Stories are Made Loop by Loop features seven artists using hand hooking. The Virginia Quilt Museum in Harrisonburg, VA is the first stop for this traveling exhibit. Open Tuesdays-Saturdays 10-4 the show is up through October 7, 2023. Here is a video as I walk you through the exhibit.
On September 23 I am conducting a workshop 10:30-1:30 titled Beginner Rug Hooking – a make-do workshop . We will pull some loops creating a mat with applique’ and embroidery. Learn about the make-do textile craft of the McDonald sisters from Gilmer County WV in the 1960’s. Registration details in this link.
Hooked, Applique’ project
I am traveling to Athens, West Virginia later this month to see the solo exhibit Black History Month of Robby Moore’s mixed media work. Following his social media posts as the work was in progress and now reading the artist statement I felt drawn to see the work in person. Robby has offered to meet me at Concord University gallery for a conversation. Follow this creative advocate @RobbyMooreArt Look forward to reviewing the show and seeing where it travels next.
The September post will begin introducing the artists in Stories are Made Loop by Loop with personal interviews.
The rugs, display items, books, and frame with pattern were loaded into my car and driven to Harrisonburg, VA on July 11. I turned them all over to the curating team and learned some tips for installing exhibits. One, add screw eyes to the end of dowel rods so wires are secured when installing. Another, prepare a layout ahead and place painters tape where each item will be placed. Put the tape at top and cut wire(s) the length from moulding to display plus enough to wrap for hanging. Have all tools ready including multiple ladders and a full prep table.
Screw eyes for wiringMark wall and cut wire to hangwork laid out on table
Part of this exhibit includes an interactive area with hooking frame, a design saying WELCOME and fabric strips set up for the public to try their hand. Simple directions are on a poster right next to the frame. By the end of the exhibit the completed rug will become an item to benefit the museum. The curating team was the first to pick up the hook and pull some loops.
Pattern for public
For those of you who will not be able to visit the Virginia Quilt Museum during this exhibit here is the digital catalog. The full catalog includes the traveling schedule, more work and artists, the bios and artist statements, links and resources to learn more about contemporary rug hooking.
QR for Catalog at VQM
Several of the artists are also authors. Their books are available to peruse in the exhibit and many are for sale in the Museum Shop. You can also purchase a colorful pin.
Books for salePins by Meryl CookPins by Susan Feller
I can’t say it often enough seeing fiber art in person is such a learning experience. There are several other exhibits at the Virginia Quilt Museum featuring contemporary mixed media, art quilts, heirloom treasures which will open your creative tool box to many new ideas.
The full traveling schedule and link to catalog can also be found at SusanFeller.com/calendar. We all look forward to comments and the networking opportunity this opens.
In the lead-up to opening of ‘Stories are Made Loop by Loop’ at the Virginia Quilt Museum on July 12 this post highlights themes explored by the makers. The artists chose to spend hours alone with fiber, color, shapes and simple tools developing work that visualized a personal experience or important issue. They used the rhythmic slow process of pulling loops to meditate and heal, advocate, resolve personal problems.
When you visit the exhibit or read the digital catalog, available in mid July, we invite the viewer to LOOK at the work before reading the stories. THINK how you react to the design. Is there a story in your life you are reminded of? Are you curious to know the maker’s story? Does a piece have you thinking about the topic differently?
Motherhood and Identity are explored by Elizabeth Miller and Karen D. Miller. “I imagined the words on the staircase in Breaking the Cycle as representing aspects of motherhood while I stumbled upward accompanying my sons to their adulthood. “Elizabeth Miller
Karen D. Miller is a contemporary textile artist and writer using rug hooking to create conversation around the consequences of motherhood on women’s identity, perceptions, relationships and value. The series In the Shadows captures moments of life.
Healing from a diagnosis of breast cancer has led to a career as an artist and writer, inspiring others to connect with their joy and sense of purpose. The meditative rhythm of loop pulling and journaled words inspiring a design help along the creative journey. Meryl Cook
Doodles from a time of depression, years later during covid became larger – now statements that visually demand to be heard. Terri Todd
Veterans’ Social Issues are visible and personal. “The work ‘Urban Icons’ depicts the result of society and legislative reactions to the mental illness, drug and alcohol addictions experienced by many veterans as they re-enter civilian life.” Cheryl Bollenbach
As a female veteran, Mary Lopez de Morales (@byJanesDaughter) can use the symbolic language of her military experience to highlight inequities within the ranks and public. A thistle represents ‘Pain – Strength ‘ Survival’.
Rug Hooking is an example of using waste materials to make a new object. Generations of frugal homemakers passed these skills on. Each person picked up the hook, gathered fabrics and recorded their life. See what these artists save from the land fills.
