Thursday, December 31, 2009

thanks and stuff...


So just a peak at what I have to finish in a week! I do not know??? do you think it is possible?
Especially since 2 of those days of said week are all about installing connective thread. Am I crazy?
Definitive answer- yes!

But really what I want to say is THANK YOU! Not sure what is in the air this week but I have gotten a number of extremely kind and generous comments from readers and it has beyond made my week, year, etc. I started this blog just about 2 years ago- just on a whim and....
I am amazed by the incredible opportunities, experiences, and community that it has brought tod me. Both professionally and personally.
So I thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading, for sharing, for being inspiring, and being inspired.

This new year is starting off on a very high note with the opening of connective thread and my solo show and in April the arrival of the babe. So I hope that you all continue to be a part of my life and we all keep being creative.

Happy New Year!!!


Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.
~Maria Robinson



Have a very happy & joy filled New Year!!!!!
Warmly-
Joetta

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

animal pelts.


Some more animal pelts that I can get behind are made by the fabulous and young hook rug artist, Morgan Milders.
Much like the amazing knit work of Ruth Marshall, Morgan hooks her fur from yarn to protest mindless hunting and truly honor the beauty of an animals skin.

Fox.

in process.

Morgan states:
Some households are decorated with trophies from hunting. I don't believe these hunters truly own their pelts, like I own mine. The fur still belongs to the animal ... With my pelts, I have recreated an animal fur, with no killing involved. The pelts juxtapose a traditionally male sport of hunting with a traditionally female craft of latch hooking, creating an equally masculine and feminine result.
skunk.

Raccoon.
I find the beauty and craftsmanship of Morgan's work powerful. As a very young artist just finishing her bachelors I cannot wait to see were Morgan's work goes next.

did you see me in martha?




Yes, there I am in Martha Stewart Living, my work I mean.
Sadly I am uncredited:(
What???

Nonetheless, I was very excited to find out that an image of my work at Lion Bran Yarn Studio is in the current January issue of Living. They wrote a very nice feature on the awesome Lion Brand studio and my installation was up during the photo shoot.
I was very sad that my name is not credited. But I will focus on the positive. I am in Martha!!!

And a huge thanks to Rebecca Ringquist who saw it and let me know. Otherwise I would have never known and missed out on seeing this exciting exposure. Thank You!!!!

p.s. if any one wants to write the editor and say how they should always credit artists be my guest. They really should know better. And we artist's have to stand up for each other.
mslletters@marthastewart.com

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Upcoming Workshops:

Upcoming Classes:
Scroll down to see all my public classes and workshops. These vary from short day to week-long residency workshops.  Continue to scroll to see a list of previous workshops taught.
I hope to see you in class soon.
See examples of student work here.


This class will explore hand embroidery as a form of drawing. Through direct drawing, transfer and projection you will build technical skills and methodologies for idea development. Traditional drawing techniques such as contour, gesture and hatching will be addressed and considered in terms of application with embroidery. Participants will learn basic-to-advanced embroidery techniques, including various stitches, appliqué techniques, and three-dimensional building of textiles. We will look at the work of contemporary textile and mixed media artists and how they use the principles and legacy of drawing traditions to make dynamic embroidery and appliqué based works of art. Along with a focus on new techniques we will also consider the conceptual role of “thread” and how it relates to the content and form of one's artwork. Participants will begin a personal project and discuss the best way to make their stitch, technique, color and materials choices. Beginner and Beyond

More information and register here:

AND


Come discover the combination of the cyanotype process of alternative photography and embroidery techniques to create unique imagery and stitch work. Working from items with personal meaning, you will combine the art of the photogram, (a process of placing objects directly onto coated material and exposing it to light), the photograph and hand stitching to make striking one-of-a-kind pieces of art. Participants will discover the alternative process photo emulsion of cyanotype (an evocative blue tone) on fabric and rag paper and embellish their work with hand stitching and appliqué. You will learn the cyanotype technique and basic stitches to embellish your work with. The class includes slide presentations and critical discussion as well as plenty of experimentation. Beginner and Beyond





                                      

Cyanotype & Stitch

June 21-24, 2019
Learn multiple techniques that combine photography and embroidery to create unique imagery and stitched work. Working from items with personal meaning, students will combine the art of the photogram, the photograph, and hand stitching. Students will be introduced to the alternative photo emulsion process of cyanotype on fabric and rag paper and embellish their work with hand stitching and appliqué for exciting results.



