Don't Touch The Art

Had a little fun in the last few weeks. I was in a show for Bear Necessities, finished a sweater, started a knitted lace project (my first with actual lace yarn), made a felted Teddy Bear/Mouse (haven’t decided what it will be yet), and had a museum and dinner date with Michael and Steven (the highlight of the last two weeks!). But all in all, not a lot has happened. I didn’t sell anything at the show but it was nice to be out showing. I chatted it up with my very old friends Lindsay and Ashley Cox. Lindsay’s a Miller now but I will always remember her as a Cox. I showed two paintings and two embroideries. I stayed up late into the night to put the finishing touches on my embroidery only to wake up realizing that it is not even close to being finished. But it was presentable so I showed it anyway. It was a very casual show, with a fashion show aspect that had static models on pedestals. True to my fear and original apprehension about puting my fragile embroideries in the show, people, all the while keeping a respectful distance from all paintings, would pick up, turn, rub, and touch the silk embroideries. There is such a misunderstanding about textile art. I don’t know if it’s a familiarity or a lack of respect or just curiosity, but the general populace assumes its all right to physically handle textile art. It is not all right to handle textile art for the record. Fabric is delicate and can become easily soiled, torn, rent or warped just from someones fingers. Lindsay walked past my table when I was off talking to someone and saