1. No category

Promoting appreciation of fiber art
and fostering its development
APRIL - MAY 2009
www.fiberartspgh.org
•
[email protected]
President’s Message
•
p.o.box 5478
•
pittsburgh pa 15206
Kimono as Art: The Landscapes
of Itchiku Kubota
by Rhoda Taylor
Dear
Members,
I
n this issue of the newsletter you will find the
report of the nominating committee. I think they
have done a marvelous job of finding members
who will make a very able, well-rounded Board.
You will notice that there are four people nominated
for three-year terms. In the past, we have added
three members each year to make a board consisting of nine members. Since we are expanding the
Board to twelve members, we now will elect four
members each year, so that from 2011 on, we will
have a twelve member Board.
This year, we will be electing one person for a
one-year term. Nancy Hays has faithfully fulfilled
two years of her term, but since she is traveling
extensively she will be unable to participate in the
third year.
The nominating committee also found four members who have agreed to be on the nominating
committee next year.
At the general meeting on April 22, we will elect
members to the Board. In addition to the slate
recommended by the nominating committee, you
can nominate other members at that time if they’ve
previously agreed. After the election, at the May
Board meeting, the new Board will elect the officers
for 2009-2010 and will announce them at the May
meeting and in the June issue of the newsletter.
T
he Kimono as Art exhibition at the Canton Museum of Art through April 26
is one not to be missed by fiber artists. Kubota’s kimono were displayed at
several museums including the Smithsonian in 1995 but may never be back in
the U.S. again, so “run, don’t walk” to the exhibit. This is a once-in-a-lifetime
opportunity. Kubota was apprenticed to learn the art of dyeing at age 14. When
he was 20 he saw a fragment of a 350-year-old textile in a museum in Tokyo and
dreamed of it the rest of his life, spending much of the next 40 years trying to
reconstruct the lost art of dyeing and decorating the fabric. Finally, at age 60, he
was satisfied that he had produced something similar, using modern techniques.
The show has two rooms of 8-ft. tall kimono and an exhibit describing his life,
techniques used, and a film. Ten kimono are in one room, and the other room
contains his breathtaking “Symphony of Light”, composed of 30 kimono in
a semicircle depicting landscapes as they change from autumn to winter. You
see lakes, rivers, mountains, forests, and other landscape features moving from
kimono to kimono. The silk fabric was woven with a weft of either gold or silver
threads. Kubota used ink, paints, shibori techniques and embroidery to produce
the designs. The fabric was tied in rings and steamed, untied and lightly ironed
to produce a textured surface. Each kimono took a year to produce. Kubota
intended to continue the series with kimono representing spring and summer, but
died in 2003 at age 85 before he could work on the other two seasons.
The exhibition was reviewed in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Wednesday, March 4
(www.post-gazette.com/pg/09063/952904-37.stm). At www.kimonoexhibit.com
you can see a film and slide show of some of the kimono, Kubota’s life story, and
a listing of the special events at the museum associated with the show. Two of
Kubota’s kimono are pictured in Shibori: The Inventive Art of Japanese Shaped
Resist Dyeing, by Yoshiko Iwamoto Wada.
I have never seen fabric and decoration quite like these gorgeous kimono. Take a
magnifying glass with you, because you can get very close and look at the details.
Also at the meeting on April 22, after the business
meeting we will have a slide lecture by Guild
member Joanne Baxter. Having been at the March
Wet Skills Play Day, I can say that I think many
members will “Let Your Inner Child Come Out and
Play”.
I hope you all will be at the meeting on April 22,
both for the election of Board members and for the
lecture.
www.fiberartspgh.org — 1
Travels With Jan
Ed. note: You can email Jan at [email protected] to request
her complete journal entries from her trip.
by Jan Bass
A
pparently everything is interconnected. Thailand devolved into
political chaos this fall, so our trip Down Under was re-routed
through Kyoto and Seoul. What follows are brief glimpses of a few
memorable fiber-related moments encountered along the way.
We were lucky to be in Japan the weekend families celebrate
Coming of Age Day, the day those turning 20 (equivalent to our
21) celebrate. Girls and mothers wore formal kimono. We saw
them everywhere—having lunch with relatives, walking the streets
trying not to trip, or riding the subway to their temple of choice.
Some merely tolerated the costuming, while others relished it. The
boys, poor things, wore black suits and suffered by comparison,
generally hanging around in the background. A few kimono were
exquisite, especially those worn by mothers but, since purchase
of a high quality kimono is a major investment, their scarcity was
understandable. The mothers clearly grew up wearing kimono
as it was reflected in their beautiful, refined and relaxed manner
while their daughters struggled, some more than others. Walking
in kimono is definitely an acquired skill.
There are temples on almost every corner of Kyoto and we saw
many, but I spent one afternoon concentrating on fabric. I found
a store specializing in furoshiki, cloth used to wrap gifts, fold into
carriers or generally manipulate into useful things. I confined myself
to one square, double woven tablecloth that quickly morphed
into my “purse” of choice, able to contract or expand as needed.
