connective thread exhibit images.

Kendra Skalski

Finally, some images of the opening and install of the fabulous connective thread exhibtion, I was so honored to curate this exhibition and blown away by the quality of work that was submitted. The curating process was so difficult - but in the end I felt like it was a very exciting and cohesive show. We had a very diverse group of work and artists but they were all connected by that connective thread...

Look at the awesome turn out we had at the opening. The gallery was packed from 7- well past 10. We went through 3 cases of wine and I think all had a good time.

There is me and my pregnant belly talking to some old friends from Cambridge who are now New Yorkers, the crowd was a mix of friends of artists, blog readers, other artists who submitted, and fiber lovers galore.

I was so happy that so many people came out to see all these amazing artists work!

Summer Zickefoose, Jane Waggoner Deschner, Alisha McGurdy.

Let's take a walk around the gallery.

Sarah Bahr, Stacy Renee Morrison, I loved their work next to each other.

Einet Imber, Lyndsey Baldwin, Rebecca Ringquist, Kimberly Hennessy, Simone Meltesen,

Lyndsey Baldwin

Rebecca Ringquist, Kimberly Hennessy

Simone Meltesen

Kimberly Hennessy, Jen Prather

Joetta Maue, Jennifer Bevill, Michelle Dickson, Rebecca Ringquist

Marcy Chevali performing her work, unraveling, at the opening.

Christalena Hughmanick

So there you go all the gorgeous work of connective thread. You saw Crytsal Gregory's work featured yesterday and can look forward to more features in the next few weeks. Each work will be show individually.
And don't forget that next Sunday, January 24, there will be an artist talk with a handful of the artists so you can learn more about the awesome work on exhibit!

A review of connective thread by Iviva.
A mention of waking with you at Boston.com.
Thanks for the sweet little mention here by Jeana.

waking-bed details....

Probably more pictures than you ever wanted of one work- but for those of you who cannot see the exhibit this gives you a good sense of the finished work. I realize I need a few more close detail shots of the figure and the words. When I go teach the workshop in February I can get those.



In general I am extremely happy and excited by this work- I feel like its scale and use of actual object applique opens up an entirely new direction for my work that I am very excited to explore. I love working large and always have leaned towards being more sculptural even in my photography. I feel like these techniques allow me to really start pushing that aspect of my creative practice.
I also really enjoy how the work works from every angle. Yeah!!
Though I will do some small tweaks once it gets back into the studio....



It took forever and I literally was working down to the wire. Painting the work the morning of the opening and embroidering until just one hour before... but it was worth it.
I hope you like it as much as I do.

Tomorrow pictures of the fabulous exhibition connective thread, you will be amazed by the wonderful work included!!!

invasive crochet...

Finally, here is my first feature on one of the connective thread artists, artist Crystal Gregory. Crystal makes very exciting work which she calls invasive crochet. Installing crochet on park benches, fences, bricks, and cinder blocks- often responding to the space and environment around her.


Crystal made a an amazing work, Foundation II, just for connective thread in which she crochet cinder blocks and installed them into a wall of actual blocks. She then really turned the work alive by lighting the work from within.


Not only is Crystal a very talented and interesting artist but she is adorable, gracious, and sweet to boot.


Crystal states about her work:

The rhythm of making and the repetition of stitches create a harmony within my art practice. Thread, lace, metal, and wood are the props of both individual domesticity and collective social networks. I join together the points where individual and social systems overlap, and where issues of sexuality, vitality, and death construct meaningful relationships, and find release.

Guerilla crochet projects around New York City involve ideas of graffiti, urbanization, and woman’s work. I use organic webbed shapes and materials combined with hand work to take back the urban landscape. My art challenges gender assumptions by weaving feminine lace work into the crevices and spaces of masculine urban landscapes, such as the fire-retardant metal of a fire escape, the hard wood of a park bench, and the chain link fences attached to bridges. The web highlights the unique and man-made nature of both structures.

I have a feeling we will keep seeing plenty of Crystal and her great work as she as already participated in the Water Pod project and art in odd places in NY. The great thing about NYC is there are plenty of opportunities for temporary public works- something right up Crystal's alley and off of her crochet hooks.

To see more work right now stop in at her solo show which opens Tonight!

Rethinking Home

On view December 17th, 2009 to January 29th, 2010

Artist Reception: Thursday January 14th from 5:30 to 7:30

Manhattan Theater Source Gallery

177 MacDougal Street

New York, NY 10011

(between West 8th Street and Waverly)

www.theatersource.org

Rethinking Home

Sculpture and Installation

by Crystal Gregory

www.crystalgregory.org

Photography

Merav Lahr

www.meravlahr.com

Rethinking home is a project asking questions of interior and exterior architecture combining two bodies of work, Foundation I and Passage. Foundation I explores ideas of pattern, structure, and gender within domestic space. Passage expands on the theme of home through an outdoor installation using written text painted on a door and window to illustrate rite of passage as well as the physical act within a collage of nostalgic still images.

or check out her website.

waking with you...

Elizabeth A. Beland Gallery -- Waking With You
Recent embroidery drawings and photography by Joetta Maue,
exploring the act of sleep, the role of the bed and the lover in our lives.

January 8 – February 19, 2010

Here are some pictures of my exhibit, waking with you... enjoy and please let me know what you think.

the lovely entrance wall.

Folks admiring the bed piece, waking with you, at the opening.

a small mixed group of embroideries.

some photographs that fit the exhibit perfectly, originally from my thesis exhibit.

a new work, that is part of a larger series focused on my pregnancy.

a far shot of my text wall drawing, words and images from my blog project.

wall detail.

asleep.

