Beyond The Fringe artist Linda Michel-Cassidy sent me some progress pics of her artwork.
“Legacy” (knit chromosomes)
assorted wools and silk, handspun, handknit
installed size 3′ wide by 5′ high
The doormat is currently unnamed
wool, 2.5′ wide by 1.5′ high
Here she is spinning wool:
I don’t see many movies in the theater but when I heard that Tim Burton was making Alice In Wonderland I knew I had to see it. Thebes couldn’t go because of his corn allergy (popping corn in the air). Laura and Paul joined me.
Here’s Laura and I holding up her handspun. Oooh, she’s a natural! Her yarn is lovely.
(I doubt there will be spoilers but if you’re sensitive to them skip the rest.)
I absolutely loved this movie! It was the first 3D movie I’ve ever seen. Super groovy and oh so trippy! Alice In Wonderland is one of my favorite stories. The imagery was so beautiful I cried at some points. There’s one scene where Alice is small and is riding on top of a dog. I thought, “I want to do that someday!” Plus the actor who plays Professor Snape in the Harry Potter movies plays the Caterpillar in this one. His voice is amazing. (And damn sexy too!)
Two complaints. After the big climatic scene Alice says goodbye and heads home. That seemed rushed. While not kick back and celebrate? Especially if you don’t know that you’d be able to return to such a magical world? The second complaint is with the actress who played the White Queen. Gods, she sucked. She overacted her role and kept her arms up in an awkward pose. She was in Brokeback Mountain and acted fine in that role. I’m not sure what happened here but her breathy, flaky White Queen was weak.
I can’t imagine this movie being as good in DVD form. If you get the chance to see it in 3D I highly recommend it!
Artist Connie Fernandez will be in this year’s Beyond The Fringe. She was also in last year’s BTF show as well. The piece below is a detail from a shawl. It is a close up of her traditional colcha embroidery.
What drives you to create?
It’s the desire to create a piece that is beautiful and, hopefully, inspiration or thought-provoking.
Why did you choose fiber as your medium?
Fiber is multi-faceted and versatile, and it connects one back to the earth.
What kind of materials do you incorporate into your art? Where do you find them?
For traditional colcha, I use hand spun and natural dyed yarns. For contemporary pieces, I’ll often include commercial wools/synthetics/metallics and even found objects.
How much time do you typically invest in a piece?
The time invested in a piece varies: it could be one week to several months.
What is your process to turn your artistic vision into the finished piece?
It always involves a meditative silence and often dreams.
What is the special meaning or message behind your work?
Traditional pieces reflect Hispanic culture and heritage. Contemporary pieces often reflect a current situation-political, geographical, etc.
Some artists create their art for therapy purposes. Does that apply to you?
My colcha is more for creativity and relaxation. I especially enjoy teaching this art to the younger generation.
What artists do you admire most?
I especially admire the work of the colcheras who have taught and encouraged me: Monica Sosaya-Halford, Beatrice Maestas-Sandoval, Julia Gomez and my prima (cousin) Carmen Velarde.
Where do you find inspiration?
I find inspiration in numerous places: nature, photography, paintings, newspapers, everyday life scenarios and my dreams.
Do you have any upcoming projects or art shows this year?
I’ll teach a colcha class in connection with the Taos Wool Festival.
How can people contact you?
(575)758-7608
This progress picture is titled “El Sufrimiento de Rwanda” and will be in the show.
I’m so excited to be in this year’s Beyond The Fringe. Thebes took the picture below. I was working on my moons for the 2009 show.
What drives you to create?
I have a strong desire to create that cannot be ignored.
Why did you choose fiber as your medium?
I love to touch art. As a girl I would have to hold my hands behind my back to prevent myself from touching the art on the museum’s walls! I wanted to run my fingers over the brushstrokes so badly. (I still do.) I enjoy fiber art because I get to touch and caress it from start to finish. The sense of touch is important to me when I’m making a piece.
What kind of materials do you incorporate into your art? Where do you find them?
I use yarn, wool fleece, felt, fabric, embroidery thread and ribbons mostly. I’ve experimented with my pieces this year and have added touches of metal and bone into them.
Often I spin the yarn I use in a piece so I get exactly what I’m envisioning. I buy material online and locally. I particularly like recycling materials.
How much time do you typically invest in a piece?
From first visualization to finished art takes between six months to a year.
What is your process to turn your artistic vision into the finished piece?
I visualize the piece for awhile. Then I make sketches and to do lists. Preparing the felt canvas comes next, then I felt fleece onto it. Depending on the artwork I’ll then spin up yarn or knit with yarn already made. I assemble the various pieces onto the canvas by needle felting them or hand sewing. If needed I embroider details. The non-fiber details are attached last.
What is the special meaning or message behind your work?
I want to bring more magic into the world. As a Pagan I find creating my art to be a spiritual experience. I want to share some of the mysticism I experience with the viewer.
Some artists create their art for therapy purposes. Does that apply to you?
Yes. I feel creating art is a therapeutic process. It’s a stress reliever and clears the mind. Art is good for the soul!
