The Next Big Thing! Innovations in Textiles 2011

Trust me, you will not want to miss Innovations and MoFA’s Premier exhibit “Speaking of Fibers” at Maryville University!
By Barb Zapulla , MoFA Exhibition Chair

Innovations in Textiles 2011 promises to be the best yet…and MoFA’s exhibit “Speaking of Fibers” is not to be missed! I would like to encourage, no challenge, each of you to participate by submitting one to three fiber works.

The focus for “Speaking of Fibers” is the exploration of metaphoric relationships between the artist’s concept, materials and form. To inspire us, our juror, Victoria Crowder Payne from the Kansas City area, will be working on her exhibit piece “Womandrake” on line. View her piece at http://freedomofstitch.com/?page_id=2376, you will have a unique opportunity to watch her process and progress and then visit the piece exhibited in our show! In addition, Victoria will be leading a workshop, A Fiber Artists Grimoire: Conjuring a Mixed Media Stitched Book, on October 7th and 8th at the St. Louis Artists” Guild.

MoFA and Maryville University are jointly sponsoring the exhibit opening September 28, 2011 with our reception on Thursday evening October 6th. Additionally, this gallery is also on the IT9 Bus Tour for the outlying galleries on Saturday October 1, 2011.

Submittal is easy, here's the entry form and the deadline is set for May 20th, leaving you with plenty of time to create that wonderful piece! The gallery location is on the Maryville University campus, 650 Maryville University Drive, St. Louis, in the newly renovated Morton J. May Foundation Gallery (the Library Building). The gallery can support not only wall hung work, but pedestal and sculptural work as well. If you are interested in ‘seeing’ the gallery space visit www.Maryville.edu , click on ‘visit Maryville’, then on the left side of that page click on ‘campus map’. Once there moving your cursor/mouse around and clicking will get you to ‘see’ the gallery space. Remember to find the Library Building first, and then move to see the Morton J. May Foundation Gallery and click. (Isn’t technology fun?)

Seriously, I would like to personally encourage participation and challenge each of us to create and showcase our varied talents in this exhibit. It’s an opportunity to increase membership in our unique (and wonderful) group of fiber artists as well as participate in the best Innovations in Textiles yet.

To help me organize the exhibit, please send an informal email to bazdesign@centurytel.net

Thanks and if you have any questions, please call me on my cell at 314-302-3304 or send me an email. Thank you in advance for your participation!

Dear Fiber Friends,

You may have noticed that my name is missing from the masthead. This is because the MoFA Network, Spring 2011, is my last newsletter as one of your editors. Although I have thoroughly enjoyed my role as MoFA Gadfly and info gatherer, I have been doing this for around fifteen years…. it’s time for a change! Your new Gadfly and info gatherer will be Suzy Farren, a professional writer as well as a fiber artist! She’ll be sending out those reminder notes, gathering info, and sending updates. Jackie Weatherly will continue to be the other editor and formatter extraordinaire. I do plan to be active in other ways in MoFA!

Signing off as the Gadfly,
Carlene

More than nineteen venues - from St. Charles to Edwardsville – will present national, regional, and local exhibitions devoted to contemporary fiber art in August, September and October 2011.

On September 16 - Self Guided Gallery Hop – openings on Friday– FREE –On September 17 - Keynote Speaker, FREE, followed by Guided Bus Tour to select galleries for artist/curator talks. All day with lunch. Cost TBA. And on October 1 - Guided Bus Tour to outlying galleries in St. Charles, Alton, and Edwardsville. Cost TBA.

