Our Small Local Art Centers Bring Big Fibre/Fiber Excitement and Joy! by Ileana Soto

Tucked quietly into the hills of Mill Valley, CA, below Mt. Tamalpais, with redwoods adjacent and oaks above, is a unique arts center founded by Ann and Dick O’Hanlon in the 1960’s. The O’Hanlon Center for the Arts, www.ohanloncenter.org, is small and thriving, with classes during the week and weekends that range from the visual to the literary, meditative, and performing arts. Their perspective has an “emphasis on the creative process and the continued pursuit of meaning and authenticity through observation, exploration, and experimentation. Rather than a focus on developing or perfecting an artistic product, the focus is on allowing your own perceptions (and explorations) to inspire your art.” This June, I was honored to be in their biennial Fiber Arts exhibit, juried by Carole Beadle. The call’s description encouraged artists to push the boundaries of the medium. The textile artists of the Greater Bay Area responded enthusiastically. My piece is titled: Tremblor, 36" h x 22" w.

Unusual materials ranged from salvaged cardboard, handmade paper, twigs, cordage, twist and cable ties, wire, pounded steel, flax, palm fiber, gut, twine, kapa, macramé, molded tissue paper, plastic bags. Techniques ranged from twining, knitting. felting, weaving, basketry, paper making, paper weaving, encaustic, needle punch, tufting, photo printing, surface design, and mixed media. Forms ranged from flat to sculptural, animate to inanimate: wall hangings, shoes, vessels, garments, and a 10-foot apron that commented through advertisement imagery on decades of sexualized portrayal of women. This summer, this isn’t the only fiber exhibit available in our San Francisco area! At the San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles, https://sj-mqt.org/, a thoughtful exhibit, “Printed and Stitched” will be showing until September 3rd. You’ll find my piece, “Warrior” amongst the 53 wonderful art pieces.

A small gallery in Fremont, CA, the Olive Hyde Gallery, is showing their 54th Annual Textile Arts Exhibit. The June 21st opening reception was a homecoming for textile artists and friends. If you’re passing through our area, come see this show. You’ll see 3 of my “FourSquare” pieces that I developed for Art Cloth Network’s 2023 silk exhibit at the Kemerer Museum of decorative Arts. Check out their virtual show at: https://www.fremont.gov/government/departments/parks-recreation/facilities-rentals/community-centers/olive-hyde-art-gallery.

Last, if you venture east to the Central Valley, you’ll be able to see the Carnegie Arts Center’s annual “Carnegie Art Showcase” and two of my voting rights pieces. I include a photo of one of my pieces: "V is for Voting", 30" h x 38" w.

Yes, our small, local art centers have brought big fibre/fiber excitement and joy to our communities! Yours too? By Ileana Soto https://www.ileanasoto.com Vimeo recording of the artist talks at the O'Hanlon Center for the Arts: 2) https://vimeo.com/956181435?share=copy