Just For Fun

More oddities & absurdities to make you smile or just say "Huh???"

KNITTED HOUSES:

London Architectural Bienniel: A Knitted House -
done in public and using a 2-story high scaffold,
the group knitted the outside walls using garbage
bags, old plastic bags and rope.
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/06/london_architec.php

The life-size fairy tale house made of millions of stitches: Created to raise money for charity, this single story knitted house includes knitted furniture, accessories, and is surrounded by a knitted garden including flowers and 12-foot high trees:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-460754/The-life-size-fairy-tale-house-millions-stitches.html
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ONLINE JIGSAW PUZZLES

Kay Sorenson's Jigsaw Quilt Puzzles
http://www.jigzone.com/gallery/1021281.946188

The Quilts of Gee's Bend Jigsaw Quilt Puzzles http://media.cla.auburn.edu/geesbend/play/jigsaw_index.cfm

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Knitted Fractals and Algorithms - Eleanor Kent
http://www.eleanorkent.net/gallery/knit.html
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Narrow Vision - Eve Jacobs-Carnahan - "Though the beautiful knitted eyes in this sculpture appear clear and open, they are confined by blinders. Such narrowness prevents them from seeing and understanding. Though the beautiful knitted eyes in this sculpture appear clear and open, they are confined by blinders. Such narrowness prevents them from seeing and understanding. "
http://www.evejacobs-carnahan.com/index.php?pr=Narrow_Vision_knitted_sculpture
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WTF?? - just take a look...
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6t3FwWXEUZCIfIPCmH99oDC4i5rFUrnOYibtaLfBZGc894ozYQ3irRp1i3ELtMoyB9QTEHM_TdEJYA66tNuLayVglhbnraS8xbvLKzUkMG0CheABDmiMEFgrAIMSwN51zBa-ALCUX5zY/s1600-h/chalayan.coat.jpg
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World Famous Crochet Museum - somehow I don't think I'll bother making a side trip to Joshua, CA. A visit to the website was more than enough...can you spell "tacky"?
http://www.sharielf.com/museum.html
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Counterfeit Crochet Project - hand crocheted designer handbags
http://www.counterfeitcrochet.org/index.html

Sylvia Syjuco - Counterfeit Crochet Project -
YouTube video of her making a presentation
about the project
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vz9s4uVZDSc
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Help Your Tree Survive Winter with a Tree Sweater
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/03/help_your_tree.php

.....Tree Sweater Pattern
.......http://erika.fisherking.org/?page_id=404
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Sewing Tattoo - This committed I am not...
http://www.boingboing.net/2008/09/22/sewing-tattoo.html
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What Not to Wear on Stage - Bjork is a performer who definitely has her own sense of style- Click on the 2008 and the 2007 links on the right side of the page
http://pictures.bjorkish.net/
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Barcode Textile Pictures
http://www.freakingnews.com/barcode-textiles-Pictures-47223.asp
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Wicker Motorcycle
http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2009/01/wicker_motorcycle.html
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Crocheted Fake Fur Fox
http://whatnottocrochet.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/pic21_12152392652.jpg
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Gumball Machine - felt
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sewnbyblythe/684414855/in/set-72157600587577200/
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Blender with Bananas and Strawberries - felt
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sewnbyblythe/685361926/in/set-72157600587577200/
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Knit Your Bit - "On the Home Front during World War II, knitting served as one more way Americans could support the war effort...The National WWII Museum is proud to launch its own Knit Your Bit campaign. You can help the Museum honor WWII veterans by Knitting Your Bit- in this case a simple, but cozy, scarf to be donated to a veteran in a Veterans Center somewhere in the United States."
http://www.nationalww2museum.org/education/knitting.html
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Old Tyme Stockings Devoted to Sock Machines & Sock Machine Knitting - a virtual museum dedicated to the restoration of antique sock machines and the promotion of sock machine knitting.
http://www.oldtymestockings.com/default.asp
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Fetus Popple - created for an Embryology class, its a take-off on Popples (stuffed toys that turned inside/out of pouches)
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=72203.0
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Frightfully Bloody Fairy Tales - Annie Aube - WARNING: Her work may be disturbing from both a violence & sexual perspective - "...creates embroideries of violent images from Mythology and folklore in a cartoon style."
http://www.annieaube.com/

Tyvek Disintegration???

Textile artists have found tyvek to be an incredible resource not only for the protection of artwork during shipment as well as storage, but also when used as a "textile" that can be manipulated through the application of heat and paint to produce amazing textural and visual effects.

However, recently on a Bookart list, there was an extensive discussion about tyvek and its archival properties - specifically whether or not there should be concern about the durability and longevity of this material. One person stated that a map printed onto a "tyvek-like" material crumbled into uncountable pieces and fell off his wall less than four years after he'd purchased it. Several others recounted instances of tyvek shredding and disintegrating when used to protect outside plants during the winter as well as contractor accounts of finding it deteriorated when used in home construction in less than 15 or 20 years.