2 — www.fiberartspgh.org
This was followed by a visit to an indigo dye shop operated by
a third-generation indigo dye master who, unfortunately, was
away. His wife, the designer of much of their clothing, ushered
me into their showroom where many historical items—clay, fiber,
bamboo—were on display as well as items for sale. The latter were
all hand dyed using natural Japanese grown and processed indigo
that produced a beautiful deep blue in the cloth used in many
differing designs. A scarf in an unfamiliar shibori design and a bit
of dyed cloth found their way into our luggage.
No cloth purchases in Korea, but clothing on the street and in shop
windows was remarkable—more tailored and cut in interesting
ways so that it draped beautifully and moved with the body, with
unusual closures, pleats and embellishments. It would be worth
returning to concentrate on clothing.
Sydney offered several social days with ATASDA members (an
Australian fiberarts organization), a couple play days with sun
printing and, of course, wonderful sights, sounds and tastes. All
the terrible news to the contrary, there is a world out there filled
with interesting, friendly people. I hope you have a chance to
explore it and share your own experiences.
Connection and
Community: Risë Nagin’s
Lecture and Workshop
by Carolyn Carson
O
n Friday February 20, the Guild’s Risë Nagin presented
her lecture, “Interplay of Color and Design.” Using slides
depicting the work of Van Gogh, Gauguin, Matisse, Mondrian,
Klee and Kandinsky, she discussed the way these artists used
color and light. For those not well versed in art history, it was
enlightening, to say the least. As fiber artists, we can learn so
much from the masters.
Art really is all about connection and community, both temporally
and spatially. The masters of the 19th and 20th centuries, gone
now, have left a legacy for us all. Across time, we still connect
with them on so many levels. Perhaps we relate to their need to
create, or respond to their use of color or symbolism. Perhaps
we understand the historical or political context of their work.
Perhaps the emotion conveyed in the art moves us in some
unexplainable way. We are all touched by the work of other artists
in personal ways. But it is the art that links us to those creative
geniuses who lived before us and those who will live long after
we are gone. Risë’s lecture made it clear that they have so much
to teach us in the way they used color and design. We can only
hope to emulate the work in some way. But we will try.
Art connects us to a wider community geographically. The
artists Risë discussed were born in the Netherlands, France,
Switzerland and Russia. People throughout the world have been
affected by their art, just as their art has an impact on us and our
work. Art bridges cultural, language and religious differences. It
is a common unifier, something shared by all. And yet society
often neglects it in terms of education or funding, as if it doesn’t
matter as much as other issues. But it does. And we are part
of perpetuating art. Regardless of how far our art reaches, it
matters.
Risë’s workshop on February 21 really illustrated how art creates
community. There were approximately 15 people engaged in
Risë’s class and not only did we learn, but we got to know each
other a little better. Risë conducted exercises that allowed us
to understand the importance and impact of value. By creating
shapes out of paper and fabric in different values (light, medium,
and dark) we could see how the values not only affected
surrounding color, but the entire piece. It was beneficial and
applicable to any art form. Creative folks that we are, we even
explored the artistic beauty of the human body by doing some
research in popular magazines that people had brought, resulting
in laughs and giggles, but clearly a sense of community.
Connections
CONNECTIONS is an opportunity for Guild members to announce
news about their work, activities and accomplishments. Due to
space limitations, we need to limit members’ announcements to
a maximum of five. Please make your own selection of five before
submitting to us.
Two of Marty Ressler’s fabric collages, “Small Fall Off the Wall”
and “Small Hairball”, were in the Small Works Show at The Framery
March 6-27. She has joined Etsy and posted her Hot Spots there
http://auntymarty.etsy.com.
Terri Perpich received an award for her fiberglass piece (a
collaboration with her husband, Ken Beer) in the national juried
Transformation exhibition at the PCA. She also participated in the
Hoyt Institute of Fine Art Member Show this winter, and three of her
prints were in the Hand/Print juried exhibition at Harlan Gallery,
Seton Hill University.
Two of Regina Benson’s political statement art quilts, “Corporate
Transparency” and “Line in the Sand” were in American Print
2009—Influence Someone: Politics in Print, Jan. 30-March 22
at the Foothills Art Center, Golden CO. She presented an artist
talk on March 14. She will also have a solo show of her new
dimensional textile installation works May 1-July 11 at the
Byron C. Cohen Gallery of Contemporary Art in Kansas City
MO (www.byroncohengallery.com) as part of the Surface Design
Association’s upcoming conference. She will present a special
technical artist talk there about her inspiration and techniques on
May 1 and 29 at 3pm. www.reginabenson.com
Wanda Spangler-Warren’s sculpture “Dove” received the Best
of Show award at the Butler Art Center’s Age of Aquarius show Jan.
23-Feb. 21. www.theartcenterbutlerpa.org. “Dove” incorporates
paper toweling and will be used to promote the Butler County
Paper Pantry, which contributes paper supplies to local food
banks. Nine of Wanda’s paper, reed and wood sculptures will
be on view through April 14 in the Quiet Room at the Children’s
Museum in Pittsburgh. www.pittsburghkids.org
Jane Ogren received a juror’s award for “99 Holes” in the AAP
exhibition 99 at PCA. She has work in AAP’s Small Works, Short
Films, Big Ideas! through April 19 at PCA, and the Pennsylvania
Guild of Craftsmen’s Thread Count at the Guilded Tulip Gallery in
Lancaster PA May 1-June 6.