I regularly teach classes with MASS ART in their continuing education.
Check here for current classes.

at the Eliot School in Jamaica Plain, Boston.
Advanced Embroidery
Sunday, Apr 28, 1–5pm 
Expand your embroidery repertoire by learning more advanced and layered stitches. Explore uses of decorative and imaginative stitches. Students should have a basic understanding of embroidery and know some basic stitches, such as cross, chain, split, stem and back. Prerequisite: Basic Embroidery or equivalent skills

Stitching with Contrast & Value 

Sunday, May 19, 10am–2pm

Use basic embroidery strategies to introduce aspects of value and the illusion of 3-dimensional space. Practice techniques, such as hatching, and ways to improve how you see light and render gradations of light in your embroidered drawings. All levels welcome.



 Eliot school classes tend to sell out so sign up early!  


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If you would like me to offer a workshop with you please contact me at joettamaue (at) gmail com

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Other locations that Joetta has taught:








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Previous Classes Taught:



Drawing with Thread
This class explores embroidery as drawing. The class will focus on techniques of taking drawings into a stitched work. Through direct drawing, transfer and projection students will build technical skills and methodologies for idea development. Traditional drawing techniques such as contour, gesture, hatching and pointillism are addressed and considered in terms of application to needlework pieces. Students will learn basic to advanced embroidery techniques, including various stitches, appliqué techniques, staining and 3-dimensional building of textiles. We will look at the work of contemporary textile and mixed media artists and how they use the principles and legacy of drawing traditions to make dynamic embroidery and appliqué based works of art. Along with a focus on new techniques we will also consider the conceptual role of “thread” in one’s work and how it relates to the content and form of our artwork. As the class develops we will begin a personal project and discuss the best way to make stitch, technique, color and materials choices.  There will be presentations on textile artists and the history of drawing techniques as well as critique of personal work. 

Alternative Process and Hand Embroidery
The focus of this course is to discover collage, photography and textiles techniques to create unique imagery and stitch work. Working from items with personal meaning, students will combine the art of the photogram, a process of placing objects directly onto coated material and exposing it to light, the photograph and hand stitching to make striking one-of-a-kind pieces of art. Participants will discover the alternative process photo emulsion of cyanotype (an evocative blue tone) and van dyke (a rich brown) on fabric and embellish their work with hand stitching and appliqué. The class includes slide presentations and critical discussion as well as plenty of experimentation. Open to all skill levels.

Art is Process
All too often we head into the process of making something burdened with expectations, pre-determined outcome or not knowing how to begin at all and other sorts of barriers. This class is going to help break us out of that approach to creative self-expression. By following where our process leads us, we find our answers, and not the other way around. We will explore some fun ways to get ideas surfaced and then how to flesh those ideas into a vision. We will do some writing, meditation and brain mapping exercises to identify what is most important to us as individuals in the process of making. From these ideas we will look at personal materials; textiles, photographs and words to start to develop a focus to how and what we make. This is not just a class about textiles, the textiles are in service to the process of creative exploration.


We are gonna go wide and deep.