However, this year I made a piece to specifically deal with my relationship with my mother. Creating the art was a very therapeutic and healing experience.
What artists do you admire most?
Edward Abbey, anonymous street art, Salvador Dali, Ron English, Enya, Max Ernst, Nancy Farmer, Mother Nature, Chuck Palahniuk, Shag, Anne Tainter
Where do you find inspiration?
Going for hikes in the forest, nature, experiencing art, dreams, fiber, snippets of conversation…everywhere!
Do you have any upcoming projects or art shows this year?
Plans are in the works. See my blog for art updates.
How can people contact you?
twilly23 @ gmail . com
Artist Mary K. Lyon will be in this year’s Beyond The Fringe. The piece below is titled “Cold Sunset”. (It won’t be in the show though.)
What drives you to create?
Generally, I just get an idea, start sketching and then work to translate it into an actual physical object. It’s a process and I just enjoy doing it. And sometimes I’ll have a deadline to meet, which really spurs one on!
Why did you choose fiber as your medium?
Bed quilts were what I started with, all very practical. But I had lots of ideas and bed-size quilts take forever, so I started going smaller. Then everything took off – dyeing, painting, shibori, piecing, quilting. Fabric is just so versatile!
What kind of materials do you incorporate into your art? Where do you find them?
Almost all fabric, commercial, hand-dyed and bleach discharged. I sometimes incorporate beads, feathers or other items. These are either found or bought.
How much time do you typically invest in a piece?
That really varies. If I am using hand-dyed or bleach discharged fabric, I might spend several days just preparing the fabric. Once I have the design and the fabric ready, the time involved can vary from a couple of days to several weeks.
What is your process to turn your artistic vision into the finished piece?
First the idea, then small scale sketches, then a full-size drawing and preparation of materials, then the cutting and sewing begins. The final step is adding the batting and quilting. There are frequently many changes along the way.
What is the special meaning or message behind your work?
I’m not sure there is a special meaning or message.
Some artists create their art for therapy purposes. Does that apply to you?
No, other than that I really enjoy the work.
What artists do you admire most?
I really admire those artists who can push their medium, whatever it is, and use it in new ways. I also admire those who are utterly unique. An example of that would be Van Gogh. You can look at a tiny section of one of his paintings and know that it was done by him just by the brushstrokes.
Where do you find inspiration?
Everywhere – outdoors, a color combination someone is wearing or even a phrase.
Do you have any upcoming projects or art shows this year?
I will probably be doing a solo show later this year at Las Comadres gallery in Taos.
How can people contact you?
They can contact me by phone (575-776-3858)
or email marylyon @ kitcarson . net
or through Las Comadres Gallery (575-737-5323)
Initially I wondered how I’d know when the figures were done. I kept tinkering with the details over and over. Then one day I looked at them and thought “it’s time”.
First I took scissors and cut the mother figure open.
Then I added the “blood”. I felt heavy but calm.
The blood was too concentrated so I spread it out and fluffed it up some.
As I was ready to join the figures a wave of nausea started rising up. But then the thought “you can do this” came into my head. I realized yes I can do this and began needle felting them together.
When my mother disowned me she said that “she was no longer my mother but was the womb that gave me life”. The figures represent this.
In a sense she killed her mother role. The mother figure here dies in the act of releasing the daughter figure.
Often people ask what happens when I call my parents. My mother almost always answers the phone. She sneers a hello, probably because she sees my number on caller ID. I identify myself and ask to speak with my dad. Silence answers. She stays silent long enough to be awkward but not long enough for me to ask if she’s still there. Then she either tells me to hold on as she gets my dad or she’ll tell me he’s not there. If he’s not there she’ll often hang up after telling me. Occasionally I’ll have time to ask when he’ll be around. She’ll tell me and then hang up.
She tries to act like she doesn’t realize I’m her daughter but the hatred in her voice tells me otherwise. She sounds angry and resentful of me. Holding such a grudge for sixteen years seems unhealthy to me. But she’s stubborn-I get my stubbornness from her-so I’m not surprised she hasn’t let go. I’ve really worked on letting go of my anger and resentment. I’ve been pouring those emotions into the piece.
Prana has been a constant help on this piece. While I worked on the figures he sat on the womb in the spot where they’ll go.
He was determined to sit there too. If I wanted to put the figures in that spot to see how they’d look I’d have to pick Prana up and sit him on my lap. If I didn’t he’d just go right back and sit there. He just radiates love when I’m working. He’s helping quite a bit.
Merce Mitchell is a fiber artist and curator of both Beyond The Fringe shows. Kudos to her for arranging both of them!
What drives you to create?
It’s just something inside myself that I honor and that I have to do. My hands translate what is beyond words for me.
Why did you choose fiber as your medium?
Originally, because it was natural. I didn’t want my materials to contribute to the corruption of our environment. But wool turned into felt is a magical process and the material is rich and offers many dimensions. I primarily work with my handmade felt and threads, although I am adding in other elements like recycled material, wire and acrylic paints.
What kind of materials do you incorporate into your art? Where do you find them?
As I mentioned above, I make felt, most often from naturally dyed wool. Most is locally produced. I am open to other fiber materials if an art piece calls for it.
