fiberarts guild of pittsburgh, inc. Promoting appreciation of fiber art and fostering its development. JANUARY 2014

www.fiberartspgh.org • [email protected] • p.o.box 5478 • pittsburgh pa 15206

President’s Message

Tis’ the season...

No matter what holidays or traditions you share, the winding down of a year and the beginning of another serve as a time for thanksgiving, celebration and resolution. There is so much to be thankful for!

The cornucopia of successes the Fiberarts Guild accomplished in 2013 was plentiful. The pilgrimage into the world of large-scale community artwork and the major launch of FI13 as a traveling show were new territory; flying our FiberFlags high, we set forth to explore it. Because of the incredible crew of volunteers who gave countless hours to keep the multiple guild ventures afloat, we were triumphant in these pursuits! The Staci Offutt fiber representation in the New Collective and the PCA holiday shop was impressive, as were other personal victories in solo and group exhibitions and holiday shops popping guild president up all over town bursting with a bounty of handmade goods. This was all thanks to our unflappable, dedicated and all-around awesome members! There is so much to celebrate! INSIDE: In the grand finale that was an explosive year for the Fiberarts Guild of Pittsburgh, several lasting brightly burning fireworks were sent up up up! As we continue to upcycle Edge to Edge: and repurpose the KtB material into beautiful pillows, blankets, scarves, hats and pet beds, the creativity and ingenuity of volunteers working to transform these materials The Fiberarts Guild inspires more and more altruism. Three cheers for three more cities for FI13 which cel- membership exhibition ebrated a successful opening in San Jose, California and will have upcoming openings NEW: in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and Lowell, Massachusetts. The Outreach Committee is applying for an exciting public art project and our Mentoring Programs keep growing Special Interest Group: and taking shape and are flourishing! the Art of Costuming And there is much to resolve to! ALSO: Whether you want to shed those last 25 lbs of silk organza taking up space on your Program update crafting table or you’re determined that this will be the year you finally quit hoarding Mentoring group vintage glitter and glue it down, the FGP can help you meet your goals. A great way to purge that junk from your bead supply trunk is to bring it to the Potluck. Along with About critiques the showcase of auction items, it’s a great place to schmooze and sample the culinary Guild event recap talents of members new and old. Learn a new skill at the Layer Cake Workshop or New members further your fiber career by joining the Board of Directors. Show off your hard work in the upcoming members’ exhibition, Edge to Edge, and take advantage of all the other wonderful opportunities being members affords us. Remember, you’re more likely to keep your resolutions if you have a partner, so bring a non-guild friend to join the fun! With opportunity abound and a brand new year ahead, it’s a a great time to reflect, be grateful, commend our accomplishments and plan ahead. So let’s toast to our achieve- ments, and in 2014 we’ll have our layer cake and eat it too! Meet the Board by Fran Frederick

Staci Offutt is the current president of the Fiberarts Guild. A sunny extrovert, she brings with her an extensive arts education and a fresh perspective to the arts in Pittsburgh. It seems that as soon as she became active in FGP, she was enlisted in its service; she was recruited for the Board of Directors while attending her first Potluck Luncheon! Staci grew up in Fairmont, West Virginia, and attended Friday, February 21 West Virginia University, graduating with a BFA in 2002. She moved to New York City to study at Parsons The 3:00pm: Meeting and presentation by Meredith New School for Design, obtaining a MFA. She moved to Grimsley, Edge to Edge exhibit juror Pittsburgh in 2010, and now lives in Lawrenceville with her husband Jaron Feldman and their adorable toddler 5:30pm: Edge to Edge Exhibit Opening Penelope (who also happens to be a very well-adjusted BE Galleries, 3583 Butler St., in Lawrenceville and calm child, who accompanies Staci at FGP meetings Meredith Grimsley is a Fiberart International 2010 & and crits without fussing). 2013 artist. Her work, including wearable art, instal- Although Staci started as a painter, she has explored dif- lation, performance, two- and three-dimensional ferent media and created both two- and three-dimensional forms, has been shown in numerous national ven- work with materials she has on hand. Her biggest chal- ues. Each piece confronts her fears, loss of inno- lenge is figuring out what’s good in her own work, dealing cence, intolerances and moments of life-changing with her inner critic, and determining whether her activity transition. may yield “crap” (her word). Her primary themes tend to Hope Alcorn focus on ritual—groups of people acting together and in Michelle Browne gatherings—and on the physicality of body movement in EXHIBITING Carolyn Carson athletics and choreography. She works in two locations in Poorvi Das her house—the basement for woodwork and messy stuff, ARTISTS: Katy Dement and upstairs for painting, drawing and sewing. She seeks Betty Elias to do something every day, even if it is dabbling. She has Rae Gold Amanda Gross taught Introduction to Figure Drawing and Intermediate Passle Helminski Drawing at the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts since 2010. Patricia Kennedy-Zafred Her challenge in the guild is organizing the “next big thing,” Barb Kubala following big and well-publicized projects like Knit the Bridge Cynthia Martinez and the Fiberart International. Noting that there are no lack Penny Mateer of ideas or people to work in the guild, she considers FGP Sharon McCartney a “very special group of people” that works symbiotically Staci Offutt rather than competitively (in an unhealthily sense). Jane Ogren Angela Pasquale Art is embedded in her life; she never had to seek it out. Camilla Brent Pearce Her mom, an art teacher, often took Staci with her, expos- Shawn Quinlan ing her to creative activity at a young age. Seems like Staci Martha Ressler is carrying on the legacy, showing Penelope the joys and Brent Ruka challenges of a life in the arts. Rochel Shiffrin Lauren Sims Kitty Spangler Delli Speers Save the Date: Feb.13th Kathryn Stanko Mary Towner Pittsburgh Center for Creative Reuse is hosting Knit Michelle Urbanek the Bridge for their February Open Studio on Thursday February 13th 6 - 8pm. We received a request from East End Cooperative Ministry for 50 Bridge Scarves. Join us!

