“The impetus driving the work in this exhibition does not arise from the need to abolish cohesive traditions. Instead, each work possesses an energetic momentum to protract all-too-familiar art forms by translating, rearticulating, unwinding and rewinding the components of material practices. Yet subtle disloyalties to traditional assumptions regarding craft, tradition, language, meaning, and interpretation murmur. …
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SDA is committed to supporting the efforts of community members to realize their creative goals and positively impact the world of textile and fiber art. SDA’s Grants & Awards program provides an array of opportunities to support members as they demonstrate excellence in the studio and in exhibitions, engage in professional development, organize events, and …
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My project The Modern Jester began with humor being the central theme, and I believe that everyone has their own way of discovering and expressing humor. Though it is a common factor among people, humor is perceived differently depending upon factors such as geographical location, culture, level of education, intelligence, context, and gender. Preconceived assumptions …
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My mother, Helen, was born and raised on a hard-scrabble farm outside of Boonville, Missouri. In this Depression-era self-sustaining household, if the household goods were to be more than simply utilitarian, they would be decorated by female family members. Clothing was constructed, altered, and refashioned, and all manner of textiles were created and beautified by …
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I’m a pediatric oncology nurse, a nurse educator-researcher, and a hooked rug artisan who has been surrounded by artistic women all my life who never considered themselves artistic. Of the hundreds of traditional rug hookers I have met over the years, only a handful consider themselves artists. Thanks to them, I’m making that distinction now …
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Artificial Intelligence (AI) image generation programs have recently become available to the general public. Debates about the ethics and aesthetics of these generated images have exploded across mainstream media as well as art forums. There seems to be a general concern about AI generated art images (as well as videos and texts) that appear to …
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I had the pleasure of meeting and interviewing Rena Wood during Arrowmont’s Winter Pentaculum, and learning about Rena’s practice as an artist and arts educator. What fascinates me most about Rena’s work is the subject of memory and the use of slow and labor-intensive textile processes. Rena, please tell us a bit about yourself and …
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My art practice took an unexpected turn when I summoned the courage to enter a collection of 18 small textile works in Expressions of the Sacred, an exhibition in 2002 at the University of Denver. When that work—which depicted signposts on Jesus’ journey to the cross—received the Juror’s Award, I began receiving requests to create …
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My work reflects on the relationship between human existence and coexistence within nature, which is a mutualistic relationship with mankind. Humans and nature are indispensable and during this era of Covid-19, space and artwork about how we return to nature are being practiced and actively created. My work combines and materializes the connection between humans …
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The Southwest region of the United States stretches across an expansive landscape that ranges from a variety of soaring monoliths of red sandstone pinnacles to lush snow capped mountains. The high desert plateau repetitively cracks open to reveal cavernous canyons and hidden spring-fed creeks. The overwhelmingly gorgeous scenery combines with the powerful presence of indigenous …
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