Laura Tabakman’s “Dali’s Tree” will be included in the Fifth
International Biennial of Textile Art in Buenos Aires, Argentina April
1-25, sponsored by the World Textile Art Organization. She is
attending the opening and participating in activities in conjunction
with the show. http://www.wta-online.org/ING/
verso (detail) © 2003 - 2006
Installation of ten individual panels, double sided.
Textiles, gouache and acrylic paint, thread.
Overall dimensions: 76” x 30”
Approximate dimensions each panel: 14” x 14”
www.fiberartspgh.org — 3
P
r
o
g
June 29
Betsy Coleman, 2008-spring 2009 chair
[email protected]
Susan Coen, summer 2009-2010 chair
[email protected]
3-5pm
Bring your in-progress or finished work for supportive and
enjoyable feedback. Participants report that these sessions are
very helpful for their work and in getting to know fellow artists.
This is a designated review meeting for Sleight of Hand artists in
addition to general members’ work.
April 22
Wednesday
7-9pm
Annual Meeting: New Board member nominations and election
Lecture: Joanne Baxter –
Let Your Inner Child Come Out and Play
Sixth Presbyterian Church, Forbes & Murray Aves., Squirrel Hill
Guild member Joanne Baxter will present a slide lecture on art dolls.
Joanne has studied with nationally known doll artists but considers
herself mainly self-taught. Her work has evolved over 25 years.
She now produces Goddess Art Dolls which are based on her life
experiences or people close to her. They are made from fabric, with
painted faces, various fibers for hair, and accessorized.
7-9pm
Lecture: Jiyoung Chung on Joomchi, Korean traditional
paper making
Contemporary Craft, 2100 Smallman St., Strip District
Jiyoung Chung received her BFA in painting from Rhode Island
School of Design with honors and awards, and her MFA in print/
media from Cranbrook Academy of Art. She has had numerous
solo and group exhibitions throughout Korea, China, Finland,
France and the U.S. Her work is in the permanent collection of the
Museum of Arts and Design in New York.
May 16 & 17
Sat. & Sun.
10am-4pm
Workshop: Jiyoung Chung – Color Joomchi
Contemporary Craft, 2100 Smallman St., Strip District
Fee for the two days is $150 for members plus $30 materials fee.
Joomchi is a Korean traditional papermaking method creating a
layered, textural surface by using only water and thin papers. Unlike
other papermaking techniques, it requires no special equipment or
chemicals to combine the layers. It can be used in surface design,
collage, new ways of drawing, and sculpture; for either functional
or non-functional purposes.
NOTE: Registration is by mail or e-mail:
m
Monday
s
3-5pm
Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, 6300 Fifth Ave.,
corner of Fifth & Shady Ave., Shadyside
Sixth Presbyterian Church, Forbes & Murray Aves., Squirrel Hill
Friday
a
Critique and optional dinner get-together
April 22
Wednesday
Critique and optional dinner get-together
May 15
r
Contemporary Craft
2100 Smallman Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
[email protected]
4 — www.fiberartspgh.org
Guild members and Sleight of Hand artists may bring finished or
in-progress work for supportive and enjoyable feedback. Word
has it that Sheila Klein will be joining us! (see below)
June 29
Monday
7-9pm
A Conversation with Sheila Klein
Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, 6300 Fifth Ave.,
corner of Fifth & Shady Ave., Shadyside
Sheila Klein is an artist interested in “the interconnectedness of
things”. She will be doing a permanent pedestrian bridge installation
in Pittsburgh this summer, along with a one-person show, Werk,
at PCA. She’ll take time out while she’s here to present a program
to the Guild.
Seattle-based and internationally-know installation artist Sheila
Klein grew up in Pittsburgh and is aware of the importance of our
bridges. She will be here this summer to do a permanent installation
on a new pedestrian bridge across Ellsworth Avenue, connecting
Shadyside to the new East Side development. Sponsored by East
Liberty Development Inc., supported by Pittsburgh’s Office for
Public Art, and funded by the Heinz Endowments, the installation
will include large-scale glass sequins, salvaged materials, native
grasses, and a special deck paint job. The importance to the Guild
is two-fold: She’ll be presenting a June 29 lecture (above), and her
installation may present us a rare volunteering opportunity to help
with the project! More info will be coming in Updates and the next
newsletter; in the meantime, check her website www.sheilaklein.
com and click on Projects, then Shady Liberty Footbridge. An
informative article appeared in Pittsburgh City Paper on Feb. 21.
KUDOS
After the January Potluck, the Guild received this lovely thank you
from one of the staff at the PCA:
“Thank you so much” for having such a well organized Pot Luck
event on Thursday. It was great to walk into Simmons and see
that you had taken the tables down, folded the tablecloths and
emptied the rubbish. It helped me so much because I had a class
scheduled in Simmons at 4:30 p.m. Oh, if every guild would do
just some of what “my friends in the Fiber Arts Guild” do. Please
convey my sentiments to all of your members. You are truly special
women, and I sincerely appreciate you.
In return, I take great pleasure in joining my hands together with
yours to help you when and wherever.
