Textile Sculpture - Part 3: Nick Cave, Aminah Brenda Lynn Robinson, Lisa Lichtenfels

Our exploration of textile sculpture continues with the art of three more exceptional artists

Nick Cave – Art in Motion – Nick Cave is chair of Fashion Design at the School of Art Institute in Chicago. His art has been described as an exploration of “…when textiles meet modern dance…” His creations are transformative in that any indication of the age, gender or ethnicity of the wearer is stripped away, thereby protecting the wearer from prejudice based on any of those characteristics.” Nick Cave’s Soundsuits are fabulous creations made of thrift store finds, twigs, plastic bags, discarded thcotchkes, and just about anything else that strikes his fancy…Often, Cave’s Soundsuits are assembled by a multigenerational, multicultural group of volunteers in his Chicago neighborhood.”

Xenobia Bailey has written an extensive article about Nick Cave and has many pictures of his work on her blog
http://xenba.blogspot.com/2009/02/masterful-fiber-artist-nick-caves.html

United States Artists (2006 Toby Devan Lewis Fellow)
http://www.unitedstatesartists.org/Public2/Stories/Fellows/NickCave/index.cfm

Interviews:
a) Nick Cave by Greg Cook
http://gregcookland.com/journal/2007/10/nick-cave-speaks-at-risd-wednesday.html
b) Nick Cave by Sasha Lee – Note: scroll down ¼ of page past a lot of blank space
http://www.beautifuldecay.com/anthology.php?anthologyId=111&title=interviewnickcaveg

YouTube Videos:
a) Nick Cave Sound Suits – 5 ½ minutes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdmMM6iAt8E
b) Nick Cave – Art in Motion – 1 minute 49 seconds http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwupTQt9zxY

Aminah Brenda Lynn Robinson – “Aminah's artistic vocabulary consists of a combination of the skills she learned in art school and those passed down to her by her family. Her father taught her to make hogmawg, her word for a sculptural material used in both two- and three-dimensional work.

The button and needle work she learned from her mother are evident in her rag paintings and RagGonNons, her word for complex works of art that can come in many forms but often include buttons, men's neckties, and other found objects.”
http://aminahsworld.org/

Xenobia Bailey has written an extensive article about Aminah Robinson and her
work on her blog. Many pictures are included:
http://xenba.blogspot.com/2008/11/visit-with-columbus-ohio-living.html

Lisa Lichtenfels – Figurative Sculpture-Realism in Fabric – Lisa “…creates startlingly realistic sculptures with a wide variety of subject matter, including fantasy, myth, humor, and portraiture. The individual figures range from less than 5 inches to life-sized figures of over 5 feet tall. She also does large environmental installations with many characters.”
http://lisalichtenfels.net/

The Art of Lisa Lichtenfels – many images including Lisa’s explanations of the
sculptures
http://puppenstube.us/lichtenfels_lisa_feature.htm

Estate and Legacy Planning for Artists

For those of us who are over 60, how we and our art will be remembered becomes increasingly important with each passing year. Our own demise is not a pleasant topic to consider, but we have to face the reality that at some point we are actually going to die - and when that occurs, what then will happen to our life's work? Its within our control if we make plans. Following are sites with great information on this subject that is written specifically to address the concerns and the needs of artists.

A Visual Artist's Guide to Estate Planning - A post to the blog about this valuable resource was made in September of 2007. However, changes in the applicable state and federal tax laws and the copyright law have made it necessary for them to publish an update to certain chapters in Part II and the Appendices.
http://sharpeartfdn.qwestoffice.net/supplement/supdownload_page.htm

2008 Supplement Updatehttp://sharpeartfdn.qwestoffice.net/estateplnbook/download_page.htm

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Where There is a Will: Estate Planning for Artists - "This document looks at the range of options available to visual artists in dealing with their work during their lifetime, and information about making a will so that an artist's art work legacy is dealt with according to his/her wishes after death. "Where There's a Will" answers questions and gives guidance about when to seek expert advice and from whom."

NOTE: This is written for Australian artists, however a lot of the information is pertinent for artists living in other countries; for example, there is a section on why you should make an inventory of your artwork.
http://www.visualarts.net.au/files/Will.pdf
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Leaving a Legacy: Donating Quilts to Museums - Andi Reynolds - she writes: "For many quilters and quilt collectors, quilting is about legacy, whether warm generational memories or mysterious auction finds. Because most quilters create their quilts for family, friends or charity, you might wonder how quilts end up in museums. Although donations from well-known collectors make the quilt world news, most museums build their collections as individual donors give one or two quilts to preserve their own legacies. Where do you come in?"

This article gives information about museum acquisition policies; how to make a donation; how the condition, significance and provenance of the quilt(s) will impact the museum's decision about accepting the donation; and legal and tax considerations.
http://www.saqa.com/news/DonatingQuilts.aspx
NOTE: URL has changed. New URL is: http://www.saqa.com/information.php?ID=366
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Leaving Your Artistic Legacy - Craig Lucas - This is his 2008 commencement address to graduates of the Boston University College of Fine Arts
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/craig-lucas/leaving-your-artistic-leg_b_102332.html
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Checklist for Planning Your Art Estatehttp://www.artbusiness.com/estateplan.html
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Estate Planning For Artists: Let Professionals Manage the Arthttp://www.artbusiness.com/estate.html
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SENIOR ARTISTS INITIATIVE - "The purpose of the Senior Artists Initiative is to assist senior artists in understanding the need for, and processes involved in, organizing their life's work, and to develop programs that provide recognition for senior artists." This organization has made available the following articles that deal specifically with the issues of what artists need to know about estate planning.
http://www.seniorartistsinitiative.org/01_about_sai/about_01.html

