More "Now Points"

Last summer I spent a month working on some compositions that were inspired by a quote. (Time is not a line, but a series of now-points. -Taisen Deshimaru)

I was drawn to that quote because it is a good reminder that we should focus our energies on each moment as it comes. That is all we really have. I see it as a hopeful message, because it doesn't matter what we did with our "now-points" in the past.  Each moment is an opportunity for redemption.  An opportunity to treat others with compassion, to take a step toward our goals, to live in the manner we desire. 

I created numerous medium-sized pieces to determine my approach for two longer pieces of art cloth (9 ft x 3 ft). The ultimate goal was a juried exhibition for the Art Cloth Network. I finished my two pieces just in time for the deadline.

Now Points: Journey

Journey, detail view

Journey may look somewhat familiar.  I created a smaller piece as a study and wrote about it in a
previous blog. 

Now Points: Converging Paths

Converging Paths, detail view

The first piece was accepted into the exhibition, Interpretations. Later this spring, we'll have photos of all the pieces that were accepted into the exhibition available to view online.

If You Create Art Cloth, Here's A Great Opportunity

I've been a member of the Art Cloth Network for four years. I have found that the opportunities for community, conversation, inspiration and sharing of techniques and resources has benefited me both personally and professionally. We limit our group to 30 members and when membership falls below that, we open up to new individuals. The Network is now accepting applications. If you are interested in joining our group, please read on for more information. You may also email me if you have questions about the group.

Our group is focused on art cloth and its specific surface design techniques and approaches.  This includes making lengths of cloth, rather than just small samples or fat quarters. While some of us also make art quilts or mixed media work, as a group we focus on art cloth. Please read the information about art cloth on our website and look at examples, to make sure that you are interested in this field.  Only those artists who submit examples of art cloth that meet this description will be considered for membership.

We meet as a group every 9 to14 months in different regions of the United States, usually between August and October. Since these meetings are critical to our growth and vitality, we require attendance at two out of five consecutive meetings. Your membership will begin with the first meeting you attended. Members bring and discuss their work at these meetings, and share other professional concerns and opportunities. Previous meetings have been in Texas, Minnesota, Illinois, Florida, California, Georgia, Arizona, and New Jersey. Only applicants who can and will attend the next meeting will be accepted into the Art Cloth Network during this membership call period. That meeting will be in Evanston, Illinois from September 19^th – 22^nd, 2013. Full details about the conference and this financial commitment will be mailed to those extended a membership invitation.

We also produce a new exhibit annually, with a call for entries each year. Since opportunities for showing art cloth are limited, this is an important membership benefit. Members are required to enter three of five calls for entry in order to maintain their membership status.
 

The current deadline for membership applications is March 15, 2013, and you can send in your application materials at any time prior to the deadline. You will be notified by April 15, 2013 whether your application has been approved. 

Send a request to jeanne@jeannesisson.com in order to receive detailed information and application instructions.

Lines and Numbers Exhibition

This Moment

 
The Artcloth Network has an exhibition during FiberPhiladelphia this month.  It is actually two juried exhibitions combined.  Thirteen pieces are from 24 x 80, an exhibition of artcloth defined by the finished size of the piece and juried by Els van Baarle.  Thirteen pieces are from Beyond the Line, an exhibition in which all pieces have a line that starts on one edge 24" from the top and moves through the piece as the artist chooses, ending at the opposite edge 24" from the top.  This exhibit was juried by Jeanne Beck.

The participating artists include: Laura Ann Beehler, Janet Hadingham, Sue Copeland Jones, Lisa Kerpoe, Dianne Koppisch Hricko, Judy Langille, Mary-Ellen Latino, Russ Little, Susie Monday, Barbara Schneider, Peggy Sexton, Jeanne Sisson, Priscilla J. Smith, Katherine Sylvan, Connie Tiegel, and Deborah Weir.

I have three pieces in the exhibit, one appearing above and two below.  All three use soy wax resist, dye painting,hand stitching and metal leaf. You can view detail shots of these, as well as all the pieces in the exhibit on the ArtCloth Network Behance portfolio. You can view photos of the artwork hanging in the gallery on the ArtCloth Network blog. And if you are going to Philadelphia this month, here are the details for viewing the exhibit:

White Space, Crane Arts' Old School
March 3 - April 1, 2012
Reception: Sat, March 31, 5 - 8 pm
1417 N. 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122

Sat & Sun, 12 - 5pm
Wed – Fri by appointment only, call 215-913-7957
Open Thurs, March 8, 5 - 8pm

 

Crossing the Line

Between the Lines

Fiber Art Smorgasbord

I'm flying half way across the country next month just to look at art.  It seems rather extravagant and is out of character for me.  But I can't pass the opportunity to see cutting edge fiber art from artists around the world. This weekend is the opening of FiberPhiladelphia, an international biennial and regional festival for innovative fiber/textile art. Exhibitions are planned for 40 locations throughout the city. They will include work by renowned international artists and a new generation of artists breaking into the field.

