Embroidery as Art

In Stitches - NYC Group Show

2009-11-11T09:47:00.003-06:00

In Stitches
Thursday, November 12, 2009
6:00pm - 8:00pm
Leila Taghinia-Milani Heller Gallery
39 East 78th Street at Madison Avenue
New York, NY

The exhibition will include work by Ghada Amer, Ramazan Bayrakoglu, Louise Bourgeois, Nancy Brooks Brody, Ambreen Butt, David Byrne, Margarita Cabrera, Orly Cogan, Adam Cohen, Anita Cooke, Matthew Cox, E.V. Day, Lesley Dill, Chris Duncan, Alinka Echeverria, Tracey Emin, Angelo Filomeno, Robert Forman, Zoi Gaitanidou, Sabrina Gschwandtner, Guerra de la Paz, Selma Gürbüz, Joseph Heidecker, Kent Hendricksen, Todd Knopke, Steven & William Ladd, Mike Latham, Charles LeDray, Pooneh Maghazehe, Julia Mandle, Christian Marclay, Victoria May, Bradley McCallum & Jacqueline Tarry, Thomas McDonell, Darrel Morris, William J. O'Brien, Maria E. Piñeres, Elaine Reichek, Jacob Robichaux, Gulay Semercioglu, Donna Sharrett, Jean Shin, Chiharu Shiota, Kiki Smith, Devorah Sperber, Berend Strik, Marc Swanson, Frances Trombly, Vadis Turner, Paul Villinski, Andy Warhol, Debora Warner, Megan Whitmarsh, Rob Wynne, and Darius Yektai.

on view November 12 - December 23, 2009

Link

Adam-Parker Smith & Thread Baring: A Portrayal of Masculinity One Stitch at a Time at UW Milwaukee Union Art Gallery

2009-11-09T10:50:00.003-06:00

(Adam Parker-Smith)

I just found out (by peeking at their blog) that there is a show called "Thread Baring" opening November 19th at the Milwaukee Union Art gallery, with a specific focus on works by men:

This group exhibition looks at masculinity as represented by male artists working in forms and mediums often considered to be the domain of women. Using materials like thread, yarn and felt in practices like weaving, knitting and embroidery , these visually compelling two and three-dimensional works aim to challenge preconceptions about the subject and forms of men’s art. With a literal construction of masculinity, these fiber artists present contrasts meant to perplex and intrigue.

Artists include : Youn Woo Chaa, Robert Conger, Angelo Filomeno, Craig Fisher, Kent Henrickson, Mark Newport, Chris Niver, Adam Parker Smith, Paul Villinski, Michael Brennand- Wood, and Rob Wynn.

Link

Domestic Animals -show coming

2009-11-09T08:19:00.003-06:00

I was invited by friend and extraordinary painter, Heyd Fontenot, to be part of a group show at Webb Gallery in Waxahachie, Texas, called "Domestic Animals" (theme open to interpretation). I'm using this as an opportunity to do some pieces I've had banging around in my head for a while. Here's a sketch. I'll post the finished works closer to the opening, which is November 21st.

Link

Over & Under Tonight

2009-11-06T12:24:00.002-06:00

Tonight is the opening of Over & Under, a show of stitches that I was invited to curate for Yard Dog Gallery here in Austin. I'm really, really excited to have all this wonderful work in one place like this, for the first time in Austin. I want to thank all the artists who enthusiastically participated and made it all possible.

Over and Under: A Show of Stitches
@ Yard Dog Gallery
1510 S. Congress Ave Austin, TX 78704

opening: Friday Nov 6th from 7-9pm

(show will run until Dec 6th)

Includes the works of nearly twenty artists including:

Annie Aube - Deborah Baker - Kate Bingaman Burt - Dana Carlson - Diem Chau - Orly Cogan

- Emily Eibel - Veronica Fuentes - Takashi Iwasaki - Joetta Maue - Michael Aaron McAllister

Johnny Murder - Christopher Niver - Jennifer Porter - Shannon Rankin - Richard Saja - Kathie Sever

Facebook Event Page for Over & Under

If you're in Austin, please come by and check out one of the best and most fascinating galleries in Texas! Randy (that's him) was the first gallery owner to hold a solo show of my work in embroidery several years ago, and for that, I am forever grateful.

I will be there with bells on, and I hope to see you there!

Jazmín Berakha

2009-11-06T09:48:00.003-06:00

From Buenos Aires, the embroidered works of Jazmín Berakha are whimsical, simple and lovely. I have been enjoying the near-daily emails artists are sending me of their work. It's fascinating how many artists are using embroidery in their art.