Estate Planning for Artists - "Estate planning should not be considered a process impossible to understand and not worth the time spent. Much can be achieved with a few hours of work. The result will be that the burden on the next generation will be greatly lessened and the taxes imposed at death may be substantially reduced."
http://www.seniorartistsinitiative.org/01_about_sai/guidelines_louis.html

What Will Happen to Your Art After You Die? - "Many things can happen to the art after the artist’s death, depending upon how well the artist has planned for this event."
http://www.seniorartistsinitiative.org/01_about_sai/guidelines_fuller.html

Plan Ahead - "What can artists do when they are alive? Organize, Edit, and Disperse = PLAN"
http://www.seniorartistsinitiative.org/01_about_sai/guidelines_tarantal.html

Approaching Museums - "The following items may be of interest to the artist who wishes to interact with a museum with thoughts of placing works into its permanent collection, either through purchase, gift, or bequest."
http://www.seniorartistsinitiative.org/01_about_sai/guidelines_schantz.html

Where there's a will, there may be a Monet: Artists can safeguard their legacy with savy estate planning - “When an artist dies, the inheritor has to either decide to throw it all away, or try to sell it – which is difficult – or give it to nonprofit organizations,”
http://www.seniorartistsinitiative.org/05_documents/where_theres_a_will.pdf

What do Inheritors do with Art Work? - "Most artists are very resistant to sorting through their work in order to decide what to keep, what to throw away, what to give to institutions. This creates a dilemma after an artist’s death, as it leaves painful decisions about the distribution of the work to the spouses, family members, or executors. Failure to sort through and distribute works during an artist’s lifetime has resulted in work being stored for years; large numbers of the work going on the market and selling for very little; or the work just disintegrating in a damp, too hot or too cold basement or attic."
http://www.seniorartistsinitiative.org/01_about_sai/guidelines_kaplan.html

Free Museum Admission

Museums on Us - If you have a Bank of America check, ATM or credit card, on the first weekend of every month you can receive free general admission to any one of 70+ museums nationwide (note: special exhibitions, ticketed shows and fundraising events are excluded).

Participating museums are located in the following states: Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Washington.

You can even sign up to receive reminder emails.

For full details on this promotion:
http://promotions.bankofamerica.com/museums/

Textile Sculpture - Part 2: El Anatsui, Takashi Horisaki, Loren Schwerd

The work of El Anatsui, Takashi Horisaki and Loren Schwerd was recently exhited in New Orleans as part of Prospect 1, the largest international biennial of contemporary art ever organized in the USA - it was housed in over 2 dozen venues (including musuems, galleries, historic buildings and other sites)throughout the city.

EL ANATSUI– is a Ghanian artist who creates monumental and stunning sculptural works of “Women’s Cloth” by sewing thousands of aluminum bottle caps together with copper wire. The above photo was taken at the Prospect 1 installation by Dorothy Moye.

Of El Anatsui's work, Holland Cotter of the New York Times wrote (November 2005): “In Mr. Anatsui's hands, it is a shining, new kind of cloth, permeable but indestructible. It is a universal repository of names of infinite extension. Glinting and shimmering, it reflects an African essence of three interchangeable parts always in motion: memory, reality, determination.”

http://elanatsui.com/

Interview with El Anatsui by Alisa LaGamma, Curator of the Metropolitan Museum of Art - you can listen to a podcast or read the transcript

https://metropolitanmuseum.org/podcast/detail.asp?read=all&eid=epNum022

2006 New York exhibit Catalogue – 13 pages
http://www.octobergallery.co.uk/newsletters/el_anatsui_ny/

October Gallery Photos - stunning
http://www.octobergallery.co.uk/microsites/anatsui/

El Anatsui: Gawu Photo Tour – Once you’ve clicked the PhotoTour link, make sure to maximize the page size for some stunning close-up views.

http://www.fowler.ucla.edu/incEngine/?theme=fowler_main&content=information_manager&information_manager_id=65

El Anatsui: Gawu Artworks – listen to podcasts of El Anatsui discussing three of the artworks in the exhibit

http://africa.si.edu/exhibits/gawu/artworks.html

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TAKASHI HORISAKI – does “…sculptural exploration of surfaces and the histories contained within their layers…" He created "fabric" out of latex and paint and used it to recreate the semblance of a Katrina destroyed home. On his website are links to a lot of information about the installation including: his blog documentation of the creation process; images of the work in progress; the link to a Times-Picayune article about it; and links to images of other works and installations.

http://www.takashihorisaki.com/

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LOREN SCHWERD – the artist states: “Mourning Portrait began as a series of memorials to the communities of New Orleans that were devastated by the flooding which followed Hurricane Katrina. These commemorative objects are made from human hair extensions of the type commonly used by African-American women that the artist found outside The St Claude Beauty Supply. The portraits draw on the eighteenth- and nineteenth-century tradition of hairwork, in which family members or artisans would fashion the hair of the deceased into intricate jewelry and other objects as symbols of death and rebirth. Working from her own photographs, Schwerd creates metal armatures that act as frameworks for weaving the hair into portraits of the vacant houses of the Ninth Ward neighborhood. By documenting private homes Schwerd venerates the city’s losses, both individual and collective. Hair acts as the central metaphor to evoke a sense of profound intimacy and absence, and speaks to the racial politics that have paralyzed the city’s recovery effort.”
http://www.lorenschwerd.com/

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Textile Sculpture - Part 1

http://creativityjourney.blogspot.com/2009/02/textile-sculpture-part-1.html

Textile Sculpture - Part 1

These artists are adept at exploiting the malleable, aural, kinetic. dimensional, sensual and/or tactile qualities of textiles and manipulate them into fascinating sculptural art forms