I will post more pictures and some detail shots of my large scale bed work, waking with you, tomorrow. Thank you so much for all the encouraging words in my race to the finish line of getting it done. It was struggle but I am very happy with how well the entire show turned out. Let me know what you think.

In conjunction with the exhibit SandT of Making the Art Seen featured a very thoughtful and thorough interview with me over at her blog. Please check it out.

exhausted....but very pleased.

Oh my, life has been crazy as you can imagine. But the good news is both openings were a total success with great crowds. And....drum roll please? I got my final piece done for my solo show and it looked wonderful, I was extremely happy with it in the end.
I was embroidering until 3:45 on Friday and the show opened at 5. So it was SO down to the wire. But so worth it. And you know how artists are we always are working until the last minute.

The beginning of the wall work taken from my waking with you blog.

Now I am playing ultimate catch up. I just spent 3 hours on emails only.
I have tons of pictures of both shows and openings to share but in order to not overwhelm you I am breaking it up over a few days.
So today install shots of waking with you. Actual images of the work and exhibit tomorrow. I know, I am such a tease.

The beginning of building the bed- with lots and lots of layers.

making sure layout will work- still needs finished and painted.

And for those of you in the Boston area I am suppose to be featured in the G insert of the Boston Globe. (This is the arts and entertainment weekly insert) So make sure to check it out. Once I get a copy I will be sure to share it with all if you.

The gallery a mess with install.

some listings and mentions on the waking with you exhibit.
Art Throb.
Faff Around.
Boston.com
Andover Townsman
The Eagle Tribune.

more crazy install...

Kendra Skalski at the beginning of the installation of her piece family ties.

Michelle Dickson at work on her gorgeous graphite wall drawing.

Alisha McCurdy arranging tiny piles for her piece.

Ok. I am beyond exhausted, frazzled, and stressed. But connective thread is pretty much hung. Waiting on one simple piece to arrive and then to hang my own- all of which will not get done until Saturday. And then of course- labels, price list, food, set up, etc. But it is hung and looks so awesome. I am incredibly proud of it. And know that the viewers who come to the show will love it!

But...now I am so insane about my own show. My piece is NOT done and I am beginning to doubt it ever being finished. I so hope that I can make it but it may have to go into the show incomplete- i really, really hope not. We will see. Send me good vibes.
I start to install my show tomorrow- agh. Crazy.

all the info!!!

Hello wonderful readers-

Below is all the info for my solo show, connective thread, and a workshop I teach on Sunday. Do you think my weekend is busy enough? Anyway I would so much appreciate any shout outs you could give about these super exciting events on your blogs or to your community. I promise all will be totally fabulous!!

connective thread
a contemporary fiber work exhibition

Curated by Joetta Maue

Sarah Bahr
Lyndsey Baldwin
Jennifer Bevill
Marcy Chevali
Jane Waggoner Deschner
Michelle Dickson
Crystal Gregory
Kim Hennessey
Christalena Hughmanick
Einat Imber
Alisha McCurdy
Simone Meltesen
Stacy Renee Morrison
Jennifer Prather
Rebecca Ringquist
Kendra Skalski
Summer Zickefoose

The exhibit will be held from January 7-January 30.
Sweet Lorraine Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
Opening reception will be held Saturday, January 9, 7-10 pm.
Artists talk Sunday, January 24 at 5:30pm.

For complete details visit: http://connectivethread.blogspot.com/

In the Elizabeth A. Beland Gallery — “Waking With You”
Recent embroidery drawings and photography by Joetta Maue,
exploring the act of sleep, the role of the bed and the lover in our lives.

January 8 – February 19, 2010
Please join us for our opening reception, Friday, January 8, 5-7 pm

E s s e x A r t C e n t e r
56 Island Street Lawrence, MA 01840
(978) 685-2343 info@essexartcenter.com

For complete details: http://www.essexartcenter.com/gallery.html

And just in case all this fiber work totally inspires you- Here is a workshop I am teaching this Sunday:

Intro to Embroidery Workshop with Joetta Maue
Sunday, January 10- 10-12pm

In this workshop you will begin your very own original custom sampler. Each student will design their own sampler with a water-soluble marker, using their own unique handwriting or provided stencils. .
Learning the most basic skills of preparing the fabric, using the hoop, and threading the needle to finishing the project for final display. 6 traditional embroidery stitches will be taught: the split stitch, stem stitch, backstitch, satin stitch, chain stitch, and the ever-mysterious French knot. With the skills learned each student would be able to continue making beautiful pieces of art or simply embellish items of your own. So bring your creativity and lets get stitching!

To sign up or for more details call Brooklyn General at 718-237-7753 or info@brooklyngeneral.com.
Class is held at Brooklyn General, near Cobble Hill, Brooklyn.
http://www.brooklyngeneral.com/

installing like crazy

the beginning of the layout process.

Sarah Bahr's work waiting to be suspended, with a peek at Stacy Renee Morrison's in the background.

Hey everybody, hope this find you enjoying a fabulous start to the new year!!
I have been crazy busy!!!
Busy working away at my piece, not done yet, and installing connective thread. It is looking so awesome.
If you are nearby you definitely should stop by the opening I promise it will not disappoint.

The beginning of the process of me installing Kim Hennessey's work.

Rebecca Ringquist's work was so beautiful from the back, I had to take a picture, Yes, that is the backside!

For now just a peek of the install. Very early images. It has come a long way....
Hope it intrigues you!!!