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.