EMBROIDERY: THE MARK OF THE NEEDLE

This class teaches a variety of embroidery, needle arts, and stitching techniques and how to apply them to contemporary art making. This involves going past the technique and exploring the conceptual layer of working with textiles and stitching while looking at the heritage and meaning of embroidery's history and how contemporary artists are reclaiming and evolving it. Diverse skills are introduced and studied, including basic-to-advanced hand embroidery techniques and its tools, applique (both raw and finished), working in 3 dimensions with textiles and a range of transfer techniques. The class also looks at the history of embroidery, how to diversify stitches and marks made by thread, how to work with text and photographs, creating value in textile drawings, and color choices and conceptual development. Skills are introduced in small-scale projects that are then applied to larger personal projects or a series. The class allows for the exploration of needle work in various ways -- as a form of art in itself, a new technique for mixed media practices, or as a skill set that can be applied to decorative work on wearables and household textiles.


Stitching with the hand...

Explore the wonderful versatility and beauty of hand
needlework. Learn basic stitches and techniques while looking
at contemporary artists and their interpretations of the
tradition for inspiration. Walk away with the tools to make your
own unique works of stitched art. We will have plenty of time
for group and individual stitching. No experience necessary. A
materials list will be sent to students prior to the first class. 



Cyanotype & Stitch

Combine photograms and stitching to make striking one-of-a-kind pieces of art. Bring items of personal meaning to work with; small objects and transparent or translucent items work well, e.g. lace, thin fabric, photocopies or drawings on acetate. Create a composition with your objects, then use light-sensitive photo emulsion to create a cyanotype - an evocative blue image - on fabric. Finally, embellish and personalize the work with stitching.

Squam Art Workshops Spring 2015
In this class we will slip into a gentle place and bring a meaningful moment forward.
Using color, text and image – we will layer stitches to create a piece that represents the heart of this experience. Students will be encouraged to think about what that moment could be. Is it a memory? Is it something you want to manifest in your life? Or, is it simply an exploration of the smaller, yet shimmering moments of the everyday?
The options are wide but what we all will be doing is looking at how each of us, as the artists of our day, draw upon key moments for inspiration. We will deepen our awareness of how we honor, explore, celebrate and heal the experiences of our life.
Four core stitches will be employed throughout this class: satin, split, stem, and French. We will also be using split or stem for applique. If you are not familiar with these techniques, Joetta will provide clear tutorials and examples of each.
The project will be stitched onto found linen. Joetta will share her knowledge of how working with found linens and materials affects the overall conceptual read of the work so that choices are not arbitrary, rather meaning and intention is behind each choice. She will also lead an open discussion on the role linens play in our lives, cultural and personal associations, imagery etc.

After this class, a pillowcase may never seem like just a pillowcase again . . .

Alternative Media Drawing, Adult                       
Students will be inspired by contemporary artists who
are pushing the boundaries of “drawing” with their
techniques and mediums. Discuss ways in which an artist can
approach alternative materials in drawing and problem solve.
Experiment with drawing with thread and wire on paper and fabric. Class
will work from a still life initially. As the class progresses artists can feel
free to experiment and push the boundaries of the project. Students should
bring materials that they may want to experiment with.

Applique Portraits 
Work from a photograph or drawing to create a textile portrait incorporating techniques of embroidery, applique & surface design. Learn how to apply these techniques to create work in a larger scale. In addition we will cover transfer techniques, learn appropriate stitches, stencil techniques and more.


Artisans’ Critique
It’s hard to find a place outside of art school to discuss your work in a critical dialog with other artisans. Come together to present recent work and enjoy constructive criticism and conversation in a small group with a seasoned curator/artist/educator. What are you working toward, both visually and conceptually? What will help move you forward? Open to all media including wood, fibers, paint, books, assemblage.
 

Embroidery Embellishments on Clothing
Inspired by the Hippie Chic fashion exhibition at the MFA, embroider directly onto clothing. We will offer some designs from that era for alteration, personalization and play. In the process, learn basic embroidery



Stitchery with Unexpected Materials
Sunday, May 19, 2013 – 10am–4pm – $70
Push the boundaries and explore alternatives to thread and fabric. Stitch with wire, raffia, rope on found materials, wood, paper and more. Great for mixed media artists, fiber artists and anyone interested in incorporating stitches into their art. Learn basic stitches and problem-solve quirks and challenges involved in using alternative materials.



