The Southwest Women’s Fiber Arts Collective is proud to announce their upcoming show titled “Focus on Fiber: Pursuing Creativity in the Pandemic”. Local fiber artists have been very busy this past year creating new and exciting work that will be on display May 17 - 31, 2021 at 200 W. Market Street in Silver City.
More than a dozen fiber artists will have their new work available for viewing, with some of the pieces available for purchase on the Collective’s website. Fiber artists will be demonstrating their individual crafts on each of the two weekends of the show, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm and from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm. It's a great opportunity to see a variety of fiber art techniques.
On Saturday, May 22, 2021 from 10 am to 12 noon, Mary Ragnins will be demonstrating weaving on a rigid heddle loom and Charmeine Wait will demonstrate inkle weaving. Then from 2 pm to 4 pm, Pat Bouchard will demonstrate Sashiko embroidery and Susan Porter will show how to dress a table loom.
On Sunday May 23, 2021 from 10 am to 2 pm Shannon Wilson will demonstrate felting and Susan Porter will finish dressing the table loom. From 2 pm to 4 pm Jacque Cusick will weave on the table loom and Liza Kuecker will demonstrate knitting. The public is invited to come and meet the fiber artists and learn more about how fiber art is created.
Mary Ragins has been creating with fiber as a weaver for the past decade. Sewing with her handwoven fabric and making one of a kind functional objects is one of her favorite ways to add an extra layer of joy to pulling cloth off of her loom. Mary is on the Board of Directors of Southwest Women's Fiber Arts Collective, and has taught Rigid Heddle Weaving at Wild West Weaving in Silver City.
Charmeine Wait learned to weave in college and likes to weave useful items like towels, scarves and clothing. During the pandemic she taught herself card weaving and continues to explore the ancient techniques of band weaving.
Pat Bouchard was born into a family of fiber artists. Her first memory of a knitting lesson was during a "vacation" at Nana's house one summer when she was five. Pat was captivated by the process, and the experience began her lifelong relationship with fiber. Other forays into fiber have expanded into embroidery, sewing, and paper. She continues to explore other cultures for inspiration.
After graduating from college Susan Porter studied photography and design at the Corcoran College of Art and Design in Washington, D.C., but fiber has always been her first love. She is passionate about color and often dyes her own yarns.
The result is a unique blend of colors that can't be repeated, making my hand-dyed pieces one of a kind. She especially loves that fiber allows us to create functional art: beauty that can be used and worn as well as admired.
Shannon Wilson learned to felt ten years ago and has been experimenting with wool tirelessly ever since. She is fascinated by the felting process and by what she can create by understanding the rules of wool. Since moving to Silver City and learning more about art as the director of the Blue Dome Gallery, Shannon has become particularly focused on creating wool sculpture.
Jacque Cusick began her weaving experience as a means to continue her art interests while serving as Religious Education and Pastoral Associate in Southern Ohio. Shortly after arriving in Silver City she joined the WNMU faculty as Fiber Arts and Elementary Art Education adjunct. She re-introduced the study of Fibers in the Expressive Arts curriculum, after an absence of many years. That interest in textile arts continues today among Silver City artists. Jacque retired from teaching after twelve years at WNMU. She continues to explore embroidery and tapestry weaving. During the Pandemic she turned to gardening as a means of reflection, recreation, and a source of inspiration for her next creation.
Liza Kuecker knits sweaters, scarves, hand warmers and socks. As a long time member of the Southwest Women’s Fiber Arts Collective several of her sweaters were showcased in Tapestry of Talent Wearable Art Fashion Shows. More recently Liza created designed squares that appeared on the Holiday Fiber Arts Trees.
Artists whose work will be on display include: Mary Ragins, Jean Hill, Susan Porter, Charmeine Wait, Pat Bouchard, Vicki Gadberry, Suzi Calhoun, Blythe Whiteley, Donna Foley, Kathy Cole, Hosana Eilert, Cookie Murraye, Shannon Wilson, Liza Kuecker, Sharon Brown and Lynnae McConaha.
The exhibit would not have been possible without the community minded owners of the building, Marsha Sue Lustig and John Eder who have generously donated the space. Lustig and Eder reached out to Silver City MainStreet to see how the space could be used. A Pop-up gallery space was suggested and now the former retail space is being used to benefit the community.
Due to COVID-19, there will be no in-person contact, however, this is a wonderful opportunity to see first-hand the creativity that is still thriving in Silver City and support our local fiber artists. The exhibit can be viewed through the expansive windows.
SWFAC was founded in 2005 and is a local, all volunteer, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization with the goal to stimulate and support successful cottage industry in the southwest. To accomplish this, SWFAC members nurture and empower one another. Both novice and skilled SWFAC artists enrich the community by fostering opportunities to gain new experience and expand talent as well as earn income from their art. Please visit SWFAC’s website at www.fiberartscollective.org to learn more about the organization and this exhibit.