Susan Feller

Tag: appalachian artist

  • Appalachians exhibit near and far

    Posting early this month to include several exhibits I recommend seeing in person. First is ‘Black History Month’ at Concord University’s Arthur Butcher Art Gallery, Athens up through September 15. The full catalog is available on RobbyMooreArt.com . I visited and went through the exhibit with Robby. We discussed how having time to explore materials and ideas has lead to expanding the variety of work. Expect to see this theme travel to other venues as he continues to develop powerful stories.

    Black History Month

    Brian M Reed opened ‘Between Portals & Plains’ at Helwaser Gallery on Madison Avenue, NYC. There is an opening reception September 14 evening. Exhibit includes work created during extended study in Bali last year. On textiles, paper and with ink, he combines symbols real and imagined. The show is up through December 28. Brian is from West Virginia, his professional network has lead to this connection and others worldwide.

    Eastern West Virginia Technical and Community College in Moorefield, WV held an exhibition with awards juried by master artist Robert Singleton. Miss Mountaintop Removal received honorable mention. Congratulations to the awardees, thanks to Mr. Singleton for his critiques and much appreciation to Trent Montgomery and the college for this inaugural programming.

    On September 23 the workshop Basic Rug Hooking – Making Do will be taught at Virginia Quilt Museum, Harrisonburg, VA. Register through this link The project includes learning how to pull a few loops and add this skill to applique’ and embroidery to make a small mat or even cover a set of cans like the thrift of past generations.

    Stories are Made Loop by Loop continues through October 7 in the Harrisongburg venue. The digital catalog is available through this link.

    Nevada Tribble is a mixed media artist from Elkins, WV. She has hung a solo show at the Grasshopper Gallery in Lost River Trading Post at Wardensville, WV. Her connection with the environmental elements around the region become the basis for the paper surface she makes. With a bicycle she retrofitted to operate a sewing machine messages are written on the paper, shapes are molded around rocks from the paper and we experience the rippling of creeks in lines and words. This show is up through October, open every day a visit is encouraged to see the details along the Trails + Tributaries

    Robert Villamagna, is known on social media as WV_Tinman. He uses nostalgic objects of tin, photos, mementoes from yesterday collaged and in assemblages to make snide comments on life. A solo show in Gallery 2265 a new space on Wheeling’s Market Street is open through November 9. Meet the artist on September 23 noon to 3.

    Opening at the Dairy Barn Art Center, Athens, OH on October 6 is Voices from West Virginia. Five artists with visually diverse styles interpret personal beliefs and daily life in Appalachia. Ginger Danz, Susan Feller, Suzan Morgan, Leslie Norris and Nicole Westfall use paint, textiles and screen printing to express fresh ideas brewing throughout the arts community in West Virginia and beyond. Suzan Morgan has curated the exhibit open October 6 through November 9.

  • Caring for Nature

    Caring for Nature

    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 Energy
    Fall complements
    Fall 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.

  • Nature, Art and Friends

    Nature, Art and Friends

    Off season is a great time to explore a region. March in the New River Gorge National Park invites outdoor enthusiasts to hike the trails through tunnels of rhododendron or along the top of the gorge for views of the rushing New River below. You could ride above in a bi-plane; through the gorge along the river on an Amtrack train; by car across in seconds on a bridge considered an architectural wonder or slowly along the roads with the locals. All of these scenes draw (pun intended) artists to interpret the natural beauty and man made impact.

    Lafayette Flats Boutique Rentals

    For the past eight years Lafayette Flats Boutique Vacation Rentals in Fayetteville, WV has offered the New River Creative Residency program. By providing an extended time to live in the hotel and work creatives develop unique projects. This March with support from a Tamarack Foundation for the Arts and National Endowment for the Arts grant all the suites are dedicated to three West Virginia artists. This creates an added element of conversation and collaboration to the work. Follow on social media @lafayetteflats

    Hannah Watters
    Brian Michael Reed
    Nichole Westfall

    Hannah Watters, from Charleston, applied for this residency to create momentum for an art practice based on her own Appalachia experiences. Textures within the landscape, sketches from hiking and observing the rusty angular features of the Nuttalburg mine will color her multi-disciplinary work. The time conversing at length with fellow artists is unique, deepening relationships for the future. Follow @Watters.Hannah

    Brian Michael Reed is from Ivydale. Artist residencies are not new to Brian. He uses the time away from daily routines to absorb new elements in geography, language, food and arts. Reed’s work advocates “universal commonalities” to foster global understanding and unity. This residency in his home state with the other artists is sure to result in motifs and colors of spring and new relations. Follow along @brianmreed

    Charleston resident Nichole Westfall applied for an opportunity to create her own work rather than the many commissions on her schedule. As a muralist the pieces this month will be smaller and perhaps influenced by Brian and Hannah, seem to be going in an abstract direction. A walk early on took her to the Huse cemetery on a blustery day. Sketching shadows and wind tossed folds on fabric a piece evolved without thought. As a “defender of the decorative arts” Nichole’s bright colorful murals add community elements on many buildings within the states and well beyond. Follow @cocoispainting

    Love Hope Center for the Arts in Fayetteville also received a grant for support from Tamarack Foundation for the Arts and National Endowment for the Arts. Only open a year and a half, their exhibition schedule is filled with music, exhibits, classes and pop-up events. The community participates in all of these sessions. There are two exhibit spaces for group and solo shows. Jamie Lester’s sculptures in clay and metal is up through April 16. The New River Creative Residency cohorts exhibit opens March 31 – May 14. Opening day will include another ‘Art to Art’ in the afternoon sponsored by TFA Creative Network. Check out @lovehopearts for announcements.

    Exhibit at Love Hope Center for the Arts March 31-May 14

  • Learn by Questioning

    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 Reed leads 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 )

  • Textile Arts in Appalachia

    Textile Arts in Appalachia

    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.

    Denise Roberts writes of the many paths of her art career. She attributes driving the winding West Virginia roads as a major influence. Her most recent solo exhibition was at Huntington Art Museum, Huntington, WV. Titled Fiber Contours. It included the MITOTE series.

    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.

    Check out the Dairy Barn Art Center Youtube channel for a series of artist talks. This link goes to a conversation with Suzan Ann Morgan, myself and quilter Nancy Herschberger.

  • Making art – Why?

    Making art – Why?

    I am beginning a new website and thought to muse on creating art.
    Please visit SusanFeller.com over the next months to learn my story.

    I waver between how the methodical, rhythmic action stitching and loop making settles me to an anxiousness felt designing a visual message recording life around me.  Viewing installations, collections and themed exhibits focusing on the latter can energize or inhibit my own design habits. Perhaps the “imposter syndrome” comes into play subconsciously.  Can I call myself an artist like them? Of course just do it.

    Mountains of Energy, mixed media

    When a social issue piece is complete I will clear my mind and explore a different medium. Perhaps sketching small random scenes and shapes, mindlessly combining techniques, materials and designs. Eventually a story sneaks into the process and art evolves again.

    Feb 23 sketch

    How do you end and start again? What are your inspirations? Are you beginning or settled along an art journey?