For Immediate Release April 9, 2017
Florida CraftArt presents: Contemporary Fiber in Florida
April 28 to June 17, 2017
and Fiber Art Weekend
April 28, 29 and 30, 2017
Florida CraftArt presents Contemporary Fiber in Florida, a juried exhibition that showcases original artwork with contemporary approaches to fiber art, pushing the boundaries and/or traditions in media and execution. The exhibition features fresh interpretations of traditional types of fiber art including surface design, weaving, basketry, felting and wearable art and includes work created with nontraditional materials and innovative technologies.
The statewide exhibition is curated by Cindy Bartosek a well-known artist, photographer and curator from West Palm Beach. “Fiber art has been defined as fine art that is primarily natural or synthetic fiber in content and/or executed using traditional fiber techniques such as weaving, knitting, crochet, knotting, felting,” says Mrs. Bartosek. “Its focus is on the materials and manual labor of the artist as part of the works’ significance, prioritizing aesthetics over functionality. This exhibition includes innovative work rooted in traditional fiber materials, processes and history, as well as art that explores the relationships between fiber and other creative disciplines and non-traditional materials.”
In addition to the exhibition, Florida CraftArt is hosting a “Fiber Art Weekend” that kicks off with the opening reception and awards ceremony on April 28 at 5:30 p.m. On Saturday, there are workshops on surface design by Andrea Huffman and tapestry by Rose Young, followed by artists’ talks and a group dinner at the Iberian Rooster. Artists, collectors and art lovers are welcome to come to the $25 prix-fixe dinner that begins at 7 p.m. Reservations are requested.
On Sunday, Mrs. Bartosek will give a curator’s talk at 12:30 p.m., then renowned fiber artist Carole Hetzel will give a lecture on basketry. At 2 p.m., Mrs. Bartosek will conduct a workshop, “Nature prints on paper,” in which each participant will create eco-printed handmade books. The workshops are geared to every level and previous experience is not required. Registration for the workshops and events is on http://www.floridacraftart.org/events/contemporary-fiber-in-florida-2017/.
“Florida CraftArt is a nonprofit organization that features Florida’s fine craft artists,” says Executive Director, Katie Deits. “There are 45 artists in this exhibition from as far north as Tallahassee and Jacksonville and many from South Florida, the west coast and the center of Florida. I am amazed at the large number of fiber art groups and organizations in the state.”
“For example, Florida CraftArt Past President Sarah Butz is a member of the Tampa Bay Surface Design Guild that has more than 115 members. In addition to the statewide Florida Tropical Weaver’s Guild, every area of the state has local guilds focusing on one or more aspects of fiber art and regional groups affiliated with international organizations such as the Studio Art Quilt Associates and the Surface Design Association.”
The exhibition was inspired by and builds on Perspectives in Fiber: Moving Beyond Tradition, a juried exhibition mounted by the South Florida Basket and Fiber Guild in January 2017 in Lake Worth Florida. Half of the work is by invited artists from that exhibition, the other half was chosen from submissions from Florida CraftArt’s call to artists. This joint showing gives broader statewide representation and a greater diversity of work. Many of the artists, as well as collectors, will be coming for the opening and the Fiber Art Weekend.
“The artists are a remarkable group of men and women of different generations, backgrounds and experience levels with a wide range of ideas, inspirations and personal stories,” Mrs. Bartosek adds. “Regardless of the techniques and materials used, each brings a unique perspective to his or her work. Yet all are building on tradition to take the fiber arts into a new era, bringing a modern sensibility to time-honored practices. It is our hope that those viewing this exhibition take away a deeper understanding of and appreciation for the diversity of the use of fiber as an art medium.”
The exhibition is sponsored by fiber artist Jeannine Hascall and Laura Militzer Bryant, President of Prism Yarns. The opening reception and awards ceremony is Friday, April 28, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Florida CraftArt located at 501 Central Avenue in St. Petersburg, Florida. The exhibit will run through June 17.
For more information, visit www.FloridaCraftArt.org or call (727) 821-7391. Exhibition admission is free. Hours are Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.
Florida CraftArt is a nonprofit organization founded in 1951 and headquartered in St. Petersburg. Its mission is to grow the statewide creative economy by engaging the community and advancing Florida’s fine craft artists and their work. Fine craft art is presented in its 2,000-square-foot retail gallery and a large gallery features curated exhibitions. Florida CraftArt is the only statewide organization offering artists a platform to show and sell their work.
Download a full press release PDF
SIDEBAR
Florida CraftArt presents Contemporary Fiber in Florida, April 28 to June 17, 2017
April 28, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.: Meet the artists at the opening/awards ceremony.
Fiber Art Weekend—Register on FloridaCraftArt.org
Saturday, April 29, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Discover your artistic point of view with Andrea Huffman. Create intriguing designs using found objects, paper stencils and masks, on an inked printing plate made from unflavored gelatin.
Noon to 4 p.m. Beginning Tapestry Weave a purse or spirit mask with Rose Young. All materials are provided. 5-7 p.m.: Artists’ talks and Q&A
7-9 p.m.: Group prix-fixe dinner ($25) and artful discussions at the Iberian Rooster, 475 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. RSVP.
Sunday, April 30, 12:30 p.m. Curator’s talk by Cindy Bartosek
Sunday, 1 p.m. Basketry Lecture by Carole Hetzel 2-5 p.m.: Nature prints on paper workshop with Cindy Bartosek Plant materials and paper are combined with heat, water and pressure to create unique prints. Leave with two, small folded books and lots of ideas for how to use this process.
CUTLINES (More images of work available on request. Photo and video opportunities available.)
-
- “Spirit of the Cloth,” a 33” x 30” art quilt by West Palm Beach artist Kianga Jinaki Parker was created using traditional African textiles and artist dyed and stamped fabrics, embellished with African beads and cowrie shells. The piece is hand sewn with metallic thread.
-
- “A Cautionary Tale,” by Venice artist Stephen Sidelinger is created with embroidery floss.
-
- “Visit Florida I – River of Grass,” by Miami Beach artist Pamela Palma, is a 21-inch by 20-inch, hand-woven wall hanging. It was created using a silk warp and hand-dyed mohair for the weft. This mixed media piece also has tourist maps that are reconfigured and interwoven with shredded $100 bills of U.S. currency creating a geographical restructuring.
-
- “Medusa in Sight,” by St. Petersburg artist Pamela Joy Trow, is fashioned from vintage wool, acrylic yarn, metallic thread, silk thread, sea pearls, seed beads, stone beads including garnet, howlite, quartz, bugle beads, beads in glass, ceramic, coral, shell, vintage and contemporary jewelry parts and metallic-colored wire on needle point canvas.
-
- The Crimson Child at Play is a 22.5-inch by 34-inch piece by St. Petersburg artist Linda Dawson. She used acrylic paint, charcoal, watercolor pencils, chalk pastels, water-soluble pastels on cotton to create this colorful effect.
-
- Earth Cure Series I, by Jane Jennings of Port Orange, is a Layered, digitally printed photograph on cotton with printed silk organza overlay that is 21.5-inches square.
