Fiber art flourishes at Textile Center
This wall hanging, by Southeast artist Sandra Brick, is one of the many works available at the Textile Center’s ongoing holiday sale.
Fiber art is flourishing right here in Minnesota at the Textile Center, 3000 University Ave. SE., where a holiday sale is in full swing, and Sunday, Dec. 2 is family day. (See holiday art sales story.)
In art history classes we learn about men making those great tapestries we see at the Minneapolis Institute of Art (MIA). Historically men were the European weavers. Men were the tailors who did the heavy-duty sewing while women, as milliners, did lighter sewing and mending. Men in England made those great top hats based on the upper-Midwest beaver trade. The mercury used in the processing of the beaver skin affected the brain and Lewis Caroll made those mad hatters famous.
The industrial revolution brought the Jacquard Loom and industrial sewing machines which changed textile crafts into textile industries. Although, during a transition period early in the twentieth century, women did “man” the sewing machines and created the garment workers union, mass production took the “craft” out of textile work.
Now one-of-a-kind craftsmanship has again become woman’s work. The Textile Center, www.textilecentermn.org), is a national hub for fiber art, serving loom weavers, doll makers, basket weavers, hand spinners, button makers, quilters, dyers and beaders, as well as diverse schools and museums. Interestingly, some 98 percent of Textile Center participants are female. Women have, indeed, taken over as textile artists. Well, more than equal isn’t so bad now and then.
The Joan Mondale Gallery, endowed by the textile art enthusiast for which it is named, has exhibitions featuring a range of art objects from sculptures to artwear. Yes, sculptures! Fiber artists have moved far beyond sewing clothes and making quilts.
The current Mondale Gallery exhibit is especially exciting because it showcases a diversity of work to illustrate the many forms of fiber art and the many outstanding artists producing work nationally and right here in Minnesota. Some of the work will even be for sale just in time for the holiday season.
In keeping with the tradition of fiber arts, you’ll find award-winning quilts by featured artist Sue Stein, quilt artist and owner of Colorful Quilts and Textiles, www.colorfulquiltsandtextiles.com, in St. Paul, as well as the author of three books. Her most recent book, Fabric Art Workshop, published by Creative Publishing, is available for sale at the Textile Center Shop.
At the non-traditional end of the spectrum are duct tape accessories like purses by Carly Stipe, www.carlystipe.com, who also assembles sculptural garments from rubber bands, paper cones, tickets and dollar bills.
Nicole Moan’s colorful and funky “corsets” (www.nicolemoan.com) can be worn in public or placed on a wall as a prized art work.
Sandra Brick, www.texturedelements.com, who lives in Southeast and has a studio on East Hennepin Avenue, will be showing silk scarves dyed with the Japanese Shibori technique appropriate for wearing and for hanging on your walls. Her beaded ornaments can be hung on your Christmas tree or Chanukah bush and can be displayed all year round. For a Jewish perspective, check out Sandra Brick’s mezuzah cases to decorate your doorposts and kippot — worn to cover one’s head in prayer or as a really cool high-art cap for the non-Jew. The MIA owns a Sandra Brick mezuzah in its permanent collection. Now you can too.
One serious complaint about the show: Why so little wearable art for the man courageous enough to don something handmade and spectacular?
The Textile Center’s Holiday sale ends December 29
Hours are:
Monday through Thursday: noon–7 p.m.
Friday and Sunday: noon–5 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Note: Fred Amram is the husband of Sandra Brick, an artist featured in the above article.
last revised: November 30, 2007