Respectfully, Ms. Joy
Pittsburgh Center for the Arts
♥
♠
♣
♦
T h e P l ay i n g C a r d P r o j e ct
From the Fi2010 Director
T
he February 28 Fi2010 volunteer brunch was a great success.
Several new volunteers joined the group, and a new Guild
member, Marty Ressler, jumped right in to chair the Hospitality
committee. Many new ideas were discussed, which we’ll be
considering and incorporating as we proceed.
Only one committee, Receiving/Repacking, still needs a chair. It’s
a rewarding and interesting position, with at least 10 volunteers to
do the work.
Laura Tabakman, the Slide/Digital Processing Chair, has met with
Martha Wasik and me and is working with our webmaster Jeremy
on improving the online registration procedure. The day after the
downloadable prospectus was on the website we received our
first entry! This helped to quickly identify any weaknesses in the
process. Since then we’ve received our first mailed entry.
Thanks to the enthusiasm of new member Donna Broderick,
we’re working on applying for a new NEA grant from the stimulus
package. Registration is jammed since many other organizations
are doing the same; I’ll keep you up-to-date on the status.
So far, our traveling venues are the Memorial Art Museum in
Rochester NY and the San Francisco Museum of Craft + Design.
There’s still plenty of time to get involved with this exciting
project!
T
hings are moving right along! Six card designs have already
been completed and approved, with several more reviewed
in progress. I am very enthused by the wide range of technique
and interpretation. So far I’ve seen quilting, hooking, felting,
cross stitch, mixed media, phototransfer, and printmaking. The
clever interpretations of specific cards and unique approaches
to the project—from humorous and lighthearted to heartfelt and
intense—make me, once again, in awe of the talent we have in
the Guild.
The next review meeting is April 22, and we’ve scheduled two new
reviews for June 29 and Sept. 11. All will be from 3-5 pm, before
a general 7:00 meeting. Please let me know if you’d like to bring
your work to any of these. We may schedule more review meetings
after that, until the final approval date of Nov. 1.
And finally, a note of regret that we can’t include more members in
this project. After discovering that we underestimated the level of
enthusiasm, we did consider adding another deck to the project.
Unfortunately, this would double our printing costs, negating the
fundraising benefits for Fiberart International. Let’s consider a
future project that will be as intriguing and involving as this one!
Mary Towner
[email protected]
724.969.0369
Desha Jaramaz
[email protected]
412.687.6549
Fiberarts Guild Yahoo Group
The Fiberarts Guild has launched an online discussion group for its members. It
is a Yahoo Group, if any of you are familiar with those. It’s a place to let everyone
know about interesting things going on in your fiber life, ask questions (about
techniques, resources, where to find materials, etc.), let people know about an
interesting show happening, or simply start a discussion.
All you need to do is join.
Go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/fiberartspgh/, click on Join this Group,
and follow the steps. You have the choice of receiving the emails as they’re sent or just
reading them when you feel like it. We hope everyone joins. Email Laura Tabakman lauratabakman@
yahoo.com with any questions or problems.
www.fiberartspgh.org — 5
Wet Skill Play Day
by Marty Ressler
I
asked Ruth Stewart, new member of the Fiberarts Guild, what
she thought of our first Wet Skill Play Day, held March 7. “It was
very successfully done, a great learning experience.” What did
Ruth decide to try next? “Shibori dying and polymer clay.” Then
she thought a minute and rushed after me to add, “Really, I want
to say more: this was a fantastic forum for exploring new avenues
of expression. It was very successful.”
Could I find a single person who disagreed with Ruth? No, I could
not. The longest-standing member, Tobey Wolken, said, “This
was the best, most exciting day of my life! I have been working
in machine embroidered functional pieces. But I wanted to find a
new direction, and now I’d like to try photo transfer.”
Nancy Liddle brought materials she has acquired but wasn’t quite
sure how to use. So she asked and learned. And as Nancy put it,
“It was a play day, so I played!” Her favorite skill center? Cindy
Roode’s stamping. Cindy let participants try out her small, hand
made stamps (some carved out of the cork saved from a bottle),
printing onto stabilized fabric using iridescent acrylic paints.
Susan Radford has been making hand knit creations and
jewelry, doing several craft shows a year. But she came in order
to think about starting anew. “This was a very free and diverse
experience.”
Guest Barb Donato came with her friend Helen Naimark.
“I’ve been doing mixed media pieces on paper. But I came to
get inspired.” So did it work? Yes! Barb is going to try the photo
transfers and stamp printing.
Time flew by in the morning session. Many of us tried shibori dyeing
on silk, led by Susan Coen. We clamped and tied and rolled and
twisted our silk squares, then eagerly anticipated our creations
after we’d dropped them in the dye pots and stirred. I don’t think
anyone was disappointed.
Meanwhile Annie Lawrence led a group in learning felting. In
the morning we made felted beads, and in the afternoon Annie
demonstrated flat felting. “Boy, does that take patience,” was a
frequent comment! But the results are beautiful.
Laura Tabakman kept everyone’s attention as she demonstrated
polymer clay techniques—cutting, folding, and passing the clay
through a pasta maker. She then rolls, slices, stacks and uses
other techniques to create jewelry and sculpture. She made it look
irresistibly fun and easy.
6 — www.fiberartspgh.org
Betsy Coleman meanwhile demonstrated marbling. She uses
methyl cel to thicken a pan of water, and carefully places drops
of marbling paints onto its surface. Then she gingerly places a
piece of fabric treated with alum onto the surface, picking up the
pigment. And voila! A unique creation.
An afternoon highlight was the intriguing process of photo transfer,
demonstrated by Elise Rugolo. Elise has been creating her
images in PhotoShop, printing them onto photo paper using an ink
jet printer, and transferring it to paper using matt acrylic medium.
She showed how the same technique works with cloth, and had
samples to let us try it for ourselves.
The demonstration everyone had been waiting for was positioned
at the end: rusting by Rhoda Taylor. Rhoda, like some of the
other artists, had thoughtfully written up an instruction sheet, “Rust
Dyeing a la Rhoda,” along with before and after sample illustrations.
Clad in dust mask and rubber gloves, she wet a cotton cloth in salt
water, and artfully sprinkled her collection of rusty nails, springs,
and who-knows-what onto its surface. Then her precious bundle
was wrapped in plastic and tied. We didn’t get to see the results,
as the rusting process takes several days.
The day was even financially successful. “Look at this,” Wet Play
Day co-organizer Betsy Coleman breathed to me, “Twenty-eight
people participated, including five guests who paid $10 for the
day! We got to pay the venue and actually made money, even at
only $2.00 a member!”
Well, good. I guess that means we get to do this again sometime!
www.fiberartspgh.org — 7
New Member Spotlight
Unsung Heroes
Amanda Gross is a recent graduate (B.A. in Art) and currently
doing an Americorps voluntary service term with PULSE. As part
of PULSE, she works as a studio and gallery assistant at a facility
for adults with cognitive disabilities. Although her background is in
drawing and painting, most recently she has been creating quilt
portraits and wearable quilts. She’s interested in learning more
about these art forms from the many fiber artists in the area.
A
Fiberart Research Project
Emily Prengaman, an Anthropology and Art honors student at
Carnegie Mellon, is studying contemporary fiber artists for her
senior honors project. She’s contacted the Guild, requesting that
artists answer the following questions:
1) What kind of work do you make?
2) How do you see your work in relation to the history and
traditions of the material/technique?
3) How do you see your work in relation to commercially
manufactured fiber products?
4) Would you be willing to talk with me further about your own
work and/or fiberart in general?
Here’s your chance to contribute to fiberart in a different way than
usual. We urge you to take a few minutes and respond to Emily,
either by email [email protected] or in person or by
phone 740.816.4823.
NOMINATIONS
T
he Fiberarts Guild bylaws were changed in August 2008 to
increase the Board of Directors to 12 members by the program
year 2011-2012, four of whom are elected by the membership each
year to serve three-year terms. The 2009-2010 Board will consist
of 10 members. The election will be held at the annual meeting
April 22 at Sixth Presbyterian Church, Forbes & Murray Aves.,
Squirrel Hill. These names have been submitted by the nominating
committee to begin terms in June 2009:
Judy Gentile (to serve the remaining year of Nancy Hays’ term)
Dottie DeGroat
Alexandria Etschmaier
Deb Meteney
Stefanie Moser
Nominations from the floor will be accepted at that meeting if
consent of the nominee has been obtained. Nominating committee
members were Rae Gold, Mary Ann Klussmann, Carole Norulak and
Brent Ruka. Nominating committee members for 2009 are Annie
Lawrence, Norma Lipscomb, Penny Mateer and Coleen Rush.
weaver for 30+ years and Guild member for about 15,
Deb Meteney has much more to show than passive
membership. She’s served on numerous committees, including
Membership Chair for three years, Programs Chair for two years,
chair of two Fiberart International satellite shows, and FI Docent
Committee Chair. I personally experienced her commitment,
leadership ability and impeccable organization skills while she was
Programs chair. She’s currently Fi2010 Forum Co-chair and a Board
of Directors nominee for 2009-2012. How has she done all that in
15 years?? In addition, she’s taught many classes at Touchstone,
the MAFA conference and Seton Hill University, and now teaches
advanced weaving at PCA. Her energy and enthusiasm for fiberart
are contagious. Thank you, Deb, for all your contributions to us
and the fiberarts community at large!
And how do we thank Tobey Wolken? She’s one of the Guild’s
longest-standing members and one of its most active. In a recent
“interview” (she thought we were just chatting!) she said that she
prefers to serve “wherever needed”, revealing her generosity,
humility... and energy! She’s worked on Fiberart International
for 23 years, including Registrar, Receiving and Shipping Chair,
docent and docent organizer. She’s now Docent Chair for Fi2010,
working successfully to dispel the “fear factor” in docenting and
implementing new ways to communicate with viewers. She’s
also been a Board member, Newsletter Editor, and Education
Committee Chair. Not to mention her famous, oft-requested
Lemon Bars! When she found out the Fi07 artists’ dinner planned
no dessert, she promptly made “tons” of lemon bars and other
cookies. This alone exemplifies her true spirit of volunteerism—the
willingness to step in whenever she sees a need. As Ann Taymans
states, “Tobey has always done whatever the Guild needed.”