Judith Scott (1943-2005) – “Judith Scott was a powerful visual artist, who was isolated from outside influences through the combined impact of deafness and Down Syndrome. Very independent and self-directed, she was endlessly creative and never repeated a form or color scheme. Crafting armatures of bamboo slats or other discarded materials, she wrapped these forms with lengths of knotted cloth or yarn.”
http://www.hidden-worlds.com/judithscott/index.htm

Jenny Milne – “The materials I use are varied although I have worked predominately with animal fibre in the past 4 years. This suits the tactile qualities of the characters, creating fascination, drawing the viewer into a false sense of security to engage with serious or difficult subjects that are behind each piece. Integrating these needle felted sculptures with artifacts and/or, the raw environment, resonates extraordinarily well with the integrity of the work.”
http://www.jennymilne.co.uk/

Shinique Smith – uses bundles of clothing, fabric, and other disposable materials to create sculptures
http://www.theproposition.com/last/shiniquesmith.html
http://www.smfa.edu/Gateways/Alumni/Shinique_Smith/Index.asp

Junco Sato Pollack – “Junco Sato Pollack is a maker of light-reflective fabric sculpture that floats in the space…The work's format is hanging scroll, referencing serendipitous articulation characteristic of Eastern ink-and-brush painting and meditative calm. The work's intrinsic kinetic quality is sensuous, rigid, yet yielding, and expressive of both Eastern and Western aesthetics.” During the 80’s, Junco’s work “…involved three-dimensional silk fabric sculpture in which she manufactured, wove, and dyed silk into three-dimensional forms. Currently she works with metallic and micro-polyester with heat transfer and lamination technology through which dyes are sublimated by heat into the molecular structure of the fabric, simultaneously coloring and texturing the surface.”
http://www.juncosatopollack.com/

Deepa Panchamia – Textile Pleated Structures – “Her interests lie in scale, perspective and space and she uses textiles as a medium to explore these concepts. Central to her work is to communicate the polar opposites of transparency and solidity; complexity and simplicity; exterior and interior; presence and absence.”
http://www.deepapanchamia.com/

Michael Cottrell – Rigid Fabric Sculpture – “Being a very process oriented artist…I am constantly exploring new methods of constructing my pieces that successfully elucidate their underlying concepts. While remaining true to fundamental concepts of formal three-dimensional design, I seek to enrich the visual impact of my pieces by creating dynamic relationships that demand an interactive viewing. I have recently hit upon a method of making fabric hold a rigid form. This allows me to capture the inherent organic and ephemeral qualities of the drapery in a static state. This imposed solidity is contradictory to the expectation of fabric as a fluid material which creates an interesting interaction with the viewer.”
http://www.cottrellsculpture.com/Galleries/sculpture1/sculpture1.htm

Annet Couwenberg – “My work is based on the concept of clothing as metaphor that examines the precarious balance between the constraints of social norm and our private desires. …The work I make becomes a receptacle for introspection to distinguishing between what we are and what we have learned to be and desire.”
http://www.annetcouwenberg.com/

Frances Geesin – “I began my journey with painting and moved into textiles, which led to the manipulation of nonwovens by heat treatment and electroplating, a very different kind of ‘painting’. Therefore I have immersed myself in many diverse thermoplastic and conductive industrial textiles and fibres, some of which yield to heat and respond to the electroless and electroplating processes…My drawing tools are heat guns, soldering irons, hot knives, domestic iron, heat press, conductive paints and an electroplating system…Although fabrics do not change at their core, their re-forming is revelatory.”
http://www.francesgeesin.com/

Sally Williams – Textilescapes – “I use a marriage of handmade sculptural textiles and various ‘New technologies’, such as 3D virtual software, scanning electron microscopes, laser cutting and etching and digital photography to create my work. Science and ‘New Technology’ constantly inform my work on both a technical and creative level.”
http://www.textilescapes.co.uk/portfolio2.html

Zsofi Samu – Woven Textile Sculpture – “My major source of inspiration is the Tasmanian wilderness…I use an ancient technique called double weaving to realise most of my works. Native Americans used this technique to make sacks and double sided rugs. This way of weaving allows me to create cylindrical shapes which is the basis of my three-dimensional pieces.”
http://www.zsofisamu.com/

Visual Artist Mentor/Mentee Programs

"More than mere teachers, mentors are often emancipators, freeing artists from poor technique, clouded vision and personal uncertainty." Paul Soderberg

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Participating in a critique program is often useful to artists when trying to determine if a specific artwork has been successfully executed. The goal for participating in a mentoring program, however, is much broader and is usually focused on developing or strengthening specific aspects of the artist’s career. Mentors generally share wisdom, skills and experience in those areas most desired by the mentee which can range anywhere from learning how to effectively network to how to make gallery connections to how to organize a studio.

Usually a prospective mentee has to be lucky enough to stumble into a mentoring relationship. Other artists are fortunate to live in locations where formal mentoring programs are available - these require long-term face-to-face interaction between mentor and mentee.

Listed below are resources that can be invaluable for anyone considering entering into a professional relationship as mentor or mentee, or for anyone who may be thinking about establishing a formal program. Included also is information about a couple of online mentoring programs.