Link

Embroidered Signature

2009-11-04T17:08:00.004-06:00

(click to enlarge)

I was at Yard Dog gallery all day today hanging the Over and Under show, and it was such a treat to open the carefully packed boxes, and unwrap the work of artists I have blogged about here but not seen in person. And, there were many surprises: some work was much larger than I had expected (Dana Carlson) and some was much tinier than I realized (Emily Eibel). But, my favorite surprise was discovering the wonderful embroidered title and signatures on the back of Michael Aaron McAllister's work (above). It's a shame to have it hidden against the wall, so I snapped a photo for you before it was hung and hidden.

Over and Under opens this Friday, November 6th at Yard Dog 7-9pm

Maurizio Anzeri

2009-11-03T13:53:00.002-06:00

Shannon Rankin just sent me an email asking if I had ever seen the work of Maurizio Anzeri. Why, no! I had not. And now, I am so glad that I have.

Link (via I Found Some Treasure)

Fils Croisés - Photos

2009-10-30T12:24:00.005-05:00

Allow me to introduce you to Adeline Jeudy. She is the owner and director of Galerie LJ in Paris and invited me to be a part of the Fils Croisés show. I didn't take a single photo the night of the opening (too much excitement) so I stopped by yesterday to chat with her and take some pictures. I have finally posted them to flickr. I want to express heartfelt thanks to Adeline, Claude, Marie, Alex and everyone else who made this visit to Paris particularly special for me.

Link

Céline Cleron

2009-10-30T12:08:00.003-05:00

Dressmaker's pincushion with insects by Céline Cleron, part of the show currently on display at Galerie LJ in Paris.

Link

Melissa Zexter

2009-10-25T04:13:00.005-05:00

Melissa's work combines photography with fine hand-sewing directly onto the photo. I'd love to see these works in person.

Link

Barbara Lugge

2009-10-20T12:25:00.002-05:00

Barbara Lugge sent me a very nice email (I love very nice emails) with a link to her work, which I don't believe I'd seen before. The detail is astonishing, and rivals that of Cayce Zavaglia.

Link

Shannon Rankin's Disperse

2009-10-18T06:01:00.006-05:00

I am getting images from artists for the upcoming Over and Under group show in Austin, and had to share this detail image of new work from Shannon Rankin.

Over and Under
a show of Stitches
curated by Jenny Hart
at Yard Dog Gallery, Austin, TX
opening: Friday Nov 6th 7pm
(show continues through Dec 6th)

Previously on EAA: Shannon Rankin

Fils Croisés

2009-10-13T04:14:00.003-05:00

This week is the opening of Fils Croisés at Galeri LJ in Paris, the second group exhibition of contemporary textiles that I'm participating in (last weekend was the opening of Sur le Fil in Lille). Curated by Adeline Jeudy, this show includes works by Sandrine Pelletier, Jenny Hart, Céline Cléron, Birgit Dieker, Anne Geoffroy, Olivier Kosta-Théfaine, Valérie Newland et Yaze.

Fils Croisés
Galerie LJ, 12 rue Commines, Paris
opening: Thursday October 15 at 7pm
(show continues until the beginning of Nov.)

"Goodbye Horses" by Sandrine Pelletier

My mom is coming over for the opening! I'll have six works on display: three embroidered pieces and three drawings. Last spring I began a series of portraits of high school classmates. Instead of doing any actual embroidery, I began drawing the stitches around the portraits for embellishment. A solo show of these portraits is slated for June 2010 at Domy Books in Austin.

Wish you could be here. But, you probably can more easily make it to Over and Under in Austin, which is happening next month!

Cécile Jarsaillon

2009-10-12T09:43:00.004-05:00

Some of my favorite works at the exhibition in Lille were by Cécile Jarsaillon. She is best known for her paintings (and for her involvement in the rock group Les Supremes Dindes). But, her foray into embroidery is really unique: she does open satin stitching over photos which lends an eerie quality where the simplicity of the lines in thread are underscored by the gradations of color from the photo. The link below is to several works taken from a safety manual (click on the thumbnails once there for large details). Warning: several images are graphic.

Link

Fullmano

2009-10-12T09:33:00.005-05:00

At the Sur le Fil exhibition, they had a curtained room dedicated to adult-themed art in needlework. I was particularly interested in the series of embroidered, vinyl 12" records by Fullmano. Alas, I have been unable to find any links to his work online. He lives in Paris and stitches on records, paper and photographs.

ETA: Fullmano sent me a very nice email after I posted this and gave me this link to his myspace page.

Back from Lille

2009-10-12T09:22:00.002-05:00

I just got back last night from Lille, France (oh, how I wish we had high-speed trains in the US) where I attended the opening of "Sur le Fil" a huge group show of "deviant textiles" that included three of my pieces, along with mind-blowing works by artists from all over the world. Representing the US were artists: Orly Cogan, Richard Saja, Elaine Bradford, Mark Newport, Ray Materson and Andrea Deszö.

