Catherine's Sketchbooks

She uses mixed media in her sketchbooks just like in her quilts.  These sketchbooks in themselves are works of art.  Catherine participated in the Sketchbook project where she created a sketchbook based on the theme of “inside/outside”.  After completing it she sent it back and it traveled across the USA, finally resting at the Brooklyn Art Library.  Her project can be found here http://www.arthousecoop.com/users/catherine58/artwork

Following Catherine’s presentation, Judy introduced Artist Trading Cards.  These cards are the size of business cards, and on one side show artwork and on the other display the persons contact information.

Judy suggested making one large sheet and cutting it up instead of making each one individually.  In the end each card should be 2.5″ x 3.5″.  Everyone who participates by making these cards for next meeting (February 10th) will give their cards away and receive the cards of others.  By show of hands at the meeting we are estimating for everyone to bring 30 cards.  If you would like to participate and were not at the January meeting please fill out the form below by February 1st.

After our bellies were filled we enjoyed presentation by the Special Interest Groups (SIG).  These groups are a great way to get to know members of the guild a little better.

The “Sew and Sews”  were the first sewing SIG to form within the VGFA.  They meet at each other’s houses.  Each year they have challenges for their members to try.  The pics below were included as part of their presentation.  Their slides showed great images of their hands which are a vital tool in their art.  While the slides played in the background many of their members wearing items that they made and spoke about them.

The “Sew What’s” were formed as a second sewing group because the Sew and Sews had too many members to accommodate.  The “Sew What’s” showed a selection of slides illustrating the art made by their members.  Deb gave the presentation but some members sitting in the audience rose and spoke about their slides as they were played.

       The “Yarnies” are the newest SIG which formed in 2010.  They call themselves the “Yarnies” in order to encompass all art done with yarn.  They meet in coffee shops to enjoy tea and treat to go with their projects and story telling.  For their presentation they each showed a few slides and talked about their inspirations and art.

The “Coast Character Doll” SIG meet at each others houses.  They often take workshops together.  For their presentation they showed slides and brought in some of the dolls that they made.  These dolls possess wonderful personalities and each one tells a story.

If you are interested in joining any of these groups please email info@vgfa.org.

Reblogged from A Head-On View:

Laura Ortiz Vega had her graffiti fibre painting on exhibit at Art Toronto 2011 and up close, her work is bold and spellbinding.  It’s thread and bees wax on board,  documenting street art from Mexico City where she works. The pieces she brought to Toronto included some small, square works of street tags, but most of her art is large slabs of colorful graffiti that’s difficult to differentiate from the original. Vega says she sees her role as a documentary artist, preserving the street art of her native …

Check out this post from A Head-On View blog. Fibre graffiti is not just for yarn bombers.

October 2011 Canadian House and Home

Who is to blame?  I suppose it isn’t fibre’s fault.  Can society be blamed?  North American society seems to have difficulty hanging fibre art on its walls.  I realize writing this blog post about fibre as art is really just preaching to the choir, and most of you who work with fibre consider yourselves artists, and those of you who are still honing your technique probably have fibre art on your walls, but I feel compelled to write this post since recently being riled up by the October House and Home magazine.

My twice weekly hour and  half ferry ride usually land me standing in front of the magazine stand in the gift shop.  There I stand first flipping through my usual choices and then moving on to magazines about things I know nothing about like skateboarding.

This time with House and Home in my hands and just a few minutes before the ferry docked, I very quickly flipped through and there in the back saw a spread about fibre and decorating.  I was thrilled, closed the magazine and purchased it.  Later, on the bus, when I excitedly pulled it out of my bag I was disappointed when I found out they were calling fibre art – “Do it Yourself Art”.

So here (right) we have an acrylic box filled with raw wool, which according to House and Home is “Do it Yourself Art”.  I must admit as a person with a fibre fetish it is neat, however, it seems more like storage, rather than art.  Who would want to buy that quantity of raw wool (which is not inexpensive) just to put it in a clear box on the wall, where it can’t be touched.

Page 193 October 2011 House and Home

Next (left) we have a swatch of knitted fabric that looks as if it was cut out of an old sweater and placed into a shadow box.

Why bother? I ask myself.  House and Home spins this “DIY art project” as a way to pay homage to “knitters and their craft” by displaying the three stages of  production.  Why not just invest in fibre art instead of turning your precious wall space into a museum exhibit?  And a boring one at that.  Any museum would likely make this hands on so you could at least touch the fibres.

To be fair and so that you can make your own judgement here is the display in full as represented in the magazine.

Just in case you weren’t aware that wool could be worked by an artist into fabulous pieces here are a few examples to wet your appetite.