Textile Center Mentoring Program – “Textile Center Mentor Program is designed to facilitate the development and achievement of artistic and business goals set by emerging artists. This growth is fostered through a supportive one-on-one relationship with a mentor, who is a professional artist working in the field of fiber. The program supports the advancement of each protegeÕs techniques in their own media through instruction and critique, enriching both understanding and advancement of their work. Participants in this program will build confidence in their work and their role as a working artist in the community at large. The close working relationship between mentor and protege as well as the opportunity to be a member of the mentor-protege group empowers and encourages each artist to take risks and work toward future goals.”
http://www.textilecentermn.org/mentor.asp

.....2009 - 2010 Brochure
.....http://www.textilecentermn.org/pdf/ProtegeCFE0910.pdf

.....Protégé Application
.....http://www.textilecentermn.org/pdf/ProtegeCFE0910.pdf

Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA) – SAQA instituted a series of internet based mentoring sessions on career related issues for its membership in the form of monthly conference calls. Sessions are taped to allow members access at any time. Topics have ranged from how to promote oneself as an artist to how to work with galleries to how to write for magazines, among others. Future topics will range from how to create an effective portfolio to creating a legacy. To join SAQA: http://saqa.com/

Women’s Art Registry of Minnesotra (WARM) Mentor Program – “The WARM Mentor Program is a supportive resource that pairs emerging and professional women artists for two years. Each Protégée directs the process of selecting her mentor, identifying her goals and tracking her progress. Mentors share wisdom and skills while providing supportive critique.”
http://www.thewarm.org/pages/mentorprogram.php

.....Guidelines for Mentors
.....http://www.thewarm.org/pdf/2009MentorGuidelines.pdf

.....Guidelines for Protégés
.....http://www.thewarm.org/pdf/2009MentorGuidelines.pdf

.....Mentor Program Application
.....http://www.thewarm.org/pdf/2009-10MentorApp.pdf

.....Mentor Program Questionnaire
.....http://www.thewarm.org/pdf/Questionnaire09-10.pdf

.....Mentor Program Time and Cost
.....http://www.thewarm.org/pages/timecost.php

Ilinois Arts Alliance Foundation Mentoring Program - This is a very developed and detailed program that is supported in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts
http://www.artsalliance.org/tool_men_index.shtml

.....Some of the extensive information and forms that can be accessed on this site include:

Mentor-Mentee Partnership Contract
.....http://www.artsalliance.org/docs/men_toolkit/Mentoring%20Contract.pdf

Mentor Training Session Agenda
.....http://www.artsalliance.org/docs/men_toolkit/Mentor%20Training%20Session%20Agenda%20Sample.pdf

Mentee Training Session Agenda
.....http://www.artsalliance.org/docs/men_toolkit/Mentee%20Training%20Session%20Agenda%20Sample.pdf

Mentor Assistance with Goals Setting Tip Sheet
.....http://www.artsalliance.org/docs/men_toolkit/Mentor%20Assistance%20with%20Goal%20Setting%20Tip%20Sheet.pdf

Mentee Assistance with Goals Setting Tip Sheet
.....http://www.artsalliance.org/docs/men_toolkit/Mentee%20Goal%20Setting%20Tip%20Sheet.pdf

Making the Most of Your Mentoring Relationship Tip Sheet
.....http://www.artsalliance.org/docs/men_toolkit/Tip%20Sheet%20Making%20the%20Most%20of%20Your%20Mentoring%20Relationship.pdf

Personal SWOT (Strengths/Weaknesses/Opportunities/Threats or Obstacles) Analysis
.....http://www.artsalliance.org/docs/men_toolkit/Tip%20Sheet%20Personal%20Swot%20Analysis.pdf

First Meeting Agenda
.....http://www.artsalliance.org/docs/men_toolkit/Tip%20Sheet%20First%20Meeting%20Agenda.pdf

What Qualities Make One a Good Mentor
.....http://www.artsalliance.org/tool_men_mentors.shtml#mentor2

What Qualities Make One a Good Mentee
.....http://www.artsalliance.org/tool_men_mentors.shtml#mentee

MAWA (Mentoring Artists for Women's Art) - This is a Canadian group whose focus is "To encourage and support the intellectual and creative development of women in the visual arts by providing an ongoing forum for education and critical dialogue." They have an excellent newsletter, a resident mentor and a well developed mentoring program (they also have a monthly "Stitch and Bitch" meeting).
http://www.mawa.ca/index.php

Mary & Ian Nunn Mentoring/Coaching Program - The following link provides online access to materials for a mentoring/coaching program they developed - it provides excellent materials for anyone who is interested in developing a mentoring program or for anyone who may be interested in mentoring themselves. The focus in not on technique, but on core issues artists face, such as: What is my personal style?; What do I have to say?; Where do I go from here?; How do I express my feelings in ...(whatever medium in which you work)?; How do I know if my work is good?; How do I know if a piece is finished?. Note: there are two program levels - although it says access to Level 2 requires a password, it doesn't. http://www.iannunn.com/iannunn/artTalk/mentorProgram.html

Newberry Mentoring Workshop - Michael Newberry conducts an online mentoring program. From his site: "The mentor program is based, first, on your deepest dreams for your art. Then you will be assessed of your strengths and weaknesses. Thirdly, you will be taught the tools that will enable the realization of your goals. Newberry will thoroughly review your art progress on a weekly or bi-weekly basis and then he will suggest a course of action. Long distance communication is done by telephone and emailed digital images." Although his focus is on painters, you can contact him regarding his willingness to work with artists who work in other mediums.
http://newberryworkshop.com/students/mentor.htm

Leadership and the Art of Mentoring: Tool Kit for the Time Machine – This article by John C. Kunich and Richard I. Lester breaks down the act of mentoring (Model; Emphasize; Nurture; Teach; Organize; Respond; Inspire; Network; Goal-set) and discusses each aspect in detail. Although not written from the perspective of the visual artist, the points are very applicable. The last page has an excellent set of discussion questions.
http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/au-24/kunich.pdf

Textile Related Podcasts - Part 1

Today’s technology provides us with access to an astounding array of textile related podcasts on a broad range of topics that include in-depth interviews with artists

Maiwa Handprints, founded in Canada in 1986, supports the production of embroidered, blockprinted, handwoven and naturally dyed textiles throughout a number of countries. They have made available a series of outstanding in-depth audio and video podcasts recorded at the annual Maiwa Textile Symposiums that are accessible at: http://www.maiwa.com/documentaries/podcasts.html

The Maiwa podcasts include:
The Independent Artist: Working to Commission - Lucy Goffin - Working to commission involves forming a special relationship with a client. Large works for public spaces require the artist to deal with architects, planners, and engineers. It involves navigating through time frames, budgets, and fire regulations. The challenge is not to compromise the creative process due to the added constraints. In fact the reverse can often be true: exciting creative ideas come out of problem solving within a working brief.

