This latest workshop with Hollis Chatelain focused on working with hand-dyed fabrics and how stitching can change them through thread color and value. As usual we spent the first few days completing samples. But the last three days were something quite different. Each of us chose two fabrics united through color or gesture. To quilt […]
Archives for June 2016
One of My Favorite Contemporary Artists: El Anatsui
Along with the nationwide traveling exhibit Native Fashion Now, the Portland Art Museum also has on exhibit a piece by El Anatsui, the Ghanian artist who works with recycled/found objects. His work is two-dimensional, organic in nature, and cascades like molten metal in mesmerizing folds and textures.
Native Fashion Now Trendsetters
The Portland Art Museum defines the designers who follow as Activators who “embrace an everyday, personal style that engages with today’s trends and politics.”
Native Fashion Now Jewelry
There were not a lot of pieces, but these were my favorites. This first piece is a commentary on pop culture and history. Arrgh! I managed to miss the artists names on the cuffs/bracelets below!
Portland Parkways–cycling the neighborhoods of my city
I love bicycling–especially when there’s no traffic. Once a month during the summer, the city of Portland closes down streets to motorized vehicles for five hours to promote getting to know one of our neighborhoods through bicycling. Today it was north Portland. You can join the ride wherever you like along the 10 mile route, […]
Seven Sisters Quilt Show Judging
This past week I judged in the San Luis Obispo area, a part of California I’ve never seen before. Gay McNeal, a member of the San Luis Obispo Quilters (SLO Quilters) and the judging coordinator for the Seven Sisters Quilt Show hired me and was my host for two days. The Seven Sisters Quilt Show […]
Native Fashion Now–Part Four–Accessories
Here are the great accessories ranging from an umbrella to men’s shoes. The Portland Art Museum is showing the beaded, knee-high boots in the first photos shown below in their exhibit advertising and for good reason. They are special. Artist Jamie Okuma has beaded a pair of Christian Louboutin boots, leaving the trademark red soles […]
Native Fashion Now Continues…
While much of the exhibit features what would be considered contemporary, upscale fashion or wearable art, there are also designs focusing on traditional Native American garments with an emphasis on traditional bead work and other materials.
More Native Fashion Now
I returned from my Master Art Series Friday night. We spent the week exploring how the value of thread affects the fabric it’s stitched onto. One concept everyone quickly understood: to make a fabric recede into the background, stitch over it in a lighter value of its same color. Another technique: to dull a fabric […]
Native Fashion Now–Fabulous Native American designer wear and accessories
The Portland Art Museum just opened its latest show, which has been traveling the country. The show titled Native American Now was recently profiled in Fiber Art Now magazine. The work ranges from traditional American Indian clothing to high fashion meant for the runway, as well as jewelry, accessories, and even t-shirts and skateboards. I […]
Patty Hawkins, Textile Artist
Patty Hawkins was the featured speaker at the Columbia FiberArts Guild‘s quarterly meeting on June 8th. I was not familiar with her name, but the moment she began showing images of her work, I “knew” who she was. I have seen photos of her quilts, many juried into Quilt National and Visions in San Diego, […]
Olympic Torch Designer, Gilbert Farnham, 1933–2016
The father of my partner Mike passed away two weeks ago on May 24th, the day after his 83rd birthday. While I tend to devote my posts on fiber art or sometimes art in general, I also have a passion for craft. In that regard, I’m honoring Mike’s dad Gil for his design of the […]
