Een aantal jaar geleden gaven Annette en ik een inloopworkshop op de Textieldag in Breda. De workshop ging over een patroon maken in fluweel en organza smelten op fluweel. In die tijd zag je dat nog bijna nergens. Vandaag kwam ik de proefstukken weer eens tegen van het smelten van organza op fluweel. Ik heb er nooit meer iets mee gedaan. Ik heb alleen de macrofoto's een aantal keer gebruikt. Nu ik het zo weer zie komen er toch weer allerlei ideeen naar boven. Leuk om weer eens uit te proberen, vooral het doffe organza was erg leuk omdat het een papierstructuur kreeg, zodra het goed weer is ga ik dat weer eens uit proberen. Vandaag was het wat weer betreft een erg troosteloze dag.....het wil maar niet stoppen met regenen.
A couple of years ago, Annette and I where invited to give a walk-inn workshop on the Textile days in Breda. The workshop was about, pattern making in velvet and melting organza on velvet. At that time, hardley nowhere seen. Today I run into the test pieces from melting on velvet. I never used them anymore. Only used the macro pictures. Now I see it again, a lot of ideas come up. It would be nice to try it again, especially the dull organza was nice, because it looked like paper when it melted. When the weather is better again I think I am gonna try that. today was rather a very desolate day...it won't stop raining.
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Hi!
I've been meaning to write all week, but family issues have prevented me from doing much until this afternoon. My Dad had complications with surgery and now my grandmother is also in the hospital. I don't live anywhere near either of them, but I still had to wait by the telephone for information.
In the meantime, my elder son Mathias (age 19) has been here for the past three weeks. This is the longest stretch of time he's been here in three years. He's lived at a ballet boarding school from age 12 until last May. Most summers have been spent at other ballet programs or competing in international competitions. (He's actually sort of "famous"...having won lots of medals, mostly gold...try googling him: Mathias Dingman...he's even got videos on YouTube with about 10,000 views).
Anyway, we've been doing all sorts of things together...trying to make up for lost time and really enjoy the past few weeks. This morning, my husband Steve and Mathias left for Washington, DC...from there Mathias will fly back to Birmingham England. I'm sort of sad.
My thumb is really sore but will eventually heal. I accidentally chopped off one third of the nail and part of the tip. I'm really rather good with sharp blades. In fact, I really didn't "chop" but accidentally dropped the handle because my hands were sweating. It was 105 degrees here yesterday and the screen printing class only had a fan. The humidity is also quite high.
Now, about my exhibition. It is in a university gallery and will hang until September 27. The museum curator contacted me for a show and provided a contract. She did not select the pieces. I suggested the two bodies of work and provided information and digital images. The university listed the show on the website and did a little publicity in their local community. The curator made the labels, hung the show, and set the lights. There is insurance while the pieces are on location. There is no reception. Some universities do host small receptions. Others will allow an artist to host his/her own reception. I didn't even ask about a reception for this exhibit. I don't know anyone in the town and didn't want to pay for all the invitations, food, drink, etc. Generally, exhibits in a university setting do not generate sales...although I sold two pieces last year at my exhibit in another university (my contract stated that the university earned ZERO percent commission).
For this latest exhibition, I wrote a brief article for a monthly arts publication that features events and arts news in North and South Carolina. I did this because they keep all articles on their website...forever!
I am thrilled to do this sort of exhibit because it costs me next to nothing...just the gasoline for the vehicle in order to deliver the work and later to pick it up. I think it is very good exposure and is a great line on my resume.
The United State is terribly large, so I'm not sure how other parts of this country run exhibitions. I do know, however, that here in South Carolina most of the best known and successful artist all have university art degrees. Many of the best respected artists are university art professors. I don't have a studio art degree. I live in constant awareness of being "second class". I've only been creating art for just a little over six and a half years. I work hard to raise my "profile" in the local art scene and try to gain some respect.
There is almost no local fiber scene. The few people working in fiber aren't very receptive to contemporary embroidery. The few art quilters are a very, very closed group...and, in my opinion, not particularly "cutting edge".
South Carolina has a fantastic history of dyeing fabric...indigo...generally done by Gullah natives or African Americans...not little, "white" girls that weren't born in this state. We also have a strong tradition in sweet-grass basket-making...same thing...done by the descendants of slaves...not little "white" girls.
There are many people that think it is totally strange that I am inspired by African artifacts, masks, and textiles. It is as if these beautiful things shouldn't be part of my artwork because they are not part of my ethnic culture.
What I like best about tribal art is the fact that ordinary people, just like me, made each piece. In tribal cultures, there is no "artist"...everyone is an artist; there are no "dancers"...they all dance; there are no musicians...they all sing and play. They use what they have. They are compelled with passion and soulful spirit to make beautiful things.
In a tribal culture, no one would consider me "second rate" due to my lack of a proper art foundation!
In the meantime, I try to compensate for my lack of a degree by exhibiting in academic settings. It seems to be working. Little by little, I seem to be included in professional circles.
I would love to be represented by a good, hard-working gallery. I would love to pay even 50% commission to someone willing to really SELL my work and promote fibers in general. One day, this will hopefully happen.
So, tell me more about your exhibition, your expectations, the gallery's expectations, and the art/fiber scene in the Netherlands.
Susan
PS I think these melting organza on velvet pieces are totally stunning.
Da hast du ja wunderschöne Dinge wiederentdeckt. Und übrigens, bei uns regnet es auch schon seit Dienstag fast ohne Pause - da bleibt nur noch die Nähmaschine!!!
LG
Waltraud
Wow, absolutly great.
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