Reel and Weave: The Silkspinner's Story – Parts 1, 2 & 3 - Part 1: Karen Selk describes her journeys to China and explains how silk is raised and harvested; Part 2 - Karen describes her experience in Laos and explains how weaving traditions are an essential part of Laotian culture; Part 3 - Karen explores India and visits both the giant tusser moth and the Salvi community, makers of a famous double silk ikat known as Patan Patola.

From the Heart: A Weaver’s Journey – Parts 1 & 2 –Bhakti Ziek is a weaver, teacher, writer, and lecturer and “…has the ability to talk to a group about her life as a weaver while making it seem as if she is sitting talking directly to each person about their own lives and intimate experiences. In this talk, she updates her journey, sharing how a tenuous, fine thread grew into her life line and the sometimes unpredictable path it has taken. Sharing both the triumphs and knots, periods of intense curiosity and spells of disillusionment, she will talk about ways of staying connected that she has found helpful in her struggle to remain involved, creative, and hopeful as an aging weaver, artist, and human being.”

Choreographed Cloth – This is a video podcast - Angelina DeAntonis is an artist driven to express her passion for color through the dye process. This is a presentation made to the 2007 Maiva Textile Symposium.

Kismet, Ajrakh, and the Fish of Knowledge: Collaborating with Craftspeople in India – Eiluned Edwards - “Edwards tells the story of the events leading up to her first trip to India, how it felt to arrive, and how her life was changed by a meeting with the blockprinters of Dhamadka. The trip was profound and its effects were long lasting, Edwards shifted her focus from textile design to cultural anthropology. She spent the next 16 years researching the textiles of the Kutch Desert, collaborating with artisans, aranging exhibitions and studying traditional Ajrakh blockprints.”

The Intimate Stitch: Blueleaf Shibori – This is a video podcast – Jane Callendar describes her development and artistic influences and reflects on her artistic journey.

The Working Traveller: Parts 1 to 4 – These are the reflections of workshop panelists – John Gillow, Noorjehan Bilgrami, Charllotte Kwon – each speaking about their personal experiences, how they got started, the reason for their journeys, and how interaction with other cultures has changed their lives. Another segment addresses specific questions from the audience.

The Mummies of Ürümchi: Textiles in Time – Elizabeth Barber – Dr. Barber is an expert on prehistoric textiles. Her talk is about the naturally mummified and spectacularly clothed bodies of Caucasians found in Chinese Turkestan that date back to the Bronze Age, 3,000 – 4,000 years ago.

Waiting for the Monsoon: Slow Clothes in India – Charlotte Kwon and Mahesh Dosaya – a reaction against fast food culture, “…slow clothes are made with an eye to the human impact on production rather than a need to race to meet a fashion trend.”

LadyBugLive - Dottie Moore posts podcast interviews of visual artists from around the world. The fiber/textile art segments include:

Mical Aloni – embroidery artist
http://ladybuglive.com/gallery4.html

Hollis Chatelain – textile artist
http://ladybuglive.com/gallery9.html

Gwendolyn Magee – textile artist
http://ladybuglive.com/gallery35.html

Susan McGehee – woven wire
http://ladybuglive.com/gallery30.html

Kisha Rawlinson – sweetgrass artist
http://ladybuglive.com/gallery21.html

Bernie Rowell – contemporary quilt artist
http://ladybuglive.com/gallery26.html

C. Elizabeth Smathers – fiber artist
http://ladybuglive.com/gallery20.html

Waltraud Reiner – millinery artist
http://ladybuglive.com/gallery10.html

Tradition/Innovation: American Masterpieces of Southern Craft & Traditional Art – interviews with Gustina Atlas & Geraldine Nash – quilters (12 minutes), Gwendolyn Magee - quilter (25 minutes), Carol Welch – (12 minutes) basket weaver. Click on the artists’ name:
http://www.traditioninnovation.org/interviews/audio/index.html

International Quilt Study Center & Museum – These are podcasts of online lectures, gallery talks, and discussion.
http://www.quiltstudy.org/connections/resources/podcasts_video.html

Among others, the podcasts include:
Quilts: Reflections of Trade, Technology & Tradition" by Patricia Cox Crew – 54 minutes – “…how quilts reflect American culture and the lives of quiltmakers of the past.”

"Nancy Crow: Contemporary Quiltmaking" by Nancy Crow - 59 minutes - Ms. Crow describes the evolution of her work, the many inspirations she finds, and the challenges she sees ahead.

"Modern, Yet Anti-Modern: Two Sides of the Late-Nineteenth and Early-Twentieth Century Quiltmaking" by Marin Hanson – 43 minutes - Her lecture explores contemporary and historical dichotomies in culture and how quilts fit into that discussion.

"The American Quilt and the Grammar of Two-Dimensional Design" presented by David Hornung – 42 minutes

"It's Fashionable to be Pennsylvania Dutch Today: Disseminating Traditional Design in a Modern World." by Janneken Smucker – 35 minutes - The lecture focuses on research Smucker conducted regarding the commercialization of Pennsylvania Dutch culture during the 1930s and 1940s.

"Recycling and Resourcefulness: Quilts of the 1930s" by Merikay Waldvogel – 65 minutes

"From Fibers to Fieldwork" – Nao Nomura – 51 minutes - describes the use of fiber analysis and fieldwork techniques to more closely determine quilt provenance.

