Contemporary Textile Art

[sec]

Here is a link to a contemporary fiber/textile artist who just won a competition for myartspace.

www.myartspace.com/blog/2007/10/art-space-talk-svetlana-rabey.html

I was wondering what everybody's opinions are here on WetCanvas regarding contemporary work. Do you create fiber/textile work that doesn't have a practical or traditional use? If anybody has any other links to contemporary artists working in fabrics and textiles I would really like to see them! I posted some others on the sticky thread.

Right now I am working on a project for my Fiber/Textlile class that involves knitting together things that are not typically knitted, for example, cut up cheeto bags, beach balls, ribbon, tissue paper, swimsuits. The theme is summer. It's due monday so I will be posting the results sometime next week and you can all tell me what you think!

[lisilk]

I love that Tank project you put in the links.:thumbsup: :thumbsup: Since I made my living off my silks for...:rolleyes: 15 years ( give or take) I sorted my work into different types for different venues. The practical/wearables paid the rent on a very consistent basis. The more experimental and mixed media pieces tended to go into galleries and group shows. In my student years I did a lot of wood/ metal (bad) sculptures with lace, string, etc. woven on.

I love the idea of using textile in unusual ways.

Thanks for adding the links Sarah.:cat:

Li

[beachwalker]

I love contemporary fiber art, Sarah. It's so much more innovative and exciting than what people were doing when I was involved in quilt design. Thanks for the links!:)

[chatfieldstudios]

That's a great link! It seems it's sometimes the most unusual art, not always the most beautiful that stays in your mind as you leave an exhibit. In my
opinion the artist has succeeded in making an impact/statement.

I love contemporary fiber art....it doesn't have to have a function in my book.

I've done lots of traditional quilting and sell more small traditional quilts than I do art quilts. I enjoy the look of tradition but sometimes my soul just needs to express more of who I am than who my ancestors were.:confused:

[beachwalker]

I enjoy the look of tradition but sometimes my soul just needs to express more of who I am than who my ancestors were.:confused:

Oh boy, do I ever hear you on this one! I think we're kindred souls.:D

[chatfieldstudios]

:D :D :D

Oh boy, do I ever hear you on this one! I think we're kindred souls.:D

[sec]

Thanks for the responses!!

[chatfieldstudios]

Did you finish your project for your class? Knitting together things that you wouldn't think ought to be knitted together....I've been waiting to see what you came up with.:)

[mmaker]

Nothing I make has a practical application unless I'm forced to..I'm about to start piecing a quilt for my son's wedding gift. Sigh. Otherwise I make art. It just happens to have cloth in it, but it has paint etc too. I have a lot of links to other textile artists in my blog, if you're interested.
marion

[Maureen Grantham]

You have opened a Pandora's box here on the thorny subject of is it art or craft! I love to make non-useful articles using traditional methods with unusual materials too. I find wallhangings, postcards, etc. sell better if they are framed - a frame seems to say 'This is Art' to the general public. Art not just women's craft work and therefore non-interesting. There are huge hurdles to be overcome before textile art is as acceptable as other forms of work - a rather sweeping generalisation but where I live all too true.:wave:

[sec]

Textile art may not be as acceptable as other forms of work in the world of fine art, but there are many people who accept it as so. I think its becoming more accepted. I'm lucky to go to a university in which textiles is very much accepted as a form of fine art. Also the area in which I live, Northeast Wisconsin (Green Bay, Door County) is very accepting of textiles as fine art--we have some amazing textile artists up here!!

I did finish my project which you can see in the thread "contemporary knitting"...Thanks for the responses to this topic!!

[April Tosch]

:wave: Hello All, I'm new here.

I have a question....

I'm a digital textile printer. Basically I create collages with Photoshop and then print them on fabric with a large format printer. I use the fabrics for wallhangings, upholstery, clothing, etc.

Recently I held my first art exhibition showing wallhangings that I printed.

I'm having a bit of difficulty figuring out where exactly I "fit in" in the art community.

I create the designs digitally, so there's no traditional hands-on involvement like there would be in a "painting."

After I do the printing and processing, the wallhangings are sewn by someone I employ. He adds the backing, etc. So, I don't do any of the sewing.

Then, the fabrics are embellished with hand beading and embroidery...I don't do this either, I have an employee who I give directions to.

What I do is create the collages, print them (not easy as it's fairly technical) and supervise the sewing and embellishments.

So where would I "fit in?" Would I call myself a textile artist? graphics artist? mixed media artist?? What do you think?

Thanks for your time,

AT

[beachwalker]

Hi, April, and welcome!:wave:

In my area your work, for exhibition purposes, would probably be classified as mixed media. However, all of the fabric-based, embellished pieces I have seen in that category have been framed or attached to a hard backing, such as Masonite.

Hope you'll be posting some of your work!:)

[lisilk]

Hi April:wave:

Yes, I'd agree with Beachwalker and call what you do mixed-media. I'd love to see some of it. You must be doing well to have employees. How big are your pieces?

Li

[beachwalker]

Textile art may not be as acceptable as other forms of work in the world of fine art, but there are many people who accept it as so. I think its becoming more accepted.