When a simple strand of thread is knotted, stitched or woven into stories, when plant fiber turns into paper, when a basket evolves into sculpture, when concept turns into form...the artist transcends simple into sublime. Innovations 2011, presented biennially, investigates contemporary fiber art. This fall, more than 19 local galleries, non profit and private arts organizations, will collaborate to showcase textile arts, guest lecturers, fiber centered workshops and programs

From our Juror: Victoria Crowder Payne

The Sinister Stitch Chronicles is a documentary in the form of a weekly webcast following the creation of 13 ancient poisons in mixed media embroidery by Victoria Crowder Payne. The anchor piece, The Womandrake, is a 4 foot tall female figure with all of the fruits and flowers of the Mandrake. The other 12 poisons include Monkshood, Foxglove, Wolfsbane, Nightshade and Hemlock. The online diary details the conception and beginning of the project: http://freedomofstitch.com/?page_id=2376

The introductory promo is in production and will be released via www.freedomofstitch.com & YouTube in the coming weeks. Webisodes will air weekly through the debut of the art work at the MoFA exhibit Speaking of Fibers in October 2011, after which the project will be edited into a full length documentary. Thank you so much for supporting this project!! Victoria victoria@freedomofstitch.com

Missouri Fiber Artists is currently 100 members strong. The 2011 MoFA Membership Directory has been mailed. If you did not receive yours, contact membership@missourifiberartists.com as soon as possible. Please add the new/ renewing members listed on pages 4 & 5 to your 2011 membership directory.

The MoFA membership database includes space for a second phone number, and alternate email as well as website and interests abbreviations. Check your information and send corrections and updates to membership email above.

Each newsletter will include the most recent updates. Member should make every effort to record corrections and updates in their Membership Directory to keep communications avenues current.

If you have had an address, email or telephone number change, please contact: membership@missourifiberartists.com

Interest abbreviations: AQ art quilts/quilting arts; B basketry; BD beading; BK book arts; C crochet; D dyeing; DL dolls; E embroidery; F felting; FC fiber/fabric collage; FS fiber sculpture; G gourds; H rug hooking; K knitting; M mixed media; N needlework; O origami; P papermaking; S spinning, SD surface design; SP silk painting; W weaving; WB wearables; WF wool/fiber producing; O other.

Encourage your friends to join MoFA. Share MoFA with your friends. The membership year is January 1 – December 31. Individual member……………….......... $30
Student member…………………...…... $10
Sustaining member…………….........….$40
Sponsoring Business/Guild/Gallery/.....$45
Museum

Membership Benefits include access to the MEMBERS ONLY website page. For security reasons, the password is changed annually.

Another advantage MoFA membership is participating in the MEMBERS GALLERY

Send jpg images of your work to membership@missourifiberartists.com to be included in the website Members Gallery. Also include, title, date, materials and size.

Leandra Spangler
MoFA Membership
membership@missourifiberartists.com

We need a rep for Kansas City and Southwest (SW) and additional reps in Northeast (NE) and the Northwest (NW)! Please let us know if you are interested in volunteering for this position!

We want to hear from our members in the SC, GKC, the NW and the NE regions! Send us your news!

GSL REGION

Kacey Cowdery has curated and will also be exhibiting at the Thimble & Thread Quilt Expo 2011 on Saturday March 11th, 10-5 and Sunday March 12th, 11-4 at the Greensfelder Recreation Center in Queeny Park, West St. Louis County, in Manchester, MO, on Mason Road, just north of Manchester Road.

Traditional quilts will be featured but a few members including Kacey Cowdery make Art Quilts and Fiber Art. Students from the Truman State University Fiber Art Program will also show their work. Demonstrations will be given, three on each of the two days. Kasey will present a hands-on seminar, Sunday at 3:00, “There is No Bad Color.” Candy Grisham was a part of the Rambling River exhibit at the National Great Rivers Museum which featured 15 fiber artists from Missouri who each designed and quilted a landscape panel based on the theme ”Discover Your Connection to the Rivers.”

To see pictures, go to http://www.thetelegraph.com/articles/river-48971-panels-quilting.htm And http://marshabray.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/river-quilts-13.jpg The exhibit closes on until February 26th.

Luanne Rimel has a piece accepted into Quilt National opening in Ohio in May and coming to St. Louis, at the Foundry Art Centre in October.