2 New Costuming Special Interest Group

Rhonda Pegg and new member Christina Papp ■ Attending costuming conferences as a group, such as would like to form a special interest group for the Art of Costume Con 2014 in Toronto, the Midwest Costume Costuming. We’d like to know if there are any other Guild Academy near St. Louis, and Costume College in members who also have this interest. California. To get this group started, we are currently defining cos- ■ Attending events where costume plays a key role, tuming as any primarily handmade wearable item or outfit such as the Jane Austen Festivals in Pittsburgh and whose purpose is to transform the wearer into a character, Louisville a time period, or a place in the imagination. ■ Guest speakers We are interested in taking our costuming skills and ex- ■ Skill sharing sessions and workshops with guest periences to the next level. The intention of a Costuming instructors special interest group would be to provide a supportive, non-competitive fellowship for learning and growth. ■ Sewing sessions where we can get feedback on proj- ects or just for camaraderie while working Here are a few IDEAS for group activities. We’re open to other ideas from those who join the group. Please note that we are not interested in awarding prizes at costumed gatherings. ■ Field trips to costume departments at local universities and costume shops at local theaters We are thinking of having our first meeting sometime in January or February to share ideas and interests for the ■ Field trips to nearby museums. The Kent State Univer- group and to plan a few activities. sity Museum’s current exhibit is Pretty Pleats. Further away but on topic are Threads of Feeling in Colonial If you are interested in the Costuming Group, please let Williamsburg and Interwoven Globe at the Met in New either Rhonda or Christina know. York City. Rhonda: [email protected], 724-837-9062 ■ Costumed gatherings where we can wear our cre- Christina: [email protected], 412-414-6400 ations. These could be group potlucks or themed gatherings such as attending a concert or film—think 1920s outfits for The Great Gatsby or fantasy garb for the upcoming Seventh Son.

Three Rivers Quilter Knit the Bridge News

Annual Exhibition Repurposing railings continues! With 900 some rail- Three Rivers Quilters will hold their annual quilt ings in hand we estimate we have repurposed and do- show March 27-29, 2014 at the IBEW Circuit Centre at 5 nated about half. But we still need folks who can stitch Hot Metal Street (Southside) in Pittsburgh, PA. bridges onto the scarves using yarn needles and yarn and folks who can help us resize, crochet borders, and bind off Entries from all quilters are welcome to this judged and railing covers that are just a little too tall for human usage. juried show. The theme of the show this year is “Leaves,” Don’t have these skills? We can show you how! although quilts in any design or subject matter can be entered. Show Entry Rules & Procedures and entry forms are on the Three Rivers Quilters website: Women of Visions http://www.threeriversquilters.org/quiltshow.html Congrats to LaVerne Kemp, now the President of Deadline for Entry is February 18, 2014. Digital entries may Women of Visions for a 2-year term. She has been a part be submitted. In addition to the quilts on display, there will of their guild for the past 31 years and is one of the original be vendors, quilting demonstrations, a snack cafe, and a members Women of Visions will exhibit in the fall of 2014 Granny’s Attic. Entry to the show will be $7 per person, at PCA as one of the member guilds along with the Fiber with discounts for groups. Arts Guild.

