…and what a summer it has been! The heat of July is long forgotten, along with that stifling dorm room at NEWS. In addition to the best summer weather any New Englander could possibly hope for, I spent two days at my monthly tapestry class with Archie and Susan, and I spent almost five days with two other members of the Wednesday Group.
We looked at and critiqued each other’s works, and I got tremendous input and inspiration from these friends. We ate well and enjoyed amazing views of the Hudson from our host’s house. Tugs and barges floated by, going both north and south, day and night, breaking the bucolic spell of this rural area with such a contradiction of noise and spectacle!
We spent an entire day driving to and from Auburn, to see the exhibit Innovators and Legends: Generations in Textile and Fiber at the Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center.
This exhibit is traveling around from Michigan to Auburn, New York, then to University of Kansas in Lexington, and finally to Fort Collins, Colorado. It was curated by Geary Jones, with works from well known artists and newcomers…75 works that span several decades of fiber arts and offered a trip down retro lane as well as powerful new ideas. We all loved it!
The one piece that has intrigued me since leaving the exhibit is Piper Shepard’s “Dome.” Although we could not take photos of anything in the exhibit, and I was not impressed with the photos in the catalog (which was sold out anyway and had to be ordered from Muskegan Museum), I have enjoyed reading about Ms. Shepard’s work online. Her piece titled “Dome” was made from a large sheet of muslin fabric that had been treated with gesso and graphite to have a very dark surface. She then cut out tiny shapes in the manner of cut paper, like Scherenschnitte. She displays these works as if they are made of heavy metal, hanging from sturdy steel brakets that hold them out from the wall. Light creates marvelous shadows, and any breath of air gets the large work to undulate, giving the viewer the realization that this is a very light and fragile material. It’s a beautiful blend of bold, fragile, delicate and large all at once!
My drive home took me through wonderful parts of New York state and Connecticut. After dropping off one friend at the Hudson train station…
…my GPS directed me home entirely on back roads! I usually get to this area of New York by taking Rte 90 through the Berkshires, which is quite scenic, but this route of Rte. 23 from Hudson to Sheffield, then Rte 7 down into Canaan, Connecticut, and Rte. 44 through western Connecticut just can’t be equalled!
In Avon, I stopped at a local bead store and got some crystals to add to the hem of one of my recently finished silk scarves. The bead store is on the right of this lovely building.
Back in the studio, I am on the home stretch on my sunset tapestry!