Life Blood Exhibit is a traveling art show features artworks exploring the theme of women's reproductive health, from coming of age to motherhood to menopause and more. Some works are humorous while others are serious, but all are thought-provoking. More information can be found on the website and blog: http://www.lifebloodexhibit.com/ or http://lifebloodexhibit.blogspot.com/

Artists participating in this exhibit are: Lisa Becker, Dail Chambers, Virginia Dragschutz, Marsha Heck, Christine Ilewski, Aunia Kahn, Connie LaFlam, Arlene Ligori, Barbara Merlotti, Janice Nesser, Pat Owoc, Roxanne Phillips, Janiece Senn, Evie Shucart, Jeane Vogel, Jennifer Weigel & selected UMSL students!

Jackie Weatherly will be teaching a six week session of silk painting at Delmar Loop venue of Craft Alliance starting on Thursday April 21st. Space is still available. Please contact Craft Alliance to sign up or check Jackie’s blog for class information: http://www.jlpweatherly.com/blog/

O REGION (out of state)

Judy Dominic is teaching and traveling abroad; attending the National Basketry Gathering in Tasmania in Australia and Papua New Guinea from February 14 through April 17, 2011. She was asked to come and teach! TAFTA’s Orange Forum (conference), Grampians Texture (conference) and the Basket makers of Victoria Guild Workshop.

Website: www.judydominic.com
Blog: http://bogolan.wordpress.com/

Jo Morasco is exhibiting at Valentine’s Yearly Show, Grand Bahama Art Assoc. at the Rand Nature Centre, Freeport, and Grand Bahama from February 10-March 10, 2011

Greater Kansas City Area
Jackie Kerinan-Hale had an art quilt, Irish Dream accepted in the show Women in the Arts 2011. The show was held in March at the Craft Studio Gallery on the University of MO campus.

SOUTHEAST REGION

Greetings from dry Southeast Missouri, from your Regional Rep, Rosemary Claus-Gray. The big news in the Southeast region was the fiber exhibit at the Margaret Harwell Art Museum in Poplar Bluff, MO during the month of March. It opened on Saturday, March 5, from 6 to 8 pm.

Jill Choate and Rosemary Claus-Gray shared the exhibit, featuring Jill's fabulous baskets, and Rosemary's stunning fiber art. Rosemary had some new work she showed, along with borrowed back pieces from several patrons, and some older work. Putting on an exhibit takes a lot of effort, but the show itself was colorful, exciting and very interesting as 2-D and 3-D work well together.

Jill has written about her activities and coming classes below. I know she wants to teach more in Missouri. She's dynamic, fun, and a good teacher. Her students rave about her, and return for another class. Let her know if you need a fun basket making class.

Former MoFA member, art quilter Susan Leslie Lumsden, has recently opened a restaurant, A La Carte Cafe in West Plains, MO. Her restaurant is decorated with her huge quilts, and art from other regional artists, and looks charming from the photos. She is a gourmet cook, and is serving lunch meals. Stop by for a special meal if you are in the area.

The St. Louis Weaver's Guild has invited Rosemary to speak to the group at their April meeting. Rosemary has been mulling over what topic might interest a skilled group who have multiple fiber art interests. It seems it's the passion and process that binds us all. If you're a WGSL member, come join the discussion.

I'd like to hear from other SE Missouri artists. Contact me at regionalse@missourifiberartists.com Jill Choate Just got back from teaching a workshop (Adventures in Antler Basketry) at the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, NC.

It's absolutely the best teaching experience I've had yet with great facilities, weavers, artists, music, AND work study students. I've even found out I'm a closet "square" (dancer). This accomplished without totally humiliating myself (although I'm glad no one had a camera handy to capture the moment).

There is nothing better than having a whole week for students to create what they want to do from the ground up. Students start from the beginning learning how to drill, glue, and create the shape of the structure. Not only were there cool classes going on in the basketry studio there were cool classes going on all over campus at JCCFS. Shibori with woven cloth, digital silk using computers, blacksmithing, wood turning, glass bead making, kaleidoscopes, pottery, these are but a few of the class choices available during the week long workshops. Suffice it to say that if you have not been to John C. Campbell Folk School you are missing something very awesome. Next year in January I've been invited back to teach as part of their advanced week instruction and also am offering birch bark bird houses as a weekend course.