Build a Blog


Build a blogger blog in this workshop. Learn the tricks and trades of a successful blog, how to build traffic, learn the ins and outs of the Blogger

software and begin to build your blog. We will work on inserting images, making a header, adding gadgets, links, etc. Students must
bring their own laptop to work on and have images on your computer to work from for headers and link images. You should have a blog fully built by the end of the class
 

Hand Appliqué

Appliqué, a process of cutting, layering and sewing cloth to create pictures, can serve as an illustrative device, a form of collage or even a pathway to three dimensions. Learn basic techniques to create appliquéd images and forms, then begin to explore how to go further, take risks and court the unexpected.



Hand EmbroideryExplore the beauty and versatility of hand needlework. Make your own personal sampler with traditional and modern embroidery stitches and experiment with creativity. Learn a variety of techniques and be exposed to contemporary interpretations of the tradition so you can make your own unique works of art.





'Til death do us part
Celebrate, investigate, or pine about the experience of marriage and romantic partnership. Work with fiber artist Joetta Maue -who's work is inspired by the most intimate relationships we have in life- to create a one of a kind piece of embroidery art. Come with an idea to make a work about marriage, love, love loss, desire for love- wherever your heart is. Discuss how one can make a hand made ketubah, the Jewish wedding contract, an image of the bridal bed or couple, or a creation inspired by wedding vows and how these make a meaningful heirloom or treasured gift. In conjunction we will talk about the role of dowry and embroidered wedding gifts in history.


PUSH: Embroidery: Learn basic embroidery stitches to utilize the process of applique and fiber collage to create 3 dimensional fiber pieces of art. Each class will be dedicated to a different technique each week. Each technique is inspired by artists in the book. -Illustrative applique-using simple applique techniques to create simple narrative illustrations.-Black work or Red work- learn to create detailed stitched drawings with just one color, using techniques like hatching, stippling, and shading.-Working with unexpected materials- use your needle and thread on found and appropriated objects and images.-Transparency- use traditional embroidery stitches on transparent fabrics and discuss what to consider and how this changes your working process.Participants are encouraged to bring text, paper pages, and found fibers that have meaning for them.


Playing With Fiber
Celebrate fiber and all of its wonderful facets through this class where instead of focusing on an end product we focus on how taking risks and giving ourselves the freedom to "just play" opens up possibilities in our creative practice.Each week we will focus on something a little different including:
-Needle point stitches and learning about how far we can push them or how we can combine them to make unique and fun textures or apply them to unexpected objects- these textures can become a signature look or a canvas to build with.
-Applique and how we can use found fabrics and objects to create dimensional collages through the most basic technique of attachment. Learn to take risks and do the unexpected. And how we can make anything work with fiber.
- Yarn and its many uses through crochet and knitting sculpturally
-Liquid- Play with painting fiber, watering it down, using stains like coffee and tea and combining this with other techniques to create truly layered pieces of art. Allow the natural tendency of the fabric to bleed to be a gift instead of a burden.
This class is all about having fun, pushing technique, and letting yourself think outside of the box. Students are strongly encouraged to bring materials to class such as found object, found fabrics, text, small items, buttons, whatever inspire you! Using a piece of fabric as a canvas add elements through traditional applique and sculptural applique to create a dimensional piece of work. We will discuss adding fabric and stuffing it, adding folded and sculpted fabric, applique techniques, and how to create more textural stitches. This class will open up your creativity in making needle work pieces and unique works of art. Participants are encouraged to bring text, paper pages, and found fibers that have meaning for them.



Embroidered Gift Cards

Join Joetta Maue for yet another great experiment in embroidery -- this time on paper! Draw with a needle and thread to create your own personal gift cards.




