Fiberarts Guild of Pittsburgh, Inc. Promoting Appreciation of Fiber Art and Fostering Its Development
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fiberarts guild of pittsburgh, inc. Promoting appreciation of fiber art and fostering its development. FALL 2013 www.fiberartspgh.org • [email protected] • P.O.Box 5478 • Pittsburgh PA 15206 President’s Message We’ll begin, with a spin… Today I entertained my darling daughter with the Ceremonial Staff of the Fiber Artist, lent to me as a symbol of my new role in the Guild. I danced around it, hoisted it carefully above my head and tipped it in gentle sway to the tune of “Pure Imagination” – the song from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. As I danced my spontaneous routine, I thought about my role in the Guild. I imagined myself in a purple top hat throwing open the door to a com pletely incredible wonderland. If you want to view paradise, simply take a tour of UPDATE the TechShop, attend a critique and hear a lecture by Akiki Kotani, learn the art of Chinese Knotting, irst of all, thank you to the thousands of folks who participated, have a Fiber Conversation and a studio visit with created, cared for, and loved the Knit the Bridge project. We are thrilled Amber Coppings, enjoy a presentation by Mary Fthat it was received so warmly and looked out for so well. We’re pleased Mazziotti, schmooze at the opening reception to report that the monthlong installation was vandalism free (except for a pos for The New Collective, get inspired at Donna sibly accidental cherry slushie incident) and brought many visitors downtown. Kearns’ studio, and participate in our members Both the Warhol Museum and Kayak Pittsburgh reported significant increases show, Edge to Edge. Share your skills and learn in attendance and rentals. And it created a festive atmosphere, both during the some new ones in our Mentor Groups. Join a community celebration and beyond! committee, do some outreach, make new friends. Listen, look, taste, and touch. Anything you want The removal went much too quickly, with 150 folks, we managed to pull it to, do it. down in half the anticipated time. The panels were laundered by that Monday and have been distributed to a variety of organizations on the Northside, in The Guild is full of magical doors to open. And the East End, in Tarentum, Crafton, McKeesport, and Butler, Westmoreland, people wearing amazing hats (literally and meta Washington, and Beaver counties. phorically). This is your guild, your golden ticket. Take a look... into your imagination and your Re Knit the Bridge’s positive and enormous scope was only possible because source Guide/Guild Directory. Take advantage of of the many folks who made it happen. We have received hundreds of emails it all, there’s nothing to it. and notes thanking us for the project and sharing heartwarming stories. Here are just a few quotes from those who made panels, helped monitor, visited the Staci Offutt installation, received panels, and helped fund the project. See page 2 for Knit the Bridge feedback... What People Said About Knit the Bridge “Ladies, My daughter and I have had the most amazing time when they found out we did, they were very complimentary with this project and I really don’t feel I’ve done anything com of the whole project. People offered to help us find our panel pared to the team. I got to knit some railing, put up panels, and take our picture. But why should we be surprised? This is help with monitoring and the Art Party and plan to help take Pittsburgh and that is why an enormous undertaking like this down. Please, pass along my thanks to everyone on the team could be accomplished. The Find Your Panel web site was easy for their hard work and dedication in getting this done. Andy to follow and we were able to find all of our panels quickly. I himself would have thought this great. It has been a wonderful cannot thank you enough for all the planning and hard work you promo for the city of Pittsburgh. My daughter has helped with put into making this a realization. It is magnificent and will be monitoring, putting up panels and will participate in take down. remembered and talked about for years. What an honor to have You have all done such an amazing job and the city should be it highlighted so often on national TV during the sport events. very proud of your efforts to accomplish something so unique. Thank you again.” Thank you again.” — One of KtB’s participants — KtB participant and community leader “Chris from Women’s Center and Shelter loved the blankets. He “The Mt. Lebanon Middle School panel was knit by a group of said the moms were super excited and lining up to get them!” six 