For a list of my local classes and beyond check out my class schedule at: www.jchoatebasketry.com.

Also classes are being offered in Fredericktown, MO, at Bittersweet Baskets in Warrenton, MO as well as at the Foundry Art Centre in St. Charles, MO. For April, we're on the road again offering classes at GH Productions in Scottsville, KY as well as at the Twin Weave-in in Nashville, TN. Also in April we're headed east to the NEBG convention in W.Springfield, MA, the Country Seat in Kempton, PA, Murray Hill Weaving in Murray, NH and then off to Michigan to the Crossroads Guild in Okemos to finish off the spring part of the teaching tour.

SOUTHWEST REGION

Shirah Miriam "Mimi" Aumann presented a program entitled, "The Afterlife of Plants: A Fibre Artist's Perspective" at The Master Gardeners of Greene County, Springfield-Greene County Botanical Centre, Springfield, MO on March 8, 2011. Her program dealt with the symbiotic relationship existing between the world of the Master Gardener and the world of a papermaker with plant fibres. The Master Gardener’s focus is all about plants, as is a papermaker who uses plants for the raw materials from which papers are created. However, a papermaker’s encounter with plants is most generally in their “afterlife” when they become agri-waste, with no apparent use or beauty remaining to the Master Gardener.

Peggy Wyman is part of “Fiber Plus” at the Blue Door Gallery, Yonkers, NY which will run March 20 through May 17. (See Exhibition Column elsewhere in this newsletter!) She also had a solo show running at the Quincy Arts Center, Quincy, IL., which ran through March 11. Another solo exhibit of her work will opened March 5 at the Contemporary Arts Center in Peoria, IL. That show runs through April 22.

Her fiber sculpture "To Dream of Spring" (see image above) took Best of Show at the 2011 Handcrafted Exhibition at the Marie V. Howard Arts Center, Rocky Mount, NC. Other exhibitions that include her work: MoFA exhibition at Capital Arts, Jefferson City. Runs February 25 through April 7.

"Arts in Harmony" at the Elk River Area Arts Alliance, in Elk River, MN ran Feb. 7 through March 24 at the 32nd Contemporary Crafts Exhibition at the Mesa Arts Center, Mesa, AZ. Another show ran through March 6 "Materials: Hard and Soft: at the Greater Denton Arts Council gallery, Denton, TX. Runs through April 3, and “National Fiber Directions" at the Wichita Center for the Arts, Wichita, Kansas runs March 25 through May 8.

CENTRAL REGION

Bonnie Ahrens taught a Nuno Scarf Felting Workshop in Jefferson City, Missouri on March 11, 12, 13 of 2011. Go to http://extension.missouri.edu/fiber/2010/ for more information and images of the work.

Jamie Dack is now "Retired" after 25 years of teaching K-12 Art at Prairie Home School and is currently now working (well, actually, playing) creating felt pieces in my studio, River Village Fiber Arts, Lupus, MO, every chance she gets, which is usually a part of every day. She is thoroughly enjoying her new life, having the freedom to be in her own space and create her own schedule. Incorporating her former life skills into her current life is a rejuvenating experience. She counts her blessings every day.

Leandra Spangler is exhibiting ten sculptural vessels at the Preston Contemporary Art Center in Mesilla, NM. The Winter 2011 Exhibition runs through April 30, 2011.
www.prestoncontemporaryart.com. She is also scheduled to be the July 2011 Featured Artist at the Alliance Art Gallery in Hannibal, MO www.hannibalallianceartgallery.com

MoFA members Sharon Ely, Leandra Spangler, Carol Zeman and Connie Zullo spent a January afternoon at the new Salvador Dali museum in St. Petersburg, FL.