"Patchwork and Quilting in the UK" by Dr. Sue Marks – 45 minutes - lectures regarding art and design history, particularly the divisions that occur within the arts and crafts, and feminist debate.

"Quilt Surface Design Symposium: Incubating the Innovative Quilt" by Michael James – 35 minutes

"The Underground Railroad Quilt Controversy: Looking for the 'Truth' by Laurel Horton- 44 minutes

WeaveCast: A Podcast for Handweavers – list of all episodes
http://www.weavecast.com/archives.html Transcripts of select episodes also are available:
http://www.weavecast.com/transcripts.html

Melanie Testa – Textile Artist & Fabric Designer – In this 70 minute podcast, Jennifer Ackerman-Haywood interviews Melanie as she talks in-depth about her life, how she got into the field of textile art, the decision points about her art, her techniques, her struggles along the way, and advice.
http://blip.tv/file/133959

Denyse Schmidt - Textile Artist – In this 60 minute podcast, Jennifer Ackerman-Haywood interviews Denyse about how she went from being an artist with a day job to working fulltime as an artist living her dream.
http://craftsanity.blip.tv/file/132167/

Jenny Hart – Embroidery Artist – In this 70 minute podcast, Jennifer Ackerman-Haywood interviews Jenny about bringing embroidery back as an artform.
http://craftsanity.blip.tv/file/868865/

Susie Hewer – Knitter – in this 30 minute podcast, Jennifer Ackerman-Haywood interviews Susie about her passion for combining her love of knitting with her love of running marathons. Susie is included in the Guiness Book of Records for knitting the longest scarf while running a marathon.
http://craftsanity.com/?p=505

Linda Gass – Quilter - 26 minutes – interviewed about how she “…uses multi-layered quilts to illuminate issues of water management in a state that descends into drought nearly six months out of every year. Linda Gass introduces three new pieces that illustrate the past, present, and - through restoration - the future of saltwater marshes in the San Francisco Bay. “
http://applausecastbusiness.podomatic.com/entry/2006-02-23T17_54_12-08_00

Justine Dennis – Fiber Sculpture Artist - This is a 17 1/2 minute podcast. “Living in a 200-year-old log cabin near New Haven, Kentucky, Justine tells us about how she creates her whimsical fiber sculptures. She also talks about how a single bag of cotton inspired her to take up sewing and how her creativity has shifted over the past couple of years.”
http://www.southerncreativity.com/moonshine/issues/article.php?id=205

Artist Residencies - Part III

Artist Residencies - Part I

Artist Residencies - Part II

Artist Residencies, An Overview - Deanna Wood - This is a great overview and explanation of the various types of artist residencies
http://artistemerging.blogspot.com/2008/05/artists-residencies-overview.html

Artist-in-Residency Programs - Just click on the state and get a listing of available residency programs
http://www.mesart.com/art/Resources:Artist-in-Residency_Programs

Checklist -TransArtists has developed a pointed list of questions that you should consider when deciding which residency program is best for you. They were specifically developed to assist artists searching for and applying to international programs, but are equally pertinent for programs in your own country:
Motivations - "Many residential art centers have strong reasons for running their program. Therefore you have to think about the reasons why you want to stay and work somewhere else." http://www.transartists.nl/articles/motivations.143.html

Searching and Choosing - questions to consider range from which residency profile will best meet your needs to the important practicalities that have nothing to do with art
http://www.transartists.nl/articles/searching___choosing.144.html

Applying - application procedures vary widely - things to keep in mind
http://www.transartists.nl/articles/applying.146.html

Money Check - associated costs of the residency you may not have considered
http://www.transartists.nl/opertunities/funding_check.147.html

Artist in Residence at Durham Cathedral
http://www.artschaplaincy.org.uk/projects/air.html

Artist-in-Residence at Philadelphia Cathedral - Episcopal Diocese
http://www.diopa.org/news/positions-available/artist-in-residence-at-philadelphia-cathedral/

Artist-in-Residence strives to make 'art and soul' connection - Trinity Episcopal Church Buffalo, NY
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/episcopal_artists_2947_ENG_HTM.htm?menupage=397

Artist-in-Residence Inspiration from Above - St. Gregory Catholic Church
http://www.catholicnewworld.com/cnw/issue/110704/artist_110704.html

Young Audiences New York Residency Planning Guide
http://www.yany.org/download/Residency_Planning_Guide.doc

Japan-US Creative Arts Fellowship, Online Residency Handbook - "...information about the responsibilities of the grant, how the stipend works, tips for getting set up in Japan and other pertinent information to help make the most of your time in Japan."
http://www.i-house.or.jp/en/ProgramActivities/arts/ResidencyGuide.htm#Going

Other Unusual AIR (Artist in Residence) Programs:

Department of Safety (DoS) in Anacortes, WA
http://www.departmentofsafety.com/residency

Racine, WI is starting an AIR program in 2009
http://createuptownracine.com/Artist_In_Residence.html

Newsweek Article re New Administration & the Arts

This week's edition of Newsweek Magazine has a four-page in-depth article focused on the Obama administration and how the arts might fair in this new administration:

http://www.newsweek.com/id/178845

Petition to Obama for a Secretary of the Arts

Noting that most industrialized nations have a ministry of culture or of the arts, an online petition has been started to request President-Elect Barack Obama to create a similar cabinet level position. The idea was sparked by Quincy Jones in a December 2008 interview during which he discussed his efforts to get the President-Elect to appoint a Secretary of the Arts.
http://fora.tv/2008/12/17/Quincy_Jones_Secretary_of_the_Arts_Would_Transform_US

To date, over 42,000 signatures have been gathered.

To sign the petition:
http://www.petitiononline.com/esnyc/petition.html

UPDATE - Arts Positions of Presidential Candidates

I first blogged about the Arts Policies of the 2008 presidential candidates on June 3, 2008. At that time only one candidate felt it was an important enough issue to be concerned about. However, both campaigns now have official positions. Judge them for yourself.

Arts Positions of the

2008 Presidential Candidates

Source: Americans for the Arts Action Fund, as of 10/03/08

Campaign has met with Americans for the Arts Action Fund to discuss policy issues:

Senator Barack Obama
YES - Meeting held 4/1/08

Senator John McCain
YES - Meeting held 4/1/08
_____________________________

Campaign has published policy proposals on the arts and/or arts education:

Senator Barack Obama
YES - Read policy proposal 2/28/08

Senator John McCain
NO
__________________________

Candidate has made statement on federal support of the arts:

Senator Barack Obama
YES - View Pennsylvania speech on 4/2/08

Senator John McCain
NO
__________________________

Candidate has made statement on federal support of arts education:

Senator Barack Obama
YES - View Texas speech on 2/28/08

Senator John McCain
YES - Read Statement 10/03/08
______________________

National party platform includes statement on the arts and/or arts education:

Senator Barack Obama
YES - Read platform statement on page 49

Senator John McCain
NO
___________________________

Candidate has pro-arts Congressional record:

Senator Barack Obama
YES - Co-sponsored S. 548, Artist-Museum Partnership Act, 2/25/08

Senator John McCain
NO - Voted to cut funding or terminate the National Endowment for the Arts ( in 9 different Roll Call Votes)
_______________________________

This information can be viewed in a side-by-side comparison table: http://www.artsactionfund.org/pdf/press/McCain_Obama_record_final.pdf

Americans for the Arts Action Fund is the bipartisan advocacy arm of Americans for the Arts, engaging citizens in ensuring that all Americans have the opportunity to appreciate, value, and participate in the arts. Arts Action Fund members are citizen activists who are committed to helping make certain that arts-friendly public policies are adopted at every level of government and in the private sector. ArtsVote2008, a program of the Arts Action Fund, was created to secure bold, new policy proposals in support of the arts and arts education in America from candidates in the 2008 presidential campaign.

Just For Fun

For presidential campaign fun...

Pop Your Candidate into the White House - templates and directions for making a pop-up card. Just print the file out onto card stock and then glue whichever candidate you prefer (or both if you just can't make up your mind) onto the white house lawn.
http://www.popularkinetics.com/Images/Making%20Photos/White%20House%20Pop-Up/White%20House%20Pop-Up.PDF

Free Presidential Candiate E-Cards - from Dover Publications - You have the option of each candidate by himself, with their wives, or with each other.
http://dovercards.com/McCain%2520%2526%2520Obama%2520Paper%2520Dolls/McCain%2520%2526%2520Obama%2520Paper%2520Dolls.html

McCain and Obama Paper Dolls - from Dover Publications - These you have to buy, but they're only $7.99. Also, you can sign up to receive free updates to their (and their wives') wardrobes.
http://store.doverpublications.com/by-subject-mccain---obama-paper-dolls.html

Textile & Yarn Shopping: New York & Los Angeles

All you need to know about where to go...

Guide to the NYC Garment District - Paula Nadelstern has written a wonderful annotated guide on where the great fabric finds are in New York's garment district. I'll definitely print it out and take it with me the next time I'm lucky enough to get there!
http://www.paulanadelstern.com/fabric/guides/index.php

LA Fashion District Guide - click the "Search District" link (upper right hand corner), then under 'Products', click the down arrow and scroll down to Textiles and Supplies
http://fashiondistrict.org/

Los Angeles Area Yarn Shops
http://www.stitchnbitchla.com/resources.htm

Yarn Stores - New York and Elsewhere - lists yarn stores in NYC & Boroughs, NY state, NJ, CT, MA, and NH
http://www.nyccrochetguild.org/ResourceFile/YarnStores.html

Self-Portraiture - Part II

Following is an additional list of resources for creating a self-portrait

To read the first post on Self-Portraits:

http://creativityjourney.blogspot.com/2008/01/self-portraits.html

Just for Fun: Create Your Self-Portrait Online - This is a feature by PBS - you're provided with the tools to create your own self-portrait, from face shape to facial features to hairstyle to clothing - you can play with color - if you've clicked on something and change your mind, just click the red circle with the slash line to remove it - you can also click on various features you've placed (such as the nose) and drag them to rearrange - loads of fun.
http://www.pbs.org/americanhigh/yearbook/create.html

Creating a Realistic Self-Portrait -Tissone
http://home.att.net/~tisone/lesson13portrait.htm

Lesson plans - created primarily for middle to high school students, the following concepts and exercises for creating self-portraits are easily adaptable for use by artists

.....Symbolic self-portrait - http://www.sdmart.org/pix/education/symbolic_self_portrait.pdf
.....Collage self- portrait - http://www.sdmart.org/pix/education/collage_selfportrait.pdf
.....Three-Dimensional - http://www.sdmart.org/pix/education/3-D_portrait.pdf

Create a Self-Portrait – this tutorial is using PVA glue, acrylic paint and tissue paper or paper towels – but who says you can’t do this using fabric or other textiles???
http://www.dracrylic.com/pdfs/Project3.pdf

Jacob Lawrence Self Portrait - The Whitney Museum displays Jacob Lawrence's self-portrait and gives information about different aspects of it - a "mouse over" feature is included
http://www.whitney.org/jacoblawrence/art/self_portrait.html

Self-Portrait Silhouettes - Amy Snyder
http://www.exploratorium.edu/exploring/bodies_mag/portrait.html