One of the most interesting things about being there was staying in the artists' residences and learning about their history. Lille used to be the center for manufacturing thread (poetically fitting, don't you think?). The museum (called Maison Folie de Wazemmes or, "crazy house of Wazemmes") and the residences, two buildings that face one another a long alleyway, are housed in the former factory buildings. The significance of the venue was not lost on any of us.

embroidery by Skart collective (Belgrade)

I will be blogging about works by individual artists from this show, many of whom I was previously unfamiliar with. And, as if that weren't exciting enough, there are two more group shows of contemporary needlework coming up (one curated by yours truly) and I'm gonna blog separately about those. Because hey, don't you want to go see my pictures from my trip?

Sur Le Fil - Lille, France

2009-10-08T10:21:00.003-05:00

This Saturday I will be in Lille to attend the opening of "Sur le Fil - Deviant Textiles", a year-long traveling museum exhibition that includes three of my works as well as work by Orly Cogan, Mark Newport and Sandrine Pelletier. Special thanks to Françoise of Poodle Wah Wah and Barnabé Mons. Information about the show is on the exhibitions page.

Orly Cogan

2009-10-06T10:23:00.002-05:00

I have long enjoyed Orly's work and many have become familiar with her large-scale embroidered works that blend nudes and existing embroidery on tablecloths, linens and fabrics-as-canvases. I especially love this smaller piece. A few years ago we were both participating in Bumbershoot, Seattle, and I got to see her incredible, oversized works in person. Orly will have work included in my upcoming show at Yard Dog in Austin called Over & Under.

Link to Orly's site
Link to info about Over & Under

Michèle Provost

2009-09-25T09:02:00.007-05:00

Gallery owner Dale Smith sent me a nice email about the work of Michèle Provost. Her work seems to be of two principle types: lyrics from songs, and portraits in a heavy, satin-stitching style. I especially love this piece above that looks like punks having breakfast. I wish I could find a larger version.

Link

Sandrine Pelletier

2009-09-12T12:23:00.004-05:00

While in Paris, I am really looking forward to meeting Sandrine Pelletier, an artist whose work is not limited to sewing, but explores numerous media with impressive clarity of voice and vision. She's kindly invited me over for dinner next week and I'm thrilled at the prospect of a visit with her.

I was first introduced to Sandrine's work when we both appeared in the book Victionary: Illustration / Play (2008) and was struck by the raw quality of her threadwork. We will both have work in the upcoming group show at Galerie LJ in October.

Lou Reed - wip

2009-09-08T07:56:00.004-05:00

(click to enlarge)

Even though I say I'm on vacation, I'm still working like crazy. Here is the ongoing progress of the Lou Reed Portrait for next month's exhibit in Paris. You can see the preparatory sketch here.

Photographing Embroidery

2009-08-16T22:05:00.001-05:00

(click image to enlarge)

Drawing Embroidery

2009-08-14T09:32:00.008-05:00

"Bill Krantz" by Jenny Hart 2009, graphite and colored pencil on bristol

Drawing is my first love. Since the spring, I have been working on a series of portraits of high school classmates surrounded by flourishes of hand-drawn embroidery stitches.

Three of these portraits will be on display as part of a group show this October called "Fils Croisés" (Crossed Stitches) at Galerie LJ in Paris. The show was titled by the legendary Sheila Hicks (next entry) and she is writing the introduction to the catalog. A full series of these portraits is also slated for exhibition at Domy Books Austin in spring 2010.

You can also see a large version of this drawing.
You can see some more of my drawings in this flickr set.

Link to full exhibtion info

Mr. Jalopy Embroiders Lacoste

2009-08-10T09:33:00.004-05:00

Over on Dinosaurs and Robots, Mr. Jalopy has a new, micro-embroidery piece. He embroidered (with great difficulty I'm sure) over the iconic Lacoste logo on his shirt in bright red thread.

...why would I embroider over the iconic crocodile? Because it is one of the few brands I still care about.

Link

Embroidery on Paper

2009-07-31T11:15:00.004-05:00

Patricia Zapata of A Little Hut had this arresting and lovely image of how she incorporates embroider on paper. It makes me think of hardanger or cutwork embroidery. Patricia says:

The paper embroidery examples I've seen so far are either geometric or illustrative. I wanted to try something a bit more organic and abstract. I hope to be able to finish this so it's suitable for framing (I already have the spot for it) but I've also decided that I'm going to take my sweet time with it.

Link
Related: Stitchable Stationery