Jo Stealey will be giving a lecture "Basketry: The Confluence of Boundaries, Borders and Edges" at "Confluence" Surface Design Association Conference, 2011 Minneapolis, MN. June 9-12. Registration: www.surfacedesign.org She will also be presenting a workshop "Pushing the Boundaries Through Sculptural Papermaking” July 3-9 2010 Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts, Gatlinburg, TN www.arrowmont.org or www.jostealey.com Jo currently is part of an exhibition "Clay, Fiber, Paper, Glass, Metal, Wood"- Jan. 28- April 10, 2011 Octagon Center for the Arts Ames, IA www.octagonarts.org

Student News: Update from the MU Fibers Department:
Mary Margaret Sandbothe, an undergraduate student in the MU Fibers Department held a solo exhibition “2 Smelly Kids That Like Each Other” at the Craft Studio from December 18th - January 22nd, 2011. She recalls that 2 Smelly Kids started as a distraction during art history lectures, but quickly evolved into an ongoing project which documents a budding relationship between Mary and Zora with cute doodles and naughty humor. We tackle an array of subjects including sexuality, gender, and social taboos such as menstruation, as well as our quirky dietary limitations, all the while living in the middle of the conservative Midwest. Here is a link to the ongoing project: http://2smellykids.blogspot.com/

Catherine Armbrust, Trudy Rogers- Denham and J. Penney Burton of the Fibers MFA program at Mizzou took part in the "Where I End and You Begin" MFA Exhibition at the George Caleb Bingham Gallery, from January 10th-Feb 10th, 2011.

Catherine Armbrust, will also took part in the "Varsity Art XV" at Art St Louis from March 7th - April 1st, 2011. The MU Fiber Department welcomed Kay Khan as our visiting artist for the term. She was in the MU Fiber Department studios from 10 am – 3 pm February 22nd and 23rd, and from 10 am - 3 pm on February 24th, 2011, hopefully some MoFA members got to visit and see Kay. Kay also presented her lecture “Armor for Modern Society” on Wednesday, February 23rd, at 5 pm in the Art Department. I hope everyone got to see this.

J. Penney Burton, Student Representative

Merchant, Guild and Organization Events

Lake Area Fiber Arts Guild meets at the Harper Chapel United Methodist Church, 5567 Hwy 54, Osage Beach, MO. The Lake Area Fiber Fest will be held April 23, 2011 at the church. There will be fiber venders, a fiber contest and style show along with lost of door prizes. Everyone is invited to attend. For more information, contact Bonnie Black at 573-346-7449 or bonjifiber@gmail.com

Highland Fiber Artists will be holding their 16th Annual Fiber Fair at Marshfield MO fair grounds on Saturday, May 21st from 10am-4pm. This is annual fiber fair with vendors galore. This year's theme is "Creating with Color" so come and join us for a wonderful day. For information: call Laurie Slider 417-345-2477 or visit www.hfafiberfair.com

Fiber U will be offering 20+ Classes, 30+ Vendors & Exhibits all under one air conditioned roof. At the Cowan Civic Center- Lebanon, MO on July 9-10, 2011 Open to the public. Hours: Sat 9-5, Sunday 9am-3pm. Sponsored by Mopaca. Expand your fiber education! For more information, please visit www.mopaca.org or call 417-533-5280 or e-mail liz@whirlwindranch.com

National Basketry Organization Conference Tradition & Innovation VI

August 2 – 7, 2011 at Stone hill College, Easton, Massachusetts. A stellar group of instructors include Wendy Durfey, Linda Fifield, Louise Goings, Flo Hoppe, Lisa Hunter, Brian Jewett, Kay Khan, Jonathon Kline, Karol Lindquist, Margaret Pelletier, Lois Russell, Elizabeth Whyte Schultz, Leandra Spangler, Mary W. Thompson and Pamela Zimmerman. Classes run the gamut from Nantucket baskets, Japanese-style baskets and traditional Cherokee double woven baskets to contemporary silk fusion baskets, sculptural beaded baskets, and much, much more.