"Knitted Urchins" by Patricia Brown

An excerpt from Patricia Brown’s artist statement says “The main inspiration and starting point for my work comes from nature. By experimenting with manipulation and construction I use yarns and fibres to interpret texture, form and the ever changing colours of the seasons, producing sculptural pieces which can cross the boundary between art and craft.”

"Art and Science #1" by Marjorie Taylor (2000)

This piece was pulled from the Museum of Fabric Brain Art. Yes, I said Fabric Brain Art. For more goto harbaugh.uoregon.edu/Brain/

So remember, when you’re looking for something to decorate your walls, art does not have to be done with paint and a brush.  But I know you already know that… so spread the word and keep on supporting fibre artists!

For the answer to that question I went to The History of Beads: from 30 000 B.C. to Present by Lois Sherr Dubin.  Dubin says that glass seed beads date as far back as 600 A.D.  During the next 800 years (give or take), wars and empires conquering others drove glass bead makers to end up in Venice.  Then in 1292,  Dubin writes that “all glass factories were relocated from Venice to the island of Murano”, in order to protect Venice from the risk of fires, and most likely more importantly to keep their procedures secret. (Dubin, 107).

Beads traded in Africa for gold. From The History of Beads, p. 108.

Beads traded in Africa for ivory. From The History of Beads, p.108.

Beads traded in Africa for palm oil. From The History of Beads, p. 109.

Beads traded in Africa for slaves. From The History of Beads, p. 109.

Seed beads seem to fall in the category of those traded for palm oil.

Instead of trading as currency today beads can communicate social status, love, creativity, friendship, art, and tradition.

Below are a few excerpts from 500 Beaded Objects.

"Happy Tails to You" by Christmas Cowell, 2000. p. 283.

"Chameleon" by Terry Pyles, 2003. p.242

"Forest Maiden's Wedding Veil and Tiara" by Pat Chivarie, 2002. p. 177

"Circle of Life" by Huib Petersen, 2001. p. 43.

If you the chance you should defiantly have a look at this book, it has certainly has inspired me.

It makes me wonder if fashion trends influence fibre artists?  or do you create your own trends separate from the fashion world? or is fashion synonymous with fibre arts?  The types of textiles and fibres used, prints, techniques?

If you’ve found yourself influenced by fashion send us a blurb about it with some images that we can share with our members. Just email them to blogger@vgfa.org. or just leave a comment.

In case you missed the meeting:

VGFA has a website at www.vgfa.org

• for all of your guild related static information: where the meetings are held, how to join, our year of programs, workshops, access to our library catalogue, list of volunteer opportunities, and link to the blog.

we are on twitter: follow us @VG_FibreArts (or click on the follow button on the right)

• to keep up to date with up to the minute news regarding our members and what they are doing, and other textile/fibre related happenings in and around our city

we’re on facebook: like us right here

• for easy access to other fibre communities, interesting links, to ask questions, and share photos.

and we have a blog:  (http://fibreartsvancouver.wordpress.com)

• for commenting on all of the fantastic fibre/textile arts going on around us.  If you like to write and go to fibre events, and have opinions on what is going on around you become a contributor, just email blogger@vgfa.org.  Subscribe and get the blog to your inbox by typing in your address in the box near the bottom of the right hand column.

Back to school, back to work, back to creating fabulous art!

We would love to hear how your summers went and what things you’ve been creating.  Send along a photo and your story to blogger@vgfa.org and we’ll share your story here.

As you can see the blog has been changed from blogger to wordpress.  This new format enables us to have you contribute more easily.  If you attend events around the city regularly and like to write why become a VGFA blog contributer?  Just send a long an email, we’d love to have you on board!  This new format has our twitter feed on the side.  Already on twitter, follow us @vg_fibrearts.  Want to know more about twitter? Come along to the September meeting and we’ll tell you all about it!

This September come join us for a presentation titled “Social Media: Connecting Fibre in Cyberspace”.  The guild has taken a step forward to incorporate social media and other digital techniques to improve our visibility, usability, and community outreach.  Artists have embraced social media in masses to publicize themselves, and to learn about what other artists are doing.  The guild wants to tap into these electronic airways in order to bring our members closer together, and build a community involving all members even those outside of Vancouver.

A big thank you to all last years door-prize creators.  September will begin a new year of door-prizes.  All door-prizes are created by members and each meeting one is given away.  The sign up sheet will be available.

Each meeting this year, in addition to our program, we would like to highlight a member.  This new style of short digital presentation will be demonstrated, and a sign up sheet available for those interested in participating.

Our library is undergoing major re-organization, come and see what books and magazines will be up for grabs.

Can’t wait to see you all there.

In Vancouver:

The Winnipeg Art Gallery: