Fiber Arts

“I consider my work to be ‘Cut and Paste.’ The letters (fonts) for the initial cards are cut out by hand using an artist blade. Many are enhanced by cutting out images that then become raised, giving the cards dimension and shadowing. For the collage cards, I find a variety of sources for paper and images. Anything from newspapers and magazines to Italian or Japanese decorative and origami papers, including repurposed wrapping papers, the inside of envelopes, and decorative shopping bags.”

Left: Michael Farris. In my head #2, 2011. Newspaper clippings, magazine clippings, photo copies of images enhanced with colored pencils. Photo courtesy the artist.

As both a surface designer and a couture designer, Jeannette Guetersloh produces one-of-a-kind and limited-edition art-to-wear garments and accessories. Her work conveys an ethnic influence in a contemporary, elegant way on the human body. Many of her pieces express ancient symbols of protection and messages. Using variations of the traditional techniques of batik and shibori, often in combination with contemporary resist, discharge and direct-dye processes, she develops her designs on luxurious fabrics. Silks of many weights and textures are used, as well as velvets and linens.

Left: Jeannette Guetersloh. Black Winter Rose, 2011. Silk organza, shibori/needle felting. Photo by Jeannette Guetersloh.

Jenne Giles is a San Francisco-based artist whose work ranges from traditional fine arts and crafts to innovative performance and installation art. She received her B.A. in Art and Art History from Rice University in 1997. After working professionally in the arts and trades, she began her own business, Harlequin Feltworks, in 2007. Her enterprise is dedicated to creating unique pieces of wearable art that combine her love for painterly color, sculptural form, folk art and costume. Jenne is thrilled to be working at felt’s cutting edge of fashion and design.

Left: Harlequin Feltworks. Sunrise Rose Scarf, 2010. Wool and silk. Photo by Moja Ma’at.

Kevin explains, “My designs depict aqueous waterways, magnified woven textures, and wild winter landscapes. Intricate cut-paper stencils, photographic textural close-ups, and watercolor paintings originate the art process. Contemporary, graphic and colorful, the silk scarves and natural-fiber house wares are screen printed, often with dye, then steamed for indelibility.” Exceptionally lightweight, with sophisticated and subtle colors, these scarves would make an excellent addition to any outfit, from the office to the theater.

Kevin Harris holds a BFA from the New York College of Ceramics at Alfred University, where he studied ceramics and printmaking.

Above: Silk scarf by Kevin Harris; photo courtesy the artist.

Lorie S. Burnett is a self-taught silk painter. She started her artistic career working in many different media, including glass and beaded jewelry. Then she started experimenting with textiles. Working with silk and paint together gave her a new way to experiment with color and texture. This experimentation proved to be a pivotal moment in her career. From that time on, she has focused all her artistic energy into developing new ways of combining color and texture into wearable art. This new medium was also more conducive to working in her studio (a.k.a. her kitchen and now the entire house), with her two children, Morgan and Quentin, always afoot. Gaining its name from the only times in which she could work uninterrupted, Naps & Nites Studio was officially started in September of 2000. Lorie’s current work is greatly inspired by the centuries-old Japanese technique of shibori, in which each piece of silk is individually wrapped and painted by hand.

Above: Naps & Nites Studio. Wavy Crepe Desert Hues Shibori Wrap, 2011. Wavy crepe silk. Photo by Lisa Blashke.

Joan Son is an American artist who has devoted her career to the exploration of contemporary origami as fine art. Since 1964, when she first learned to fold the traditional crane, Joan has been intrigued with the art, math and magic of paper folding. Her professional origami career debuted in the windows of Tiffany & Co. in the spring of 1993.

Son has created numerous large-scale installations for public and private venues, as well as small works for museum shops, including the National Gallery of Art and the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. In 2011, she had major exhibitions at both Houston Center for Contemporary Craft and the Ellen Noel Art Museum, Odessa, with works ranging from small containers to eight-foot hanging kimonos.

Studying with masters from around the world, Joan is a member of Origami USA and attends and teaches at their conferences in New York, California and Ohio.

Above: Origami creations by Joan Son, 2012. Paper and mixed media. Photo by Joan Son.

Craft is a struggle between trying to lead and trying to follow…a passionate dance at best. Janet Taylor’s work has been a process of listening and following. After years of learning about textiles, cultures, techniques and art making, her work seems to be a melding of all of the above.

Textiles have always been opulent, intriguing, a sign of royalty, elegance, setting women and men apart. It is with all of those things in mind that her work evolves, providing enjoyment every step of the way.

Janet Taylor, a recognized artist, speaker, and educator for more than three decades, received a BFA from the Cleveland Institute of Art and an MFA from Syracuse University’s School of Art. Upon receiving her degrees, she simultaneously began a career in teaching and a career as an exhibiting artist.

Above: Janet Taylor. Burnout rayon, silk velvet, hand beaded and vat dye discharged, 2011. Photo by Chris Taylor.