3 Programs, workshops, critiques & fiber conversations

All Guild PROGRAMS are open to the public. Non-members/guests $5. Critique sessions are sched- uled regularly to provide supportive response to Guild members’ work. Finished work as well as work in progress can be brought. Fiber Conversations are usually held in a Guild members studio or home.

February 11 Tuesday woven garments. She has shown her work in fashion shows at Convergence and Midwest Weavers and recently lectured 3:00pm NEW! Mattress Factory Tour at Convergence. Kathy is a member of the Canton Weavers & Fiber installation “Trace of Memory” by Chiharu Shiota. Spinners Guild. As the Assistant Curator at the Canton Museum Location: 500 Sampsonia Way (North Side) of Art, Kathy has studied archival storage of objects and textiles. She will discuss and demonstrate practical archival storage Sponsored by the Fiberarts Guild Installation Mentoring Group. methods for your textiles to preserve and share their “stories” for Please call Michelle Browne 412-576-5462 to register. years to come.

March 14 fRIDAY April 26 SATURDAY 3:00pm Critique 10am -4pm Workshop: Dry & Wet Skills 7:00pm Guild Meeting / Presentation Location: 6thPC / Squirrel Hill Patricia Kennedy-Zafred: Imagery on Fabric Interested in sharing your skills or learning a new one? Come Location: 6thPC / Squirrel Hill and learn from other Guild members, bring examples of your The art quilts of our own Patty Kennedy-Zafred are primarily own techniques, and have fun working together. Please bring image driven, a likely result of her B.A. in journalism and pho- materials to share. $5 donation to pay for church space. tography. Her award-winning work has been included in Quilt To register or share a skill contact: Michelle Browne 412-576- National, Visions, Fiber Philadelphia, Quilts=Art=Quilts and 5462 or Rhoda Taylor 724-794-5165 Artist as Quiltmaker, and in such publications as Imagery on Fabric, Printmaking on Textiles, Alternative Photo Processes May 2 fRIDAY and Fiberarts Design Book. Patty will share images of her work, showing the evolution of her style and process, as well 3:00pm Critique as comment on influences and inspiration. 7:00pm Guild Meeting / Presentation (FI2013 artist) Julie Sirek: Needle, Paper, Scissors March 22 SATURDAY Location: SCC / Strip District 10am-3pm Workshop: Silkscreen on Paper and Fabric Location: Artists Image Resource (AIR) May 3-4 SATURDAY & SUNDAY 518 Foreland Ave., North Side 10am-4pm Workshop: Joomchi: Transforming an Fee: $60 / $70 non-member fee Ancient Craft Into Contemporary Art by Julie Sirek To register: Michelle Browne 412-576-5462 [email protected] Location: SCC / Strip District (SCC co-sponsored) Beginners will learn how to produce a silkscreen, from a draw- Fee: $200 (Some discounts for Guild members) ing or digital image, and how to print and register on paper Joomchi is an ancient Korean art form of bonding layers of and fabric. Those with more experience are welcome to attend hanji, Korean mulberry paper, together with water in a process and print. Extra fees may apply, depending on project. Images similar to felting. The practice is simple, but requires patience, must be sent in advance to Michelle by March 1. and results in a strong, textured material, which has properties of both paper and cloth that can be used for collage, cloth- April 4 fRIDAY ing, sculptural objects, and can be knitted or crocheted. The 3:00pm Critique workshop will acquaint students with the basics of the craft, and incorporate patterning, stitching, drawing, and cutting. 7:00pm Guild Meeting / Election of Board Demonstrations, detailed explanations, and individual attention Presentation by Kathy Fleeher Preserving will help students produce examples of the day’s objectives. Your Memories Location: 6thPC / Squirrel Hill May 14 WEDNESDAY Guild business: This is an important meeting for all Guild 7:00pm Fiber Conversation members to attend. We will be electing the new board of Carolyn Carson’s studio directors. 215 Capitol Drive Pittsburgh PA 15236 (Pleasant Hills) Program: Kathy Fleeher learned to weave 30 years ago at the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts through the Weavers Guild Come and see Carolyn’s new rigid heddle loom and her long of Pittsburgh. The focus of her work is hand-dyed, hand- arm quilting machine. She’ll show us how she uses them. 4 Mentoring Groups POTLUCK RECAP: by Carol Henley by Katherine Hackney