I believe that quilting, at least, has had a respectable place in the fine art environment for the past twenty years or so. For those who haven't seen it, pull up the Quilt National site and click on "QN Prize Winners."

http://www.quiltnational.com/

Some fabulous contemporary work there!:thumbsup:

[LadyArowana]

Textile art may not be as acceptable as other forms of work in the world of fine art, but there are many people who accept it as so. I think its becoming more accepted. I'm lucky to go to a university in which textiles is very much accepted as a form of fine art. Also the area in which I live, Northeast Wisconsin (Green Bay, Door County) is very accepting of textiles as fine art--we have some amazing textile artists up here!!

I did finish my project which you can see in the thread "contemporary knitting"...Thanks for the responses to this topic!!

I think part of the problem with textile art in the context of the fine art debate has to do with what could be called the display versus conservation issue. A textile piece that isn't properly looked after will deteriorate, there can be fading and damage from dust, insects etc etc. People are subconciously aware of that, both from their own experience ( the faded back of the couch/ curtains ) and by association ( bronze, stone, wood, ceramic and painted works from antiquity are more likely to survive than in tact textiles ), which affects their perception of the medium. That may account for Maureens finding that things sell better framed, moves the piece into a different area of peoples understanding.
In no way am I trying to belittle textile artists, I think attitudes are beginning to change because of the wonderful work they are doing. Fiona

[beachwalker]

Interesting comments, Fiona, which prompted me to do a little search on fiber art conservation. Here's a link to a site that has some good, practical advice on caring for textile work:

http://seastrands.wordpress.com/the-care-and-feeding-of-textile-work/

And this one has an excellent discussion on displaying fiber art:

http://www.marlamallett.com/mounting.htm

[April Tosch]

Hello Lisilk and Beachwalker,

Thank you for your replies. I'm an American woman living in Saudi Arabia. Labor is relatively inexpensive here so hiring someone to do the beading isn't too much of a problem.

My wallhangings are very large, over 6 feet. I attached an image if you care to see it.

I'm trying to set up an account with art-agent so that I can upload more.

So, I should classify what I do as "mixed media" OK, sounds good then.

Thank you so much for your replies.

Kind regards,

April

[chatfieldstudios]

My goodness....I guess I don't care what you call them...these are absolutely splendid! The beading is so time-consuming...how fortunate for you that you
are able to afford to have it done.:clap: :clap: :clap:

[beachwalker]

April, these are just extraordinary! The design motifs and colors are wonderful!

[lisilk]

April~ Stunning! beautiful design and color harmony. I'd love to see a close up.

Li

[LadyArowana]

April, those are beautiful, do share some more pix !

Cindy, thanks for the links on textile conservation. My textile involvment is limited to volunteering with a group associated with the "Friends of the Museum" ( I "do" jewelry ). Our members that are serious collectors are very careful with their storage and display, but we are always getting new people who have just bought their first nice thing and want to know what to do. So those links will be excellent, we used to have a lady here who was a qualified conservator, but she moved back to the US.

Fiona

[April Tosch]

Hi,

Wow, thanks for the compliments! I wasn't sure what to expect because I really haven't spoken to anyone about them Stateside. My clients are all local. It's only recently that I've wanted to try and go international. That's why I looked through this forum to see what category I would place these under once I decide to enter competitions.

As for the beading and embroidery: The gentleman who does it is Indian. His work is so precise that you'd question it as coming from a human. And, the salaries here are MUCH lower than in the US.

I followed a link posted by Beachwalker regarding quilts. I had no idea that they have become so complex! They are amazing. I always imagined quilts as being more "functional." Yes, artistic, but functional. I can't beleive how much they have evolved.

A close friend of mine has a quilting guild here in Jeddah. LOL! If any of you saw her workshop you'd swear you were in the US. You'd be surprised at how many Saudi women enjoy quilting! They have proper quilt exhibitions here as well. It's wonderful.

Best regards to all,

April

p.s. I attached an image of a couch I made. It's a bit "frou-frou" so you either love it or hate it!

[sec]

Very nice work April!

[sec]

Yes conservation is more difficult with textiles. I think its important to be aware of making your textiles as archival quality as possible. That is an issue we discuss in my textile classes. You should definitely treat your textile nicely!

[April Tosch]

Thank you Sec.

Off the top of your head, do you know of a "spray" that I could use for aiding in color preservation? I use reactive inks in my printing and so far, I've not noticed any fading after a few years but I'm worried about long-term.

Thanks,

April

[sec]

I would think about how you display your work. Keep it away from light as much as possible. Also if you put it under u-v glass that will help prevent fading. I'm not sure if there is a spray, but I'll ask my professor. I know there is a deacidification spray for paper, see: http://www.archivalsuppliers.com/prodinfo.asp?number=214-4001

This link has some good thoughts about deacidification on textiles: http://palimpsest.stanford.edu/byform/mailing-lists/texcons/2007/07/msg00008.html

This is all I could find for products that aid textile conservation:
http://www.carrmclean.ca/CategoryGroupBrowser.aspx?CategoryID=196

Here are a couple links about preservation:

http://www.thehenryford.org/explore/artifacts/textile.asp

http://www.ianrpubs.unl.edu/epublic/pages/publicationD.jsp?publicationId=680