Making Connections
Membership Show Awards
Nov. 14, 2008 - January 25, 2009 Pittsburgh Center for the Arts
Nancy Davidson, Juror
BEST IN SHOW
Atticus Adams
“slumber of the ancestors”
SURFACE DESIGN ASSOCIATION AWARD
Sharon Wall
“The Mother, The Daughter
and The DNA Code”
KOR AWARD FOR MOST INNOVATIVE USE OF MATERIALS
Amy Lipshie
“HRMPH”
3 DOUDENS AWARD FOR BEST BOTANICAL WORK
Patricia Milford
“Mothers and Daughters”
HERTA DOUDEN AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN STITCHERY
Francine Morison
“Return”
PEOPLES’ CHOICE AWARD
Laura Tabakman
‘Floating Garden Connected Through Air’
8 — www.fiberartspgh.org
CHECK IT OUT
More website tips from members:
Society for Contemporary Craft
From our Oregon member Louise Baldel: For an interesting
treatment of “garment”, see Diane Savona’s Fossil Garments at
www.dianesavonaart.com/newestwork.html
2100 Smallman St., Pittsburgh 15222 / 412.261.7003
www.contemporarycraft.org
From Marty Ressler: “I got a good chuckle from this website:
http://historically-inaccurate.blogspot.com/. Richard Saja (yes, a
guy) has embroidered all kinds of irreverant graffiti onto old-style
printed fabric. What fun.”
From Sigrid Piroch: Perhaps you have heard of this—Quincy
Jones has started a petition to ask President Obama to appoint
a Secretary of the Arts. While many other countries have had
Ministers of Art or Culture for centuries, the United States has
never created such a position. You can sign this petition and then
pass it on to your friends and colleagues: www.petitiononline.
com/esnyc/petition.html
Laura Tabakman suggests visiting the exciting website of the
World Textile Art Organization and its Fifth International Biennial of
Textile Art in Buenos Aires in April.
G Street Fabrics now has an online store!!
www.gstreetfabrics.com
Members of Quilters of South Carolina have created one-ofa-kind bras for Breast Cancer Awareness. The exhibit consists of
49 entertaining, humorous and beautiful works of art to make the
public aware of breast cancer, to memorialize those lost to the
disease, and to honor survivors.
www.quiltersofsc.org/artfullbras/artfullbras.htm
www.quiltersofsc.org/artfullbras/bras2/artfullbras2.htm
An exhibition of interest to the Guild: Clay-Fiber-Metal-Wood,
featuring work by the Buffalo State College Design Department
including Jozef Bajus, the juror for re.CYCLE.fiber, our 2010-11
membership show. Through April 26 at Indigo Art, 74 Allen St. in
Buffalo NY, 716-984-9572.
Pittsburgh Polymer Clay Guild is sponsoring a May 2 & 3
workshop with Donna Kato, the queen of polymer clay herself.
www.polymerclayintheburgh.org/donna_kato_workshop or
contact Leslie Polinko at [email protected].
Beth Black (724.327.3061) would like to hear from any members
who do smocking.
The next screening for new Associated Artists of Pittsburgh
members is Sunday, April 19. The application is available at
http://www.aapgh.org/memb_ap_3..pdf or call the AAP office
412.361.1370.
Art All Night Lawrenceville—an annual celebration of arts,
community and creativity—is back for its 12th year, from 6pm
Saturday April 25 straight through til 2pm Sunday April 26. The
event features work by more than 800 artists, live music, interactive
arts activities for children and adults, performance artists, a live
broadcast by WYEP-FM, and attracts more than 7,500 attendees
each year. This year Art All Night is at the brand new red warehouse
building at 3510 Smallman Street in Lawrenceville (turn off Butler
Street toward the river on 35th or 36th). Admission is FREE, and
the event is open to the public. Art All Night offers every artist of any
skill level the opportunity to showcase one piece of artwork—no
fees, no jury, no censorship. It is planned and coordinated by an
all-volunteer organizing committee of residents and supporters
of Pittsburgh’s vibrant Lawrenceville neighborhood. Scores of
additional volunteers make it happen. To learn more, including how
to register artwork, donate or volunteer, visit www.artallnight.org.
Borne With Us
One Mellon Center, March 6 - May 16, 2009
Contemporary quilts by Kim Eichler-Messmer are currently on
view at the satellite gallery. Eichler-Messmer uses a variety of
quilting techniques and surface treatments to create works with
exceptional visual and conceptual depth.
SCC’s annual fundraiser, Out of Hand, is Saturday, April 18, 6:3010:30 pm. It features hands-on activities, artist demonstrations, live
and silent auctions, unique entertainment and delicious fare from all
over Pittsburgh. Purchase tickets on the website or contact Becky
Berkey: [email protected] or 412.261.7003 x29.
Spring class instructors include Guild members Sandy Trimble
(felted winter hats and resist-painted silk scarves), Annie Lawrence
(nuno felt scarves), and Jan Myers-Newbury (shibori). Lorraine
Glessner will teach a week-long alternative embellishment summer
workshop (SCC members only) June 22-26, 9am-5pm.
