Monday, March 19, 2012

Eye Candy







I've been playing around with surface/texture trying to resolve a couple of upcoming projects. One is inspired both by the visit Connie Tiegel and I took to the Chihuly Museum in St. Pete FL during the Art Cloth Network's annual meeting there. We found huge chunks of industrial glass acting as a window to the outside world (not done by Chihuly himself), and then I re-experienced those images during my trip in January to Patagonia and its glaciers. Same colors, same amazing depth and reflective qualities. VERY challenging to capture in textiles.

The yellow piece is one of many studies I've done for a new series of large panels I'm making which deal with color itself. I decided to start with yellow as it is a hard color for me to work with - the theory is that if I can do this one the rest should be a piece of cake. If not, I'll just eat the cake! Yellow poses innate challenges like being the only color which visually alters its hue when black is added to it becoming greenish. And we experience it as having a narrower band on the color wheel. It may not, but we don't label colors yellow which wander far from the primary as we do with other colors.

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Distinguished visitors and other stuff

Dianne -- you did the most amazing job organizing Fiber Philadelphia and those gorgeous exhibits! I was there for the opening weekend and there are no words to convey how terrific this event is.  Lines and Numbers is also a winner - and Judy did a yeoman's job of putting that together and hanging it (with help from Brian and from Diane Savona, another organizer). Fab!

I took lots of pictures, some of which are on my blog. But in case you don't want to be bothered, I'll post a couple here. (Dianne - these in the first shot can only be yours, although there was no attribution).

 
    My favorite, this week - under the circumstances.
I'll be there on he 31st for my own opening at the HighWire Gallery and while I won't be at the SDA-SAQA conference, I plan to check out other openings around town and will stop to see Elements either on the way down or the way home.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Distinquised Visitors

I had the pleasure taking Nancy Crow, Anne Parker and Mary Lou Alexander through our show on Thurs. and then 25 members of Friends of Fiber on Friday.
Nancy Crow's Diptych with the Friends of Fiber viewing Outside/Inside the Box
 I met the Friends of Fiber in the Ice Box during their visit to FiberPhiladelphia.  We went from there to the White Space in the Crane Old School to see "Lines and Numbers."


Friends of Fiber at White Space

 Here is the lowdown on  the Friends of Fiber viewing "Lines and Numbers." My nimble studio assistant Francesca was able to capture this shot.



Further views of the show and visitors


Wednesday, March 7, 2012

FiberPhiladelphia






Here are some random images from the citywide event. Interestingly, the recurring medium which appeared at almost every venue I visited was horse hair. Attend if you can!

Lines and Numbers Exhibition


Detail of Bebob, Dianne Koppisch Hricko

Photos of the work in the Lines and Numbers exhibition are now available for viewing online. This exhibition represents 26 pieces of artcloth by thirteen artists in the ArtCloth Network. If you are in Philadelphia this month, we invite you to view the works in person, so you can see all the luscious detail. And if you are there for the closing reception on March 31, you will have an opportunity to meet some of the artists. Exhibition information is posted below.

View the Lines and Numbers portfolio.

Art Cloth Network : Lines and Numbers
White Space, Crane Arts' Old School
March 3 - April 1, 2012
Reception: Sat, March 31, 5 - 8pm
1417 N. 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122

Sat & Sun, 12 - 5pm
Wed – Fri by appointment only, call 215-913-7957
Open Thurs, March 8, 5 - 8pm

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Sneak Preview

Well Saturday is the big day... and today was exhausting! But Lines and Numbers is installed and looks lovely.  So here is a sneak preview.

Beyond the Line is hung on the walls, and 24X80 is hung from the ceilings.

I look forward to seeing many of you this weekend and throughout the month long celebration of FibersPhiladelphia.

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Printing with Ink and Paint Textured Thermofaxes

In my last post I shared a method that I use to create thermofaxes for my textured backgrounds. Now it’s time to print some fabric with my altered ink and paint texture thermofax! Below is the thermofax image used to create the textures for an ArtCloth piece called Moon Dance.


After masking out areas that I wanted to remain free of color with freezer paper, I used opaque textile paint mixed to match the purple background (tone on tone).


Then after masking the newly printed purple background and figure, I did the second printing in yellow textile paint for the moon.


And finally after some hand painting, stamping and beading below is Moon Dance finished.


Moon Dance, 60x40”.
Materials; MX dyes, discharge, fabric paint, and glass beads on Fuji silk broadcloth.
Hand dyed, discharged, thermofax screened, hand printed, hand painted and beaded.






It is enthralling to watch a piece of cloth transformed from flat plane to a luminous field of dimension with this technique!

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Preview of FiberPhiladelphia


I just got back from the Crane Old School where the "White Space" is being prepared for our installation of " Lines and Numbers" on Thurs... I will send along a preview once we begin. Meanwhile check out what is going on for FiberPhiladelphia at the Crane. My studio assistant is my guest blogger while I am running myself ragged. I have pasted her most recent blog below.  I hope to see lots of you next weekend! 


Dianne


Excitement at The Crane !!!!


Fiber Philadelphia is quickly approaching and we could not be any more excited.  Volunteers have been at The Crane day in and day out, unwrapping works of art from all of the world, assigning inventory, and executing the show under curator Bruce Hoffman




Just outside of Space 102 , one can see Dianne's & Joan Dreyer's show entitled, "Into the Woods."  In between Dianne's 13 foot silk paintings, one can see Joan's sculptures , however, you will have to come see for yourself; we can't give it all away! 




Lastly, Dianne believes that this is the largest scarf inventory she has ever had to date.  Though the high numbers won't remain, we are awaiting a scarf frenzy.  Above are the 9 scarves we finished this week.  Dianne's studio will be open to the public on March 3 and 31st.  Come and view her scarves and studio during this wonderful celebration of Fiber Philadelphia. 

Hope to see you then !!

Francesca van Stolk
Studio Assistant
Guest Blogger

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Anderson Arts Center opening

The opening of the show at Anderson Arts Center was Janaury 29. I was very happy with my room! It was bright, looked out at the lake and the pieces were well hung!  Here are a few shots of the space.

The curator was able to hang my 4 artcloth peices side x side on one wall and that looked really good and they got lots of comments!