6th graders from Markham Elementary School. The group — Response from Homeless Children’s Education Fund who is now knitting preemie hats to donate to Magee’s Woman’s helped us distribute the panels. hospital.” — Ms. Davidson “The kids had a blast on the trip. It was sensory overload in the best possible way. Water, traffic, tall buildings, motorboats, kay “I wanted to participate in Knit the Bridge. To do so I got my akers, and geese were involved! Unfortunately I left the mirrors mother inlaw to teach me a crochet stitch, and I asked four on my desk but I did manage to bring binoculars. I’m pretty sure friends to help make a panel. Two are from Pittsburgh, and two none of the kids actually zoomed in on their panel but they didn’t are from Berks County, where I will be moving next year. So our care… at all. The classroom teacher (she was a huge reason the humble panel is actually a segue to a new chapter in my life.” project worked so well) was thrilled. I plan to put photos of the — FGP member Marty Ressler experience in a book for the kids. It was an amazing day.” — From the Frick and a Faison Elementary class who “Several of us who crocheted panels for the bridge went to partnered to do KtB. The kids went on a field trip to the bridge. see it last night and it was so much more than we expected. It is beautiful and shows all the creativity we have here in the “Amid all the deplorable notions passing for news over the past Pittsburgh area. Every panel is different and expressive of the few weeks, yours shines on as a bright spot.” originator(s). People from all over were looking at the works and taking pictures. They would ask if we made any of them and — VP at the Colcom Foundation, one of the foundations who contributed to Knit the Bridge New Fiberarts Guild Lifetime Members N September 12, 2013, at the Welcome Back Potluck Members Meeting, a very special presentation was given Oby Staci Offutt, current guild president. Three extremely deserving people were granted the elite status of Lifetime Mem bers. Uproarious applause accompanied the presentation of this honor to Amanda Gross, Penny Mateer and Kitty Spangler on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Fiberarts Guild of Pittsburgh. We have three very special members among us who worked for a year and a half coordinating people, teaching knitting and crocheting, and expanding their repertoire of skills to become experts on things they probably didn’t know existed. They real ized a dream – an outreach project of the Fiberart International The honorees’ service to the guild in many capacities and on that touched over 1900 people and counting – that was not only many projects has been exceptional. Add their commitment to altruistic but visually stunning. They paved the way for public the Knit the Bridge Project over the last eighteen months, and art in Allegheny County and the City of Pittsburgh in an allnew we recognize a devotion to this guild that is truly phenomenal. and big way. They celebrated birthdays and anniversaries at knitins and at the Plate; shared their homes with knitters and “Lifetime Membership” is defined as an award honorarium for those their piles of panels and supplies; and pounded the pavement who have given outstanding service to the Guild. It is voted on by the of downtown Pittsburgh filling out complicated forms and even Board of Directors and it is an honor held currently by only two living inventing some new ones. members: Tina Williams Brewer and Risë Nagin. 2 Over 3,000 fiber artists, friends, & fans turn out for Knit the Bridge community party The Andy Warhol Bridge was dressed to thrill. So it seemed only fitting when Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald proclaimed Sunday, August 25, Knit the Bridge Day to kick off the community party. It was a festive celebration for the gigantic, eyepopping fiber installation, created by 1,870 volunteers, that transformed the Andy Warhol Bridge and made headlines across the country and around the world. Many of the volunteers who knitted and crocheted the 580 panels that adorn the bridge walkway were on hand to point out their work and celebrate with friends and family. “I was in awe of the collective spirit that flowed through everyone on the bridge, it was magical and a privilege to be there.” said Penny Mateer who codirected the project along with lead artist Amanda Gross. Toetapping, fingersnapping music by Cello Fury, Timbeleza, Brewer’s Amanda Gross accepts Knit the Bridge Day Row, Diego Byrnes, Knit Together, Truth and Rites, and Colonel proclamation from County Executive Rich Fitzgerald. Eagleburger’s Highstepping Goodtime Band fueled the party spirit.