Focus: Fiber 2014, a biennial exhibition of contemporary fiber art, will open today, September 26, from 7:00 -10:00 pm and will be on view through January 18, 2015 in the Bacon Gallery at the Erie Art Museum. The opening reception will feature the presentation of artist awards. The reception is free and open to the public.
Presented by the Textile Art Alliance (TAA), an affiliate group of the Cleveland Museum of Art, Focus: Fiber 2014 features tapestry, embroidery, quilts, basketry, weaving, and sculpture by American artists. Juror Paola Morsiani, director of the Neuberger Museum at the State University of New York at Purchase, and former curator of contemporary art at the Cleveland Museum of Art, was charged with selecting the best work in fiber and/or fiber techniques from the pool of entries from 26 states. Personal narratives, social and political statements, representational imagery and purely abstract compositions are included. The artists chose equally diverse fiber techniques to execute and express their singular visions.
Morsiani has put together a thoughtful show that celebrates fiber art in the 21st century. In her juror's statement, she writes, "As a curator of contemporary art, I see all artists integrating textile media in their work seamlessly and creatively... [This exhibition] offers a rare opportunity to delve into the rich variety of inventions and interpretations of age-old techniques by artists skilled in these traditions and investing in expanding practices and expressions... The results expand our perspectives on our times, placing these works strongly at the intersection of life, art, and innovation."
Prize winners include Kathryn Shinko's Dirty Sampler series, which ponders our dependence on social media; Mary Michael's Seascape, a quilt that invokes transformations and transcendence; Michael Radyk's Swan Print, in which the artist weaves with recycled materials; Susie Taylor's Pearl, an innovative weaving that includes origami as an integral part of the weave structure; and Judy Rush's Portrait of the Middle Child, a commentary on interactions with adult children.
Textile Art Alliance is an active organization of artists, designers, educators and collectors with a common interest in the textile and fiber arts. Formed in 1934, TAA takes as its purpose the promotion of fiber arts through exhibition, educational programs and purchases to enlarge the textile collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. TAA has mounted an exhibition of members' work since 1936. In 1967 it became a juried show. In 1970 a decision was made to restrict the show to fiber art. The show expanded to a regional juried show in 1977 and to a national show with this exhibition.
JPGS available upon request.
A full color catalog of the exhibition will be available.
Museum hours are Tuesday - Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Closed on Mondays. Museum admission is $7 for adults and $5 for students/seniors. Free admission is every Wednesday and the second Sunday of each month.
Erie Art Museum is located at 411 State Street, Erie, PA, (enter on 20 East 5th Street) (814) 459-5477, erieartmuseum.org.
Featured artists include: Marilyn Akerson-Corbitt, Melani Kane Brewer, Sue Cavanaugh, Jacqueline Dukes, Katherine Dunlevey, Cris Fee, Lynn Forbes, Tod Hensley, Sarah Hewitt, Janet Hiller, Maggy Rozycki Hiltner, Eileen Hoffman, Claire B. Jones, Lialia Kuchma, Elaine Longtemps, Cynthia Martinez, Elizabeth Mather, Kim Matthews, Mary Michaels, Susan Moran, Susan Moss, Frances Murphy, Dominie Nash, Pat Owoc, Camilla Brent Pearce, Michael Radyk, Diane Ramos, Ceres Rangos, Priscilla Roggenkamp, Kerfe Roig, Ann Plevin Rosenbluth, Judy Rush, Maya Schonenberger, Kathryn Shinko, Susie Taylor, Marianne Williamson, Sue Yamins.