How much time do you typically invest in a piece?
I can work on a piece for 1 week to 2 months, depending on size and how much sewing goes into it. Just making the felt, if I am using it as material to cut and sew, can take up to a week.
What is your process to turn your artistic vision into the finished piece?
After making the felt in the colors that I want to work in, I have been machine embroidering some of it, cutting it up into shapes that I then sew onto a felt backing. I hand embroider the piece, sometimes stuff some of the felt pieces as I sew them down. I’m adding some crocheted elements into my artwork for this show as well. I let the process direct me for what actually happens, what develops into the art.
What is the special meaning or message behind your work?
I definitely tend toward conceptual art! But each piece tells its own story, has meaning for me, but also connects with others. I hope my art has a myriad of meanings for many people.
Some artists create their art for therapy purposes. Does that apply to you?
Art heals. Art moves things through us, sometimes out of us and sometimes just translates for us. I feel compelled to make art and my world stays in better balance. I believe that our creativity, when expressed, can change us. The process hasn’t solved all my problems, but rather has put me face to face with the messy life.
What artists do you admire most?
Ana Mendieta, Andy Goldsworthy, Terri Mangat, abstract expressionism.
Where do you find inspiration?
Going to sleep or just waking up. Music.
Do you have any upcoming projects or art shows this year?
Planning to be at the Taos Wool Festival. Two more fine art shows in Taos in the fall.
How can people contact you?
mercemitchell @ hotmail . com
Yvette Doss sent me a copy of her eBook Crunchy Granola Charm to review.
From her book:
“If, like me, you’re fascinated by the 1960s and the ideals that era embodied, you might be part of the way to crunchy.
Fueled by the most amazing soundtrack any era has ever produced, the 1960s had me from the moment I first heard the music and learned about Woodstock, the student rights movement at Berkeley, the Doors and their amazing musical run in L.A., and the scene on Haight Street in San Francisco.”
That applies to me. I’ve been fascinated with the 60′s since I was a little girl.
Also from the introduction:
“Making your own beaded jewelry fits right in with the 1960s aesthetic. It’s folksy, it’s creative, and it’s earthy. Plus, there’s no reason not to accessorize on your way to the protest rally. You’ve gotta look good while you do what’s right.”
I can agree with that.
This one is called Daydream Believer Bracelet:
Doss does a good job showing the jewelry details. Here’s the clasp from her Light My Fire necklace:
There’s seven projects total. Each lists materials used, tools needed, instructions and project resources.
This one is called One Love Bracelet:
It’s a cute ebook. The projects would be good for beginning jewelry makers. They’d also make quick gifts. You can get it for $5.95 here.
Linda Berger will be in this year’s Beyond The Fringe show. Here she is posing by one of her pieces. It’s titled Getting out of the House. The materials used were wool clothing cut into strips, hand dyed fiber and yarn.
What drives you to create?
Creating is just inside of me and MUST come out. Mostly as an image in my mind, then drawn and incorporated into a fiber medium.
Why did you choose fiber as your medium?
My mother taught me to knit at age 9. Though out the years more and more fiber elements and techniques have come to me. Also I dye wool to hook with and spin fleece to yarn for knitting and crocheting etc…
What kind of materials do you incorporate into your art? Where do you find them?
There is always fiber from animals and plants in my hooking, knitting,
crocheting and spinning.
How much time do you typically invest in a piece?
Time is irreverent to me. When the piece reaches how I envisioned, then
it’s done.
What is your process to turn your artistic vision into the finished piece?
Usually I draw or paint my vision. Or sometime I will use a photo.
What is the special meaning or message behind your work?
There is not a special meaning or message to my work.
Some artists create their art for therapy purposes. Does that apply to you?
I can’t say my work is for therapy, however I sure feel great after something is created and finished.
What artists do you admire most?
Doug West right here in Taos, NM
Where do you find inspiration?
Everywhere!! We are surrounded by beauty; one can find beauty in a rock or a hill etc…
Do you have any upcoming projects or art shows this year?
Yes, in December there will be a fiber show at the Harwood Museum. And my work will be there the whole month.
How can people contact you?
Anyone can contact me at love2bead @ kitcarson . net
The postcards for this year’s Beyond The Fringe are here:
The artists listed on the front are:
Violette Alby
Linda Berger
Linda Michel-Cassidy
Connie Fernandez
Lois Fernandez
Kimberly Hamill
Carolyn Hinske
Jana Greiner
Twilight Kallisti
Mary K. Lyon
Merce Mitchell
Nina Silfverberg
Faith Welsh
Karen Wittwer
Abigail Z
The text on the back reads:
Beyond the Fringe
March 26-April 1, 2010
A fine fiber art exhibition
Opening reception
Friday, March 2, 5-8pm
Stables Gallery
133 Paseo del Pueblo Norte
Taos, NM 87571
575-758-2052
Visit arists at
craftingchaos.com/beyond-the-fringe
Fiber classes at
www.manosweavingschool.com
These cards are designed to be working postcards. I’ll be mailing some off to friends. Maybe I’ll see you at the opening reception?