In the Fiberarts Guild Resource Guide & Directory, there The basement of the PCA was humming with color and life are 28 skill designations that members can choose from as the Fiber Arts Guild celebrated its Annual Winter Potluck to indicate their expertise. My, are we a talented and multi- Meeting. Bright scrappy Knit-the-Bridge flowers were scat- faceted group! Mentoring/special interested groups are tered everywhere, adding a cheery, festive warmth, and gradually forming and getting up and running. So far, we becoming an antidote to the Interminable Grey Pittsburgh have groups for felting, installations, knitting & crocheting, Winter outside. Indeed, what could possibly be better than beading, and costuming that have either met or plan to Hershey Kisses, a table filled with wonderful food (especially have their first meeting soon. The weather has frozen out chocolate desserts), raffles of items to add to one’s stash, the best laid plans of a couple groups, who have decided and friendly people all with the same interests. To me, as a to switch their January meetings to the spring thaw. If you newcomer, it was positively heaven. are interested in being part of any of the above-mentioned There was plenty of time to mill around and admire the groups, or are interested in having another mentoring/ books and donated raffle items. I have never met a fabric special interest group form, please either email or call me or embellishment that I didn’t like, so it was very hard to for details and/or with your thoughts. Thanks a bunch. choose and everything seemed so full of possibilities. There 412-244-0344 / [email protected] was hand-dyed cloth, bolts of fabric, beads, jewelry, dyes, yarns, buttery soft goatskin, back issues of Quilting Arts, … Answering FAQ’s on anything a person could possibly want!! Plus, the equalitari- Critiques... anism of the raffle itself evened the odds for everyone and created a bit of excitement as well. by Barb Kubala A wooden train whistle signaled that it was time for the pro- gram to begin and for everyone to find a seat at one of the Critiques are informal meetings of about 10 to 15 people round tables. As people stood up to be thanked for various who get together to discuss each others’ art work which tasks they had done over the year, it struck me that what a is often only partly finished. You are welcome to join us strong and vibrant community this is. As the presentation without showing any work yourself and you might find this showed, Knit the Bridge was an amazing accomplishment a comfortable way to handle your first visit. The artist may and I hope only the first of many crazy, imaginative, and control the discussion by asking specific questions and visionary endeavors. There is also so much going on: the telling us about their problem areas or she may elect to just classes, the lectures, the willingness to teach and share and listen to the observations. The discussion is usually about show others new techniques and skills. the conceptual aspects of the piece-like the placements of elements, or color choices, or considering if the desired The people that I sat with at lunch proved the old saying theme has been conveyed. Occasionally the discussion “strangers are friends you haven’t met yet” to be true. I leads into processes and materials as well. would like to thank Diana for sharing her raffle tickets and Rachel for signing me up on the spot for “Layer Cake.” The guild provides these critiques as a learning experience There is so much to learn and do… so thank-you, and I that members may choose to utilize if they are planning to hope to see you again soon! exhibit or just for their own peace of mind. On the ladder of artistic progress it is one step above self-evaluation and one step below the juror and the public. Critiques are the guild’s attempt to promote serious one-of-a-kind artistic creations and separate these pieces from commercial endeavors. The word “critique” may connote negatives but that is sel- dom the case with our group. Think of it as a step in your artistic maturation process, because you have to learn to accept the opinions of others, and your “fiber peers” are more knowledgeable than your family. The best part of critiques is that you can choose to use any of the sugges- tions offered...or not! See you on March 14 and remember Sherri Roberts (left) ‘conducted’ the meeting honoring the next exhibition work will be due in early fall. our very active and dedicated volunteers. Meet our new Fiberart International director: Evan Zajdel (right). 5 TechShop Tour Mazziotti Presentation by Sylvia Marko by Fran Frederick