Pittsburgh Center for the Arts
6300 Fifth Ave., Pittsburgh 15232 / 412.361.0873
www.pittsburgharts.org
Through April 19
ZOO.Logic+, Patricia Bellan-Gillen
CODE and FORM: C.E.B. Reas & Marius Watz
Transformations, Society of Yoruba Beads
Video Retrospective, Andres Tapia-Urzua
Small Works, Short Films, BIG Ideas!, AAP
Opening May 1
Guided by the Ancestors, Tina Williams Brewer
Retrospective, Henry Bursztynowicz
7 Deadly Sins, Pittsburgh Society of Artists
In Between Presence and Absence, Sun-Young Kang
From the Collection of Pat McArdle
New Work, Aasta Deth
Spring class instructors include Guild members Tina Brewer
(story quilting), Sandy Kephart (fabric collage), and Deb Meteney
(advanced weaving).
Check out summer camps for kids on the PCA website.
www.fiberartspgh.org — 9
Call for Entries
We compile a list of local, regional and national exhibitions that might
be of interest to fiber artists. We would not knowingly list unscrupulous
galleries. Please check out each individual gallery and use your own
judgment about entering the exhibitions. Check out the websites for
details.
April 1. Musings. Open to SAQA members living east of the
Mississippi River. www.saqa.com
April 10. 52nd Chautauqua Annual Exhibition of Contemporary Art.
Chautauqua, NY. www.ciweb.org/VACI
April 19. Saligia, a Seven Deadly Sins Exhibit. Sponsored by the
Pittsburgh Society of Artists (open to all PCA Guild members).
Artwork screening at PCA April 19, 12-1pm.
April 25. Recto Verso, an exhibition of artist books. Sweetwater
Center for the Arts, Sewickley PA. www.sweetwaterartcenter.org/
call_for_artists.asp
April 25. Art All Night Lawrenceville. One piece of art; no fees, no
jury. www.artallnight.org <http://www.artallnight.org>
May 4. From Raw to Refined. Reading Public Museum, Reading
PA. Open to PA Guild of Craftsmen members. www.pacrafts.org/
rawtorefined
May 15. 22nd Annual Northern National Art Competition. Rhinelander
WI. www.nicoletcollege.edu/pdfs/NNAC09A.pdf
May 28. Art Quilts Lowell 2009. The Brush Gallery, Lowell MA.
www.thebrush.org/Documents/ArtQuiltsLowell2009.pdf
June 1. Wichita National All Media Craft Exhibition 2009. Wichita,
KS. www.wcfta.com
June 13. National Small Art Quilt Works Exhibition. Main Street
Gallery, Groton NY. www.mainstreetgal.com
July 1. The Art of Fine Craft. Nebraska Wesleyan University, Lincoln
NE. www.luxcenter.org
July 18. Interpretations, Quilt Visions Juried Exhibition. San Diego
CA. www.quiltvisions.org
August 21. Fiberart International 2010. Sponsored by the
Fiberarts Guild of Pittsburgh. www.fiberartinternational.
org/sites/default/files/prospectus2010.pdf
Sept. 17. Craftforms 2009. Wayne Art Center, Wayne PA. www.
wayneart.org/exhibits/craftforms09.php
Sept. 29. Artist as Quiltmaker XIV. Firelands Assn. for the Visual
Arts, Oberlin OH. [email protected] for prospectus.
Oct. 1. Quilting Natural Florida II. Florida Museum of Natural History,
Gainesville FL. www.flmnh.ufl.edu/exhibits/quilting_natural_florida_
entry_form.pdf
Nov. 9. Inside Out, an exhibition of fiber art for the human form.
Textile Center, Minneapolis MN. www.textilecentermn.org
April 2010. Interplay, part of AAP’s 2010 centennial year celebration.
Open to AAP, PCA and member guilds. More information to come.
List of Favorite
(or not-so-favorite) Stores
by Leslie Calhoun
O
ften I find myself in a section of the city/county/state with which
I am not familiar. If I have time to kill I like exploring fiber art
shops and bookstores. With your help I would like to compile a list of
favorite fiber art places to shop, or not-so-favorite places to avoid!
These will be divided into real stores and on-line sites. The list will be
on the Yahoo Group site only, and will be available to FGP members
only. Initially I will sort the list by area, so I will need the county and
whether it is N (north of downtown Pgh), NE, E, etc. (The Point will
be the center for reference.) Please don’t assume that I will know
where some section of the city or a town is—I usually don’t.
Then I will sort by medium: fabric, dyes, yarn, beads, floss, ribbon,
whatever. I would like to stay away from chain stores unless you
have found something there that you couldn’t find elsewhere—then
mention specifically what that was or why (possibly price) under
“reason.” Please include as much info as possible, and why you
like/don’t like this place. You can recommend as many places as
you like.
Example:
Recommend
or Avoid: Area: Media: Reason: Classes: Name: Street: City: County: Phone: E-mail: Web site: Hours: Other: Recommend
SE
Fabric
cabinets & frames; authorized Brother®
dealer, excellent web site
Yes - quilting, machine embroidery
The Stitch In Time Shoppe
801 N Greengate Road (in the Gabriel
Bros Plaza on Rt 30 West)
Greensburg (east of Jeannette, west of
Greensburg)
Westmoreland
724-836-0611
[email protected]
www.thestitchintimeshoppe.com
Mon, Fri 10-5; Tues-Thurs 10-8;
Sat 10-4; Sun 12-4
[anything else you would like to include]
As we progress, I will take into consideration any recommendations
for improving the site. If you are listing an on-line site please
mention that fact (after the name.) If you have a favorite store in
Cape Cod/San Francisco/wherever, we would like to know about
it. If you have a shop or on-line site with which you have had a lot
of trouble and about which you would like to warn others, fill in the
info above but under reason please mention the problem (nasty
sales people/slow shipping/messed-up order/etc.)