Stonehill College is a lovely, park like setting with ideal accommodations and first class food services. Activities planned in cooperation with the NBO’s conference in the Boston area and beyond are: exhibitions at the Fuller Craft Museum (with an accompanying catalog), Mobilia Gallery, Graymist Studio, The Society of Arts and Crafts, Fine Art Museum of Boston, Stonehill Gallery, the Peabody Museum, and the Dane Gallery on Nantucket Island.

In addition to the three-day classes, NBO will present two keynote speakers and six historical seminars. These seminars are unique presentations for the attendees. Traditional makers share their knowledge in their specific fields and the contemporary basket makers tell their stories of a field that is uniquely indigenous to this country. The conference also includes a celebration of basketry, NBO style, with a party that includes a special dinner, art auction and a band for live music or a disc jockey for dancing.

For more information and registration information please contact: Michael Davis at (828) 837-1280 or email: m.davis@nationalbasketry.org or Helene Meyer at h.meyer@nationalbasketry.org NBO'S website is www.nationalbasketry.org

Bear creek Paperworks
SPRING/SUMMER WORKSHOPS AT BEAR CREEK STUDIOS

SMALL BOOKS: A PRIMER - April 23, 2011

LUMINARIA - May 14, 2011

HAND PAPERMAKING - June 20-24, 2011, M-F (college credit available)

SIMPLE BOOKS: SIMPLE STRUCTURES June 27-July 1, 2011, M-F (college credit available)

FLAT TO FORM: USING PAPER AS A SCULPTURAL MEDIUM - July 18-22, 2011, M-F (college credit available) For more information: http://www.bearcreekpaperworks.com/rtst.html or 573-442-3360

Leandra Spangler will be teaching SKIN & BONES at the National Basketry Organization Conference, August 2-7, 2011, at Stonehill College in Easton, MA.

SKIN & BONES: Create the bones of a sculptural form using the traditional basket making technique of twining, but with a twist. These pliable armatures will be twisted, curled or expanded into sculptural forms pleasing to the maker. Held rigid during drying and sheathing, the skeletal structure of reed will be covered with skin of decorative/ handmade papers. Selection of papers and pattern of appliqué will individualize each participant’s form creating a unique personal expression. No two will be alike. This technique/ process can be used for creating work for the wall or pedestal. Building in balance, mechanics for hangers, creating bases and care of completed sculptural work will be discussed. http://www.nationalbasketry.org/basketryconference-2011.html

Craft Alliance Classes
Luanne Rimel will be teaching a 4 week class titled Image Transfer on Cloth beginning April 12. You can register for classes and workshops at www.craftalliance.org.

Mark your Calendars! India Flint will be in St. Louis! Coming to Craft Alliance in Grand Center this summer will be a 4 day adult intensive workshop with Australian fiber artist India Flint, from June 21-24.

MoFA members Luanne Rimel, Ruth Walker, Bonnie Black and Jackie Weatherly will be teaching at Craft Alliance in the coming months. Check out their classes at www.craftalliance.org

Shirley Nachtrieb Workshops 2011
Saturday May 14 & Monday, May 16, 2011
9:30 am-3:30 pm
Watercolor Floral Workshop $110
Check out the classes available at: #1 St. Peters Centre Blvd. (off Mexico Road), St. Peters, MO 63376
Website: http://www.nachtrieb.com or email at Shirley@nachtrieb.com or 636-947-1936

Hillcreek Fiber Studio
www.HillCreekFiberStudio.com

True Blue Fiber Friends
1400 Forum Blvd in the Forum Shopping Center, Columbia, MO.
www.TrueBlueFiberFriends.com

UPCOMING 2011 WORKSHOPS AT SHARON KILFOYLE'S STUDIO (NEAR ASHLAND, MO)

Contact information: Phone: 573-999-9247 Email: sharon@sharonkilfoyle.com

APRIL 23, SATURDAY: ARASHI SHIBORI WORKSHOP
10 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. - Limit: 12 participants - Cost: $100
Create pleated arashi silk scarves or shawls in this one-day workshop and/or explore the many possibilities of pole wrapped dyeing (arashi, mokume, random wrapping). Learn the basics of quick microwave dyeing on silk with both acid and fiber reactive dyes. Cost includes 4 yards of silk for shawls and scarves.

