed.

I was in the studio all morning. Blissed out with "the story" from APM and my needle and thread. I finished the face of my mom which is part of the newest sleeper work. It is my first embroidered portrait of my mama ever- I realized how well I know her face with how easy it was to make the decisions and turn the stitches into a perfect image.

In the piece she is leaning on my dad's back so I am super excited to start working on him next.

plastic and panties.

James Gilbert is an LA based artist...

from warning and instructions series.

whose works comment on social issues including the uneasy relationship between identity, privacy, behavior and the influences from our environment including 24-hour news cycles, mass media, social networks, mass transportation or the economy. The work relationship exists through concern, social engagement and humor. Gilbert often utilizes materials that have transparency, plasticity, or materials imbued with history and narrative.

from The Privacy of Underpants.

I love his use of plastic because of its stiff nature but also its transparency.

Social Foreclosure

He approaches serious and important issues but keeps the work at quite a distance with his sterile style and colors.

from a video titled worker.

I feel a little like it may feel like a "one hit wonder"--- such as seeing a piece or group of his work in a show would be exciting but too much of it may seem repetitive and less layered. But it is so hard to know as his work includes video and sound and therefore viewing his work online is a challenge. I wish that he had small statements for each series as I am curious about his concepts.


It seems that he is pushing his technique and scale more which is exciting. I will be curious to see what comes next.

See more here.