In October members of the Guild had the opportunity Mary Mazziotti made a charming slide presentation to take a most interesting tour of TechShop, located in of her work at the Society of Contemporary Crafts on Fri- Bakery Square. TechShop, whose slogan is “Build your day, November 15. Her recent work follows the theme of dreams here,” allows members to use its hi-tech equip- “Memento Mori,” which she interprets as “remember you ment that is too expensive for the average person to own. will die,” and “life is short.” Although many of the works The Pittsburgh location has been open for six months and deal with death, and the danger we humans often court, is the seventh in the chain. she emphasizes that it is not intended to be a foil for Our first stop was at the 3-D printer. Although we did not Halloween. get to see the printer in action, we did see some of the One of her large and striking pieces was exhibited in the objects it produced. A laser cutter was also in that area. Fiberart International 2013 in the SCC gallery. It was based Then we put on our safety glasses and toured the machine on a vintage book cautioning children on the inevitable shop, the welding shop and the wood shop. Our last stop risks of death and dismemberment in many childhood ac- was the fiber area which features Juki brand industrial tivities. It certainly garnered attention and not a few giggles strength sewing machines including an embroidery ma- by viewers. chine and a serger. Silk screen equipment is also in this Mary graduated from CMU with an acting degree. She area. TechShop is considering buying a long arm quilting worked as a writer in advertising for about 20 years. After machine if there is a demand for it. taking classes at PCA, she started painting city scenes. TechShop offers a variety of membership options for both In the last 20 years she has embroidered textiles by hand. individuals and groups. Members take a two-hour class Many recent pieces are portable and a small size of to learn about the piece of equipment, and then can work 12”x14.” on their own. TechShop technicians are always available Photos of “lost” people at morgue have intrigued her. to assist. TechShop is open seven days a week from 9:00 She has done works based on famous operas, focus- am until midnight. ing on characters and how they met their deaths. Other TechShop also offers Make-it/Take-it classes. On the pieces have been based on Candide, by Voltaire, and The schedule when we were touring were classes to make Decameron, by Boccaccio. Work depicting the Dance of your own chocolate molds, make a personalized brand- Death places a skeleton within homey embroidered works. ing iron for grilling steaks and Halloween classes to make Her most recent series features the words “UhOh” embroi- masks or a severed hands. dered on doilies of different sizes and shapes; she would like to cover an entire room with them. For more information visit the web site techshop.com Inspirations include Grimm’s fairy tales—the gruesome original stories (not Disneyified). She is also fascinated by work of a woman born in England in 1840s, who cross- Weaving with Amanda stitched by hand a long diatribe lamenting how her soul PILLOW WEAVE: intro to twill & tapestry would go to hell, her mistreatment by bosses, and her de- pression and unhappiness. Why did this woman execute Society for Contemporary Craft such painstaking work? 2100 Smallman Street in the Strip District Saturday, March 15 • 10 am - 4 pm Join Knit the Bridge artist, Amanda Gross to exper- iment with a variety of colors and fiber materials Call for Entries is now online on both table and tapestry looms, learn the fun- damentals of weave structures and design, while at the Fiberarts website. working towards creating your own woven pillow. www.FIBERARTSPGH.org Tuition $60, a materials fee of $25 will be paid directly to the artist-instructor the first day of your workshop for materials.

6 Welcome New Members! Elaine Longtemps [email protected] www.elainelongtemps.com Sally Adler [email protected] Nancy McNickle [email protected] Megan Anthony [email protected] Stacy Morrison [email protected] Nancy J. Apple [email protected] Venise St. Pierre [email protected] Jan Cole [email protected] Richard Shaw [email protected] Katherine Hackney [email protected] Kathy A. Stanley [email protected] Maxine Heller [email protected] Cathy Stechschulte [email protected] Sally Johnston [email protected] Kim Svoboda [email protected] Cindy Kimmons [email protected] kimsvoboda.com

Carrie King [email protected] Melissa Tabbarah [email protected]

Cynthia Kramer [email protected] Lauara Tepke [email protected] www.brightbluemorning.com Venise St. Pierre [email protected]

think GIFTS!!!... e have great gift items to commemorate the amazing, historic, internationally-recognized Knit the Bridge! including T-shirts, aprons, custom-dyed yarn, water bottles and hand-made polymer clay buttons. Purchase KtB items online Wat https://squareup.com/market/knit-the-bridge. PLUS Fiberart International 2007, 2010, 2013 catalogs; Deck of Arts (Slight of Hand) playing cards; ARTabet multi-use wrapping paper/posters, and Roo-bag Redux pin cushions are a great gift for any occasion (most items are available at Guild meetings and available online at fiberartinternational.org).

7 Co-Editors:

Please refer to your Fran Frederick [email protected]

taff: 412-563-2155 Resource Guide/Guild Directory Coleen Rush [email protected] 412-288-4320 for more information about CONTRIBUTORS: Katherine Hackney programs, events, and contact info Carol Henley Barb Kubala for the officers and board, along Sylvia Marko Newsletter S with a list of our current members. PRODUCTION: Martha Wasik graphic arts inc DISTRIBUTION: Ann Taymans

fiberartspgh.org / [email protected] © 2014 Fiberarts Guild of Pittsburgh, Inc.

The Guild welcomes all fiberart enthusiasts and artists at any level. No screening is required.

THIS FORM FOR FIBERARTS GUILD WORKSHOPS ONLY NOTE: Please refer to PROGRAM LISTING for workshop location. SCC/FGPGH co-sponsored workshops held at SCC Must register with SCC.

Please make checks to Fiberarts Guild of Pittsburgh, Inc. Mail to: p.o.box 5478 • pittsburgh pa 15206 FOR MORE INFORMATION: Michelle Browne (412-576-5462) or Rhoda Taylor (724-794-5165) 8