Why Artists Should Paint Self-Portraits - Marion Boddy-Evans
http://painting.about.com/cs/figurepainting/a/selfportraits.htm

Self-Portrait - Designed as a series of lessons on self-portraits for 1st & 2nd grade students, its a great introduction for anyone wanting to create a self-portrait
http://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/schemes2/art/art1a/?view=get

Identity Portraits - Theresa Parker - this lesson plan for 4th/5th graders addresses "How can an artist show aspects of identity besides physical appearance in a work of art?"
http://www.princetonol.com/groups/iad/lessons/elem/Theresa-portraits.htm

How to Make a Self-Portrait
http://www.channel4.com/learning/microsites/S/selfportraituk14to19/making.html

Cut Paper Self Portraits - Marvin Bartel - [ idea - substitute fabric for the paper ]
http://www.bartelart.com/arted/cutpaperself.htm#easier

How to Draw a Self-Portrait
http://www.cartage.org.lb/en/themes/arts/drawings/Silhouettes/CreatingMe/SelfPortrait.htm

Self-Portrait Stencil - Debra Cooper
http://littleblackkitty.typepad.com/a_little_imagination_and_/2007/06/tutorial_selfpo.html

Fried Kahlo Self-Portrait - 2D Collage - Exploring and Revealing Identity Through Visual Art
http://www.vsarts.org/prebuilt/programs/communityofpractice/2006/lesson_plans/Frida%20Kahlo%20Self%20Protrait%20Lesson%20Plan.pdf

EXAMPLES of SELF-PORTRAITS by TEXTILE ARTISTS:

Michele David
http://www.creole-creations.com/gallery-details.asp?RECORD_KEY[gallery]=ID&ID%5Bgallery%5D=53

.....NOTE: Michele also teaches a workshop: "Expressive Self Portrait in Fabric"
.....http://www.creole-creations.com/classes.asp

Pam Rubert
http://pamdora.com/blog/index.php?s=meringues

Patricia Dunn - tapestry
http://www.patriciadunntapestries.com/large-single-view/Abstract%20Interpretations/112046-11-8750/Fiber%20Art/Wall%20Hanging.html

Jeannette DeNicolis Meyer - has created a series of abstract self-portraits
http://www.jdmeyer.com/quilts1.htm

Ren's Self-Portrait - created for a Fast Friday Fabric Challenge
http://fastfridayquilts.blogspot.com/2008/02/rens-self-portrait_01.html

Linda MacDonald
http://www.lindamacdonald.com/art-quilt/art-quilt-insect-3.html

Lucie Martin - hand woven tapestry - hold mouse over first image in upper left-hand corner
http://www.luciemarshall.com/page%207.html

Kansas Art Quilters: Upon Reflection - an exhibition of self-portraits by their membership
http://www.kansasartquilters.org/Exhibits/Upon-reflection/index.html

Sandra Donabed
http://www.geocities.com/~sdonabed/eight.jpg

Kjersti Timenes - tapestry
http://www.kjersti.timenes.net/selv.jpg

Julie Fischer - batik
http://fineartamerica.com/featured/self-portrait-julie-fischer.html

Deb Richardson
http://www.debrichardson.com/redshoes.html

June Underwood
http://www.juneunderwood.com/gallery-details.php?RECORD_INDEX(gallery)=60

Deb Erikson - tapestry
http://www.debraerikson.com/website%20gallery%20images/Art%20Page%20Gallery/pages/pages/fdeb_jpg.htm

QuiltArt: Finding Time/Finding Ourselves - Self-portraits by QuiltArt List members
http://www.quiltart.com/sp/quilts.html

Serena Fenton
http://www.ibiblio.org/fents/art/portraits/index.html

Arlee Baar
http://fiberartsmixedmedia.ning.com/photo/photo/show?id=1097628%3APhoto%3A1308

Mona Caron
http://www.monacaron.com/images/html/quilt.html

Judy Martin
http://onehundredquilts.blogspot.com/2006/10/self-portrait.html

Rebekka Seigel
http://www.quiltartz.com/quilts/quilt_self_portrait.html

Susan Sorrell
http://fiberartsmixedmedia.ning.com/photo/photo/show?id=1097628%3APhoto%3A384

Sheila Riess
http://www.faithfulcirclequilters.com/gallery/ART-QUILTS/Protrait_of_woman

Carol Westfall - Digital print on polyester georgette and cotton
http://www.carolwestfall.com/waterfalls.htm#images

Creative Self-Portrait Challenge - Quilting Arts Magazine entries
http://www.quiltingarts.com/qamag/portraits.html

The Art of Reflection: Women Artists' Self-Portraiture in the Twentieth Century - Marsha Meskimmon - This is "...is the first sustained inquiry into the appropriation of self-portraiture by women painters, photographers, scultptors, and performance artists." To preview the book:
http://books.google.com/books?id=EbadI0PsMpgC&printsec=frontcover&dq=heather+dorrough+self+portrait&source=gbs_summary_r&cad=0

Paño: Art from the “Inside” Out

Handkerchiefs are the foundation of paño art. Its origins began in the prisons of the southwest providing Hispanic inmates with an affordable, portable, and mailable canvas on which they expressed their hopes, dreams, memories, and experiences both inside and outside the prison walls.

Paño: Art from the "Inside" Out - “Whether intensely spiritual or brazenly secular, paño art draws on the deepest emotions of prisoners whose artistic expression is limited only by the materials at hand. The word paño (Spanish for cloth or handkerchief) has come to mean the art form itself -- a ball point pen or colored pencil drawing on a handkerchief.” NOTE: Click on arrow at the bottom of each page for more information and drawings
http://www.internationalfolkart.org/exhibitions/past/panos/index.html

Guide to Paño Symbolism http://www.internationalfolkart.org/exhibitions/past/panos/guide.html