If you disagree with someone’s recommendation, let me know
why. I don’t plan to list who suggests which store, but I will have
that info and can put you in touch to perhaps resolve the difference
of opinion.
Someone mentioned liability... As these are only suggestions and
are on a proprietary site, I don’t see any problem. If someone has
legal knowledge to the contrary please let me know. The list will
carry a disclaimer that these are only suggestions.
Email your info to me: Leslie Calhoun at [email protected]
Note: this email isn’t listed in the directory because I am one
of those cretins who is only on-line about once a week. If you
urgently need to get in touch with me, call 724.863.8630.
10 — www.fiberartspgh.org
Directory Update
Membership
CHANGES
Barbara Brooks email: [email protected]
Rochelle Sherman
email: [email protected]
Leonoor Mastboom Zehner
210 Windmere Court,
McMurray PA 15317-3672
[email protected]
www.myamisch.com
724-260-0059 W - 412-221-1630
If you believe that you are a current Guild member but haven’t yet
received your 2008-2009 directory it is because your dues for the
current year ($45 - regular, $20 - student) have not been received.
(Due by Oct.1 of our fiscal year.)
NEW MEMBERS
Ruth Stewart-Somerville
238 Election House Rd.
Butler PA 16001-8563
[email protected]
724-865-9758 724-712-3952
Jeanette McCabe
417 Aleta St.
Pittsburgh PA 15215-1201
[email protected]
412-781-2499 412-445-3777
B MM W
Helen Naimark
1200 Northwestern Drive
Moonroeville PA15146-4404
[email protected]
412-372-1450
C - 412-445-9909
J MM P
Maxine Kruger
6523 Bartlett St.
Pittsburgh PA 15217-1833
[email protected]
412-521-0996
MM P SC
Donna Broderick
3406 Beechwood Blvd.
Pittsburgh PA 15217-2963
[email protected]
www.pittsburghartistregistry.org/donnabroderick
412-904-1280 C- 412-377-3133
BK C CR E MM SC
Margaret A. Hollander
11 Highview Dr.
Sewickley PA 15143-8359
[email protected]
412-741-1774
It will soon be time to plan the 2009-2010 directory. Please let
Norma know that you intend to remain a member in good standing
by sending your dues so that your name will not be removed from
the membership and newsletter mailing lists. Send to:
Norma Lipscomb
1318 N. Sheridan Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15206
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 412-362-6562
If you DO NOT plan to renew your membership, please let Norma
know so she’ll stop reminding you! Please notify Norma of any
changes in your name, address, phone number or e-mail.
Newsletter Staff:
Co-Editors:
Jean Thomas
Mary Towner
CONTRIBUTORS:
Production: DISTRIBUTION: [email protected]
[email protected]
Jan Bass
Leslie Calhoun
Carolyn Carson
Marty Ressler
Rhoda Taylor
Martha Wasik graphic arts inc.
Norma Lipscomb
fiberartspgh.org • [email protected]
© 2009 Fiberarts Guild of Pittsburgh, Inc.
The Guild welcomes all fiberart enthusiasts and artists at any level. No screening is required.
J OIN
q TH E FI B E R A R T S G U I LD O F PIT T S B U RG H : q YES! I want to join.
I WANT MORE INFORMATION. Please send me a membership packet or email Norma at [email protected]
Name__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Address_ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
City______________________________________________________________________________________State_________ Zip____________________________
Phone 1_______________________________________________________phone 2________________________________________________________________
e-mail_________________________________________________________website________________________________________________________________
DUES: $45 regular membership $20 student membership Mail to: NORMA LIPSCOMB
1318 N. SHERIDAN AVE
PITTSBURGH PA 15206
Amt enclosed $ _________________
Or contact Norma at [email protected] for information.
A NEW MEMBER PACKET WILL BE SENT TO YOU.
www.fiberartspgh.org — 11
P.O. BOX 5478
PITTSBURGH PA 15206
NON-PROFIT ORG
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
PITTSBURGH PA
PERMIT #5579
The Guild welcomes all fiberart
enthusiasts and artists at any level.
No screening is required.
Remember: All Fiberarts Guild
programs are open to the public
for a small fee.
Come and check out one of our
lectures or presentations.
Upcoming Program:
Don’t miss a rare opportunity to see, hear and work
with Jiyoung Chung!
Friday, May 15, 7-9 pm Lecture: Joomchi, Korean traditional papermaking
Sat.-Sun., May 16 - 17
Workshop: Color Joomchi
$150/members + $30 materials fee
This will be an exciting workshop, and we’re very lucky to have Jiyoung Chung here.
The workshop is over half filled already, so register NOW by mail or email with our
co-sponsor:
Contemporary Craft
2100 Smallman St.
Pittsburgh PA 15222
[email protected] 412.261.7003