“My goal is to continue the craft heritage of my family making objects this time with the 21st C heirloom material plastic. Domenica Zara Queen
A background in environmental regulatory compliance predisposed Laura Salamyto experiment with all kind of fibers and textiles, specifically those that might otherwise end up in landfills.
This project lives up to my chosen word for 2023 – PROMOTE. I am officially announcing the exhibit ‘Stories are Made Loop by Loop’opening July 12 at Virginia Quilt Museum, 301 S Main, Harrisonburg, VA extending through October 7. I have curated hooked work by seven international artists. Meet the makers this month. In the June 20th post I will provide details from their stories . Plans for July’s post include a link to a virtual catalog for our global network and on-site photos.
Colour, texture, joy and self-compassion define Meryl Cook’s work as a fibre artist and writer in Nova Scotia, Canada. She is the author of two books, One Loop at a Time, a story of rughooking, healing and creativity (2016) and One Loop at a Time, The Creativity Workbook (2017). Follow her social media posts @MerylCook
Cheryl Bollenbach has been driven to create with her hands from early childhood. Encouraged by her grandmother to observe the world around through the eyes of an artist, Bollenbach studied figurative sculpture in college. Dimensional work has carried through in the mixed media work today. She teaches and sells rug hooking materials through cdbStudios.com located in Tennessee.
Mary B Lopez Morales resides in Canada holding dual citizenship with the US. Her experiences as a US Veteran are echoed in the textile art she creates. Many pieces have supported organizations through sales and conversations the images inspire. Represented in the United States by UnitingUS.org, her work has welcomed visitors on exhibit at Dulles Airport and in Washington, DC. She tells her story as @byjanesdaughter
Elizabeth Miller is a Maine fiber artist, writer, and teacher. Her sources of inspiration are North Atlantic landscapes and matters evolving around love, motherhood, trauma, and grief. She is the author of Heritage Skills for Contemporary Life: Seasons at the Parris House, published by Down East Books in 2021. Her work has appeared in several publications and is included in The Art ofMothering: Our Lives in Colour and Shadow, by Karen D Miller. Elizabeth posts at @northatlanticfiberarts
Karen D Miller is a contemporary textile artist and writer from Ontario, Canada using the traditional technique of rug hooking to create conversation around the consequences of motherhood on women’s identity, perceptions, relationships, and value. She is the author of The Art of Mothering: Our Lives in Colour and Shadow (2022) and Eyes Open to the World: Memories of Travel in Wool (2019), both published by Ampry Publishing. Follow her on IG @KarenDMillerStudio
Domenica Zara Queen, describes herself as a Hispappalachian artist, using heritage textile and fiber art techniques to create artworks out of waste plastics. Queen advocates for our world view of the limited resource product to change from “disposable” to “heirloom material”. Living in West Virginia, this message looks to the future in her own community. Posting under @madartsci her collaborative work expands this awareness.
Terri Todd from Virginia, describes herself as a contemporary fiber artist currently exploring mental health topics through large scale textile compositions. Todd’s graphic work has been influenced by petroglyphs, outsider art, and Keith Haring’s sketches. Viewers look for meaning in the pared down figures and emotions through the simple use of color, line, and shape. Explore Todd’s process @territodd.fiberart
Behind the scenes editing, photographing, and prep of the artwork to hang is taking place over the next few weeks. I am writing a curator’s statement and brief description of the rug hooking tools and process for the exhibit and catalog. Extending thanks to staff and exhibits committee at Virginia Quilt Museum for this opportunity to share a sister handcraft with the quilt public. Follow their posts @vaquiltmuseum
Looking back over my work I realize growth, geology and sounds of nature have inspired and influenced it. To study life outside of our dwellings brings an awareness of delicacy and interdependency. It seems my media of choice; fiber/textiles and non-mechanical tools (a hook and needle); honors the experiences my senses absorb.
I participated as a Girl Scout in the very first Earth Day celebrations. In 2020 I honored the 50th anniversary quietly while hooking alone in my studio on 2020 Journal (detail is above). See ‘Trees are My Muse on my YouTube channel where I explore the subject as design element.
There are several organizations which I follow and support. Their focus is to advocate for the existing natural geology and life along with the populations living nearby. Corporate extraction of limited natural resources have resorted to invasive methods ignoring the existing benefits of open space for tourism, generations of families, and endangered species of flora and fauna. Coal River Mountain Watch monitors mountaintop removal permits in and near Naoma, WV. These are often broken with minimal fines levied. WV Rivers Coalition has worked successfully since 1990 to address the value of clean waters within the state. Protecting the waters from corporate fracking, chicken waste run off, logging and private land owners dredging the stream paths. ARTivism Virginia is a coalition of artists and advocates working to prevent the completion of the Mountain Valley Pipeline.