View the FiberPhiladelphia website to see all the exhibitions that are planned.  You can also view photos from one of the main exhibitions, Outside/Inside the Box. Several of my pieces will be on exhibit as part of the ArtCloth Network's Lines and Numbers exhibition. (More on that next week.)

I'm really looking forward to it.  If you're going, maybe I'll see you there!

ArtCloth Network

108 Beads by Barbara Schneider

The ArtCloth Network, a group of artists dedicated to promoting the medium of cloth as an art form, is currently having a call for membership. I've been a member since 2008 and I joined to be part of a community of other artists working in this medium. Members of the network meet annually to share what they are working on and to discuss professional concerns and opportunities. Part of the group's mission is to educate people about artcloth and one of the ways in which we do that is to produce an artcloth exhibition for members each year.

I have enjoyed the opportunity to talk with others about techniques and processes, about art-related concerns and frustrations and about approaches to creating. The annual exhibition has provided deadlines that push me to create when I might not otherwise and it has also pushed me to create work outside my comfort zone.

If you are committed to creating artcloth and are interested in joining the group, you can read more about it in the membership application and requirements.

New Work

I just finished two pieces for the latest ArtCloth Network exhibition. Els van Baarle is the juror and we'll know in mid-October which pieces are accepted.

My pieces are inspired by my continuing fascination with humans’ tendency to focus on anything but the present moment. We often spend most of our time either anticipating a date in the future or reliving a day in the past. It may manifest as remembering happy times or feeling regrets over what we did or did not do.  Or we may spend time worrying about something that may (or may not!) happen.  Many of us find it difficult to focus on the current moment – to give our attention to the people and circumstances that currently surround us.  These pieces represent my own journey, my quest to move from marking time until a future event to living in the present and fully enjoying this moment.

My vision was to use two pieces of cloth that complement each other and represent the dichotomy of these two ways of being. I used silk noil and incorporated soy wax resist with multiple layers of dyeing, discharge and overdyeing.  I also added some handstitching and metal leaf.

Marking Time

This Moment

ArtCloth Opportunity

Before, Katherine Sylvan, ArtCloth Network member

The ArtCloth Network, a group of artists dedicated to promoting the medium of cloth as an artform, is currently having a call for membership. I'm a relative newcomer to the group,having joined in 2008, however I feel it is a great opportunity for those who wish to be part of a community of other artists working in this new medium. Members of the network meet annually to share what they are working on, and to discuss professional concerns and opportunities. In addition, the group produces an artcloth exhibition annually.

I have enjoyed the opportunity to talk with others about techniques and processes, about art-related concerns and frustrations and about approaches to creating. The annual exhibition pushed me to create work outside my comfort zone. I have also had a couple of teaching opportunities come my way because of my involvement with the group.

If you create artcloth and are interested in joining the group, you can read more about it in the membership application and requirements.

ArtCloth Network Exhibition

Last year I became a member of the ArtCloth Network, a group of about 25 artists who focus on creating artcloth. The group is dedicated to educating the public about art cloth through our website, and with gallery exhibits of our work. The group's latest exhibition opened in Houston last week. It features 17 pieces of artcloth by 12 artists. The exhibition theme is Unexpected Patterns: Quake! Each artist has interpreted this theme, some focusing on the impact of sudden change in our lives and some focusing on transformation that occurs more gradually. The photo above is the detail from my piece, Entering Consciousness.

Other artists whose work is featured in the exhibit include: Sue Copeland Jones, Rayna Gillman, Judy Langille, Mary-Ellen Latino, Joy Nebo Lavrencik , Russ Little, Barbara Schneider, Wrenn Slocum, Bev Snow, Katherine Sylvan and Maggie Weiss.

The exhibit is on display at the Archway Gallery in Houston through October 24th. If you don't have an opportunity to get to Houston, you can view the pieces on the ArtCloth Network website.

Alterations Exhibition

In the mood for some inspired cloth? The ArtCloth Network has an exhibition opening this week in Crystal Lake, Illinois. The ArtCloth Network (ACN) was formed to provide a forum and support network for artists who are actively creating art cloth. Part of the mission of the group is to provide exhibition opportunities for those engaged in creating ArtCloth. The organization has sponsored an ArtCloth exhibition every other year for the past 6 years. This exhibition was juried by Elin Noble in 2007 and has previously appeared at three other venues. It features a variety of styles and techniques from some of the premier textile artists in the United States. If you can't make it to Illinois to see the show in person, enjoy these photos from the exhibit.

108 Beads, Barbara Schneider

Boundary Light, Connie Tiegel

Spring, Darcy Love

Segmented Vertical Forms, Judy Langille

Oh, Give Me a Home, Katherine Sylvan

Connections: A Map, Lynn Harris

Erosion, Peggy Sexton

The Devil's Highway, by Susan Ettl

Self Portrait: Leaf #4, Sue Copeland Jones

Where Have All the Cactus Gone?, Susie Krage

Borderlands Desert 2, Susie Monday

Ground Cover: Lichen 1, Wrenn Slocum

The ArtCloth Network has an exhibit opening up this fall in Houston. Stay tuned for more information.