PHOTO EMBROIDERY CLASS

In this class, you will learn to use basic stitches to create a detailed embroidered drawing from an original photograph. Using a photograph of your own we will learn to transcribe the photo onto fabric through a variety of techniques, choose the best lines and approaches to turn the photograph into a drawing, and bring the image alive through embroidery stitches. Experienced or new embroiderers welcome.


Autobiographical Embroidery
Glean from your daily life to create a one of a kind portrait by creating a "sampler" of embroidery stitches. We will discuss the creative use of diaristic writing and daily life documentation to create your own art while looking at examples of contemporary fiber artists and learning traditional stitches and embroidery basics. Students are encouraged to work with found, inherited, or vintage linen as their base.

3 Dimensional Embroidery
Explore your personal creativity in this sculptural needlework class. This class will teach you to use basic embroidery stitches, applique and fiber collage to create 3-dimensional artworks in fiber and textiles. Using a piece of fabric as an artist canvas, students will add elements through traditional and structural applique techniques to create a dimensionality. We will discuss techniques for adding folded and sculpted fabric, shaping and stuffing, applique and how to create textural elements with stitches. Participants are encouraged to bring text, paper pages, and found fibers or textiles that have meaning for them.

The Embroidered Image
Learn to use basic stitches to create a detailed embroidered drawing from an original photograph of your choice. Using a variety of stitching styles and approaches, you will be introduced to various transfer techniques to turn your photo into a drawing and bring the image alive through embroidery. This is a non-traditional free-form approach to the medium of embroidery. Follow Joetta’s blog, www.littleyellowbirds.com, to read her musings on art, craft and the astounding beauty of everyday life.





satin stitching....


Life is somewhat in order again- giving me most of this week to work on my embroidered words. They are coming along and I love how they look but they are very very slow going. In order to keep the stitches neat and precise I cannot move fast. So all week this week in the studio I satin stitch. Which is extremely monotonous work so any great podcasts you know of send my way.


Otherwise the art shipments keep coming in for connective thread. And I started a little blog for the exhibition so that all the details are in one place. There are also links to all the artists website. Each artist will be featured here but not until the show is hung- So if you want a sneak peek go take a visit.

O.k. Back to my satin stitches.

vast space in stitch.



Artist Suchitra Mattai combines bold patterned fabrics with a futuristic style of drawing and needlework to explore the vastness and tininess of space.


Showing emptiness while simultaneously showing industrialization.



Her stitching technique is neat and precise which compliments the concept of her work. She states:

The act of embroidery is integral to the theme. The human hand is very present in the dots and lines used to create each piece. It is the connection of the thread to cloth, the actual act of mark-making with thread that builds each landscape.

In my work I try to construct a bewildering place, a puzzle of disparate pieces and memories culled from the noise of sensory details. These landscapes are imagined worlds where spaces are both filled and emptied, united, yet divided. Color is one of the most important formal tools I utilize. Bright bold colors ignite otherwise barren landscapes. The uninhabited scapes are meant to evoke a sense of isolation while stylization takes the work into the realm of the fairytale. The juxtaposition of diverse sources—patterns, silhouettes, ornament, and color from Indian textiles, Japanese prints, maps, pop culture, and fairytales—further intensifies the feeling of psychological confusion. These landscapes serve to help me make sense of the visual, cultural, and psychological phenomena that shape my existence.

She also creates some gorgeous paintings and drawings that continue her body of work on this theme. Her style reminds me a bit of my talanted friend Jaclyn Mednicov. Suchitra's website is behaving a little funky so I have not been able to see all of her work but perhaps you will have better luck.

Monday, December 28, 2009

little nests.




Loving these images of an installation done by artist Marcella Anna Stasa. Found via this interview.


I was asked to be interviewed for this blog by artspace@16 as part of my upcoming solo show in Massachusetts. And am excited to participate and very excited by the many cool artist interviews that they have done.

Marcella is a very diverse artist so go check out more work at her website.