APRIL 24, SUNDAY: NUNO FELT COLLAGE
10 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. - Limit: 8 participants - Cost: $100
This workshop approaches the nuno felting process as a collage technique. We'll design a shawl using various silks, merino wool, and optional yarns and embellishment fibers in a process very much like "painting" with wool and fabric. Some knowledge of felting is helpful but not necessary for the project. You may choose to bring your own fabrics and merino wools, yarns and embellishments to use along with the two yards of silk and four ounces of wool that I will provide for each participant. (Additional fabric and wool are available for sale in the studio.) We can dye or over dye silks as part of the design process. I emphasize a minimalistic approach to materials to keep the final product sheer and drapable. Class size is limited to 8 so each person has enough design space to make a large shawl. CALL TO DISCUSS YOUR PARTICULAR MATERIALS OR DESIGN NEEDS, IF NECESSARY.

MAY 20-22: COLOR RETREAT WEEKEND
Limit: 12 - Cost: $250 + food
Paris is abuzz about the latest and most up-to-date color trend forecasts, and it's all about going "back to nature" for inspiration. Well, my thought is this: "When did we ever NOT look to nature for our color inspiration?" Even the most gaudy and artificially bright colors that we create have their basis in nature. This weekend retreat has both a scientific and a spiritual edge crafted into it for those who might be ready for a plunge into color manipulation and their own "personal" forecasting. First, we will spend some time collecting colors, textures, and objects from the environment to complement your collection of pictures, swatches and other items that you've brought to the workshop representing your favorite colorways. Next we'll investigate color mixing and blending using both fiber reactive and acid dyes, as well as experimenting with discharge and its effects on color mixing. Focus will be on creating a multitude of colors and shades from primary and basic dye colors. In this process you will master the ability to mix and create a colorway for a project, garment, art quilt, or new designer collection. This weekend of color investigation will simultaneously include an overview of color terminology and theory, synthetic and natural dye colors, psychological and spiritual aspects of color representation and manifestation, and personal insights on such topics shared amongst each other. If this sounds like your kind of fun, join us around a campfire the evening of Friday, May 20 and be prepared to bunk or camp at my farm for the weekend. CALL FOR DETAILS AND ELABORATION.

JUNE 10-12: WAYWARD WEEKEND
Limit: 10 - Cost: $300
Visiting artist Lorri Scott from Los Gatos, CA, will be honing and shaping our dyeing and felting skills with her "wayward threads" sewing techniques in this weekend-long extravaganza. I will provide instruction in dyeing and nuno felting, and Lorri will teach her shibori silk ribbon dyeing techniques and her method for sewing ribbons, yarns and fabrics into "wayward" scarves and vests. We want to provide an environment for your creative concepts using some or all of these techniques; the choice is yours. Lorri and I will be available to encourage and refine your ideas. As always, the fee will cover costs for enough material to create your project, including silk ribbons, etc. that Lorri will bring. Beginners to advanced fiber practitioners welcome. Weekend includes a presentation and trunk show Friday night, and studio work on Sat. and Sun. PLEASE CALL OR EMAIL FOR DETAILED WORKSHOP PLANS.

Speaking of Fibers
The MoFA Membership exhibition for Innovations in Textiles 9
Morton J. May foundation Gallery, Maryville University, St. Louis, MO

September 28-October 31, 2011
Juror: Kansas City based Victoria Crowder Payne.

Click here for prospectus.

