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Hooked on Fibers: The Art of the Stitch
January 10 – March 2, 2024
Opening Reception:
Friday January 19, 2024
5:00 pm- 8:00pm
Hooked on Fibers: The Art of the Stitch features rug hooking textile art by Sheri Ahner, and mixed media fiber art by Chris Burton, Liz Davidson and Ana Sumner. The artwork will be on display and available for sale January 10 – March 2, 2024.
Sheri Ahner - Rug Hooking Textile Art
I am a fiber artist, with close to 20 years of rug hooking textile imagery. Consumed by reproducing nature in all its glory, I produce textile art using a hook, wool fabric, hand spun, commercial yarns and velvets along with lots of imagination. Painting with textiles has its challenges, primarily achieving the highlights and lowlights with the understanding of values and tones as it plays in its environment.
Chris Burton - Mixed Media Fiber Art
Improvisational Fiber Design has always been of great interest to me as an artist, as it juxtaposes traditional design principles with the freedom of total spontaneity and personal choices.Unlike a puzzle with a predictable outcome, Improv is all about creating from the dance of a great variety of design choices–collaborating colors, textures, patterns and design, in original ways. I greatly enjoy the challenge of this medium, and the outcome of Original Design which I find rewarding.
I work in several mediums; fiber, mixed-media and expressive acrylic painting. My career began as a Graphic Designer ( BFA-Commercial Design ) and transitioned into Education until 2020. Currently, I’m creating small-scale Fiber and Mixed-Media works with an eye for IMPROVISATIONAL DESIGN which allows me great creative freedom. My personal mantra is “stepping off the train” which represents my desire to create without following “rules”. I love surface design and am working more with original design thru dyeing, monoprinting and techniques I learn from experts in their field. . My continuing desire to teach others
( who want to “step off the train ) has lead to classes at Green Door Gallery and City Sewing Room.
Liz Davidson - Mixed Media Fiber Art
I am a self-taught fiber artist living in southern IL. My fiber art is created using raw edge applique method. Hand dyed natural fabrics and various blends of found fabric are fused in layers to a stabilizer and machine sewn using a variety of stiches and free motion sewing. I enjoy making art from fabric that may have been destined for a landfill.
Ana Sumner - Mixed Media Fiber Art
In my mid-forties, I was introduced to the art of hand stitching, and quickly fell in love with it. I became passionate about creating art in fibers that portray the endless forms found in nature. My artistic talent was inspired by a Crazy Quilt workshop, and enhanced by taking various classes in different art mediums. I decided to create art using mixed media with an emphasis on fibers and realism by merging together different techniques in an attempt to convey and capture the textural beauty that is in the world.
Among some of the things I love to create are flowers, trees, and ocean scenes. To make this art come alive, I use a series of steps beginning with painting the background to create an atmospheric perspective on the fabric. To do this I use watercolors; acrylics or oil pastels, and sometimes combining all three. I then design scenes by layering various fibers using several different sewing techniques like, machine free motion drawing, hand appliqué, quilting motifs, hand embroidery and felting. As well as embellishing with beads, and other specialty fibers that give it additional texture. Finally, to create depth, value and perspective to the work, I enhance it with oil and pan pastels, watercolor pencils or fabric markers.
Joe Bova Conti - Silver and Stone Jewelry
Joe Bova Conti is a local artist, designer and craftsman. Joe attended Fontbonne College on an art scholarship beginning in 1975. He has apprenticed with master jewelers and worked with Native American Craftsman for over 2 decades. All the work here is completely handmade without modern casting tools. The pieces are cut out, forged, filed, hammered and assembled into wearable pieces of art. Each piece is individually made by Joe. The inspiration for his pieces can be found in nature. Many pieces are reminders of landscapes and the beauty of our world. Joe has traveled extensively through the United States and Europe. The stones used are all natural and from ethically sourced locations all over the globe, some being quite rare and all unique.
Joe works out of a private studio and shows his work through venues such as this one.