The Old Growth forests throughout the United States are endangered from human growth in larger communities and corporate building. The current administration is funding protection of these spaces. Search for areas in your state on this site. In West Virginia there are several pockets. One is Cathedral State Park in Aurora, WV. Kanawha State Park just outside of Charleston, WV has a pocket of old growth trees. In Tucker County there are trees over 100 years old slated to be clear cut by the Forest Service.
Mountains of EnergyFall complementsFall Along the New River in West Virginia
No matter how you communicate choose to respect this planet we all live on not just every April 22.
There are many opportunities to learn. Watching a how-to video helps, but when you are able to ask questions a relationship develops. The Tamarack Foundation for the Arts offers personal networking experiences through the Creative Network. Monthly Lunch and Learn programming lead by WVCN Liaison, Angelica Armstrong, introduces successful, emerging, retailers, writers, musicians, artists in all media to the registrants. After a conversation exploring the speaker’s journey, the audience raises questions and tags “golden nuggets” (wise tips) shared.
Executive Director for Beckley Art Center,Robby Moore experiences as an artist, curator, theatre professional, community advocate provided steps how to prepare for and approach a gallery with your work. Tips from his Lunch and Learn talk: Create a professional packet with bio, CV, artist statement and current work; research the venue ahead of contact – what type of art is featured, is it an audience you are interested in, how do they review new artists; and visit ahead of time. Mr. Moore is an art consultant for both collectors and independent artists. Check out his web and follow on social media.
Hannah Lenhart, Tamarack Foundation Emerging Artist Fellow, potter, soon to open a brick and mortar studio, classroom, event center in Fairmount, WV brought youthful energy to her presentation. Tips: an active social media includes videos of successes and failures making her colorful objects. This is one of many financial channels she is developing. Hannah describes her goal in making “My focus through my work is to help make life’s little rituals a little more special.” Her website includes online shop, links to social media, and great visuals.
This month I shared my journey Evolving a Career in Art with a timeline of slides and conversation. Tips shared included: introduce yourself by name even if you might already know the person, be prepared to offer a business card for contact, find the new person in a group to sit with or listen to, encourage new techniques, connect people together with common skills or interests, evaluate your practice and evolve. As a former gallery owner we found our clients interested in new work, knowing the stories of makers, and seeing growth in skills or directions. One question was how do I decide what ideas to dedicate time to? Answer: I edit the visuals these days to focus on a body of work. I am learning to interview, video and document people experiencing the impact of humans on our environment and equality. Curating exhibits, advocating, mentoring and continuing to teach design will be the focus for next few years.
Jamie Lester, sculptor, musician, community advocate from Fayetteville, WV will be the March Creative Network Lunch and Learn speaker.
Tamarack Foundation for the Arts is adding salon events to the in-person opportunities. Artist Brian Reedleads the first at Echo-Lit, 427 Washington ST. W, Charleston, WV on Feb 22 from 4-7. Thanks to this coordination from Brian and Megan we will have a template to share with other venues throughout the state. Interested in a pop-up salon in your community reach out to TFA for details. (info@tamarackfoundation.org )
Choosing a word to describe the year ahead has become my routine. PROMOTE is 2023’s. Monthly, on the 20th, a blog post will be released introducing people, places and or events I have researched. Focusing on contemporary textile arts, today’s makers of Appalachian traditions or the stories behind objects, the posts will aim to promote culture in the 21st C.
The Dairy Barn Art Center in Athens, OH offers exhibitions, events and educational programs providing access to fine arts and crafts from outside the region to community of all ages. In its 14th year Women of Appalachia fine art exhibit is featured in the main gallery January 13 – March 19, 2023.
Jurors Alison Helm, Miyuki Akai Cook, and Margaret Curtis curated into the exhibit 96 works by 40 mixed media artists of diverse backgrounds, residing in or with a strong tie to Appalachia. There are 16 artists who include fiber techniques in their work, three that I recognize from West Virginia. Here are our stories.
Suzan Ann Morgan finds creating work helps to process her own evolving “truths”. On the Face of It suggests that “drag” is the modern version of blackface, except now women are the target. She felt the topic needed to be discussed during this current and rightful push for LGBT rights.
Susan Feller uses traditional textile techniques to speak about social issues. Jane S. Choice is the fourth in ICONIC series addressing equal rights. The time alone creating is therapeutic, the artwork when exhibited invites conversation and action.
Quilting, weaving, applique’, assemblage, needle felt, beading, clothing all are used creatively by the exhibitors. Each piece has a personal story briefly explained in a label. Hopefully you can visit and make note to follow the artists’ whose work speaks to you.