I did a google search and also found accounts about tyvek deterioration posted to several different contractor forums (with crumbling being mentioned specifically). Sailors have found that it shows signs of deterioration within just a few weeks of exposure to weather and is therefore unsuitable for use as sails. Additionally, I found the website of Neda Niaraki, a textile designer who has created a fashion line of disposable garments made from soft structure Tyvek. She states, "My garments can be worn up to 12 times before deteriorating."

Clearly more information is needed, but artists need to at least consider whether continuing to use tyvek as part of the artwork itself is wise. While it is true that it is highly unlikely that the art will be subjected to extreme temperature and weather conditions, nonetheless textile artists do use various degrees of heat and apply paints and other chemical based materials to it.

Just something to think about...

Kimono as Art: The Landscapes of Itchiku Kubota

An exhibit showcasing 40 of the magnificent and towering (8-foot tall) art kimonos created by Itchiku Kubota is currently on display at the Canton Museum of Art in Canton, OH through April 26, 2009

"Internationally acclaimed artist Itchiku Kubota used silk kimono as his canvas. Kubota had a lifelong fascination with the subtle changes of color and the quality of light achieved through skillful dyeing techniques combined with the reflective properties of silk. He often used nature as the inspiration for his work."

"Itchiku Kubota was born in Tokyo, Japan, in 1917. He learned the art of dyeing as an apprentice at age 14. At age 20 Kubota visited the Tokyo National Museum, where he found inspiration in a 350-year old textile silk remnant of the long lost art of tsujigahana (Tsu-jee-ga-ha-na). “In a sudden moment” he said, “I encountered a source of boundless creativity which revealed to me my calling.” World War II intervened and Kubota was taken prisoner and put in a Siberian prisoner-of-war camp. Upon his release in 1951, he devoted himself to fi"nding the secret behind this extraordinary technique. It wasn’t until 1977, when he was 60 years old, that he finally succeeded in his quest and developed his own method, which he called Itchiku Tsujigahana. Kubota used a complex process of layering dyes, inks and embroidery, on eight-foot-tall kimono. A single kimono could take as much as one year to complete."

The process to create a kimono involves the use of many steps and and a variety of techniques to produce the desired colors and patterns. From foundation to finishing, the elements involved include:

http://kimonoexhibit.com/creation.htm

You can view a 3-minute video of the exhibit which includes clips of the artist at work:

http://kimonoexhibit.com/

Additional information can be accessed at the Kimono as Art website including:

The Life of Itchiku Kubota:

http://kimonoexhibit.com/life.htm

The Search for Tsujigahana Textile: Discovering the Art:

http://kimonoexhibit.com/search.htm

A 160 page catalogue with 200 color illustrations is available:

http://kimonoexhibit.com/catalog.htm

Demystifying Devore DVD - Dionne Swift

Dionne Swift has released a 40 minute DVD which gives detailed instructions on "how to Devore". From her website: "The devoré process was developed on C17th France as a means of creating a poor man’s lace. Devoré – to devour – to eat away/to burn out. The fabric I use is a combination of silk and viscose, the devoré process removes the viscose pile."

To view a 3-minute YouTube snippet from the DVD:
http://www.youtube.com/v/kLaXurD8X_s&hl=en&fs=1

From the Textile Directory Newsletter: "This month we have two copies of Dionne Swift’s fabulous new DVD, Demystifying Devoré, to giveaway. The DVD provides useful information on the basic techniques employed in devoré, and also demonstrates how these techniques can be applied to produce attractive garments. For your chance to win one of these fabulous DVDs simply email your name and address to sara@thetextiledirectory.com with ‘devore’ in the subject line."

To learn more about Dionne and view some of her work:
http://dionneswift.co.uk/index.shtml

Writing with Thread Exhibit: Traditional Textiles of Southwest Chinese Minorities

Writing with Thread: Traditional Textiles of Southwest Chinese Minorities opens at the Museum of International Folk Art in Santa Fe, NM on May, 15, 2009 and runs through August 16, 2009.

"Writing with Thread explores the meanings associated with the production and use of indigenous clothing. In societies without written languages, traditions and customs are orally passed from generation to generation. However, the textile arts, largely practiced by women, provide tangible evidence of a group's history, myths, and legends. The signs and patterns woven or embroidered in their clothing are often replicated in the accompanying silver ornaments made by men. Together, the textiles and silver ornaments, as complements to their oral traditions, record and transmit ideas and concepts that are important for the preservation and reconstruction of the identities of their makers and users. The exhibition, the largest and most comprehensive of its kind to date, will showcase costumes from the Miao, Yi, Dong, Tujia, Shui, Zhuang, Dai, Buyi, Yao, Wa, and Zang. The needlework and silverwork of each ethnic group show variations in their myths of origin and heroic combats, communal memories, and wish fulfillment."

Many of the people whose work is shown did not have a written language and used their embroidery to record important historical events - they serve as visual records.

This is one of the world's most outstanding collections of costumes from the late nineteenth through the mid-twentieth century that were worn by 31 of Southwest China's 56 minority ethnic groups and includes 500 examples of rare and historically significant clothing, jewelry and silver ornaments.

The exhibition is documented and accompanied by a 320-page illustrated catalogue.

For more information, contact the Museum of International Folk Art:

http://www.internationalfolkart.org/

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