Exhibitions Plus:
June 9-12, 2011, International Surface Design Conference, Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN www.surfacedesign.org

June 23-25, 2011, Midwest Weavers’ conference, Finlandia University, Hancock, MI www.midwestweavers.com

July 9-10, 2011 Fiber “U”-Fun, fiber and You! MOPACA event, Lebanon, MO info@whirlwindranch.com

Missouri Fiber Artists Exhibit - Closes April 21st
Capital Arts Gallery, Jefferson City, Missouri
February 25 – April 21, 2011

MoFA members: Amy Schomaker, Judy Cobillas, Jennifer Wax, Leandra Spangler, Bonnie Black, Pat Owoc, Kacey Cowdery, Carlene Fullerton, Connie Zullo, Karen Linduska, Jennifer Weigel, Carol Zeman, Peggy Wyman, J.Penney Burton, Dianna Callahan, Mariea Caruthers, Rosemary Claus-Gray, Jamie Dack, Katherine Ehlmann, Corie McKibben, Marie Samuel, Robin Wingo, Jo Stealey, Janet Wade, and Suza Woolridge – all participated in the 2011 Fiber Exhibition at Capital Arts in Jefferson City, MO through April 21, 2011. www.capitalarts.org

Take a look at the fiber exhibit at Lehman College in the Bronx, and a companion exhibit in Yonkers, New York: www.lehman.cuny.edu (click art gallery) and http://www.bluedoorgallery.org/fiber.html Both exhibits have been curated by Sandra Sider. Susan Hoetzel, director of the Lehman Art Gallery is Marjorie Hoetzel’s daughter-in-law.

MoFA Scholarship
Remember the MoFA scholarship is one of the benefits of your MoFA membership! It provides support for you for further textile study! Scholarships are awarded as money is available to worthy applicants for such things as workshops, attendance at a conference or retreat (may be MoFA or some other), etc. Please ask for an application: scholarship@missourifiberartists.com

~ Barbara Overby & Jennifer Wax
Scholarship Chairs

Book Review
By Robin R. Wingo

The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use It for Life, A Practical Guide
By Twyla Tharp, with Mark Reiter 2003, Simon and Shuster

I tried to work through The Artist’s Way to understand how to enhance my creative process but never found it useful. I’m not sure how I stumbled across Tharp’s book but stumble I did. I have read and reread, marked it and turned down corners, and talked about this book to everyone I know. Tharp, although a dancer, did not write a book about dancing, she wrote a book about “.routine… as much a part of the creative processes as the lightning bolt of inspiration, maybe more.” Some of her descriptions for developing a routine are physical but not distracting (she calls finding ideas “scratching” and the idea that comes out of scratching she calls the “spine” or structure of a creation). Tharp uses examples from dance but also from music, art, and literature to illustrate her points throughout the book, which enhances its readability. She quotes a sixteenth-century Japanese swordfighter Musashi who urged “Never have a favorite weapon” when she encourages the reader to build skills by accepting challenges outside of one’s expertise. Tharp also addresses “when to stop is almost as critical as knowing how to start” – one area that I have sought guidance about many times!

One of my many favorite thoughts in this book is “…the not-so-good ideas you reject en route to finding the one that clicks...the creative act is editing.” As a step in the routine, this makes me feel good about the sketchbooks that I have filled and then shelved over the years. It makes me thoughtful about recording even the iffy ideas in my sketchbook for consideration. Tharp describes much the same editing when she works and reworks steps for a new dance.

I found this book very readable. The focus on artistic process and routine was clear, whatever your artistry happens to be. The tone was straightforward and encouraging. It is a book that I will go back to. Someone once gave me the good advice to ‘do art every day. Tharp helped me to understand why.

Floor Loom for Sale:
Jennifer Bacon of Columbia, MO has a beautiful floor loom for sale. Her contact information is: jbacon@msta.org

GOT NEWS? WON AN AWARD? BEEN IN A SHOW? HAVE A QUESTION? NEED A RESOURCE? SEND US YOUR NEWS, RESOURCES YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE OR TIPS TO MAKE OUR FIBER LIFE EASIER!!
We want to know what is going on! Remember the newsletter is an important way to connect with our fiber community! Our Summer 2011 Newsletter will be emailed late May or early June, 2011. Please Send all information to: CarleneFullerton@gmail.com or newsletter@missourifiberartists.com

Include “MoFA Newsletter” in your email heading. Deadline for Summer issue will be May 15, 2011. Deadline for Fall 2011 issue is October 15, 2011.