The Magic 25: 1995 & 2007 - Fiberworks at IFCC
1995, Surface Design Association “New Tools: No Limits”
Ethic Seeds/Cultural Blooms: Fiberworks by Multicultural Artists featured twelve artists who have exhibited at the IFCC : Marg Johansen, Adriene Cruz, Harumi Hooker, Vidya Hivale, Carmenita Coleman, Cleveland Smith, Rebecca Newell, Pat Gold, BK Courtney, Margarita Leon, Tina Martini and Charlotte Lewis. The exhibit was organized in support of the National Surface Design Conference being held at Portland State University.
The Surface Design Association is an association of artist and designers that has been around since 1977. Surface Design is defined as: “the transformation and/or manipulation of fabric, fiber embellishments within the context of art and design.” Held every 2–3 years, SDA conferences call attention to advances in technology and new approaches in all areas of textiles through keynote speeches, demonstrations, and panels. Connected with the conferences are workshops for the latest technical approaches and gallery and museum exhibitions offering exposure to innovative artists’ work and member competitions.
The conference theme “New Tools: No Limits” highlighted tools, processes and materials to develop surface designs on both two dimensional and three dimensional forms. The focus of the conference was on the methods and principles of dyes and resists used on handwoven and commercial fabrics in Scandinavia and newly available to studio artists in United States during that period. The IFCC exhibit supplemented the conference with a display of local artists working in various forms of fiberworks, looking at the ethnic seeds from which they picked and where they gathered to create their patterns and images, the cultural blooms brought forth a refreshing vision of art in America.
IFCC archieve
2007, Columbia Stitchery Guild: Hands At Work
The Columbia Stitchery Guild was established in 1969 to provide a network and forum for artists working in all fields of fiber art. Each year we hold an exhibition of our members’ work. It is one way that we reach out to the community, let people know who we are and what Guild membership offers.
In December 2006, Maarja Paris, president, and Marjorie Post, board member, were scouting locations for the 2007 show. As they passed the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center, Marjorie suggested that they stop in. She knew that the Center had a gallery, because she had attended an exhibition in the past that had impressed her.
While Maarja and Marjorie were viewing the current show, they had a chance meeting with Director Adrienne Flagg. By the time the three finished their conversation, they agreed that they had a mutual interest in working with the community through art and discussed the possibility of a spring show.
Maarja and Marjorie carried their enthusiasm back to the Guild’s members. In just a few short months we held our largest show ever. A month-long exhibition gave our members the opportunity to show nearly eighty pieces of fiber art including two-dimensional wall art, three-dimensional sculptures, and wearable art featuring coats, capes and jewelry.
The facilities of the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center also enabled us to share our work in new ways. We participated in Last Thursday, discussed our work at an Artists’ Tea, taught a variety of fiber art classes, and offered a power point presentation featuring a past member who works in fiber and metal.
The Columbia Stitchery Guild membership overwhelmingly felt that the 2007 show was our strongest yet. We look forward to a continued relationship with the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center with the potential for a future exhibition.
by Kathie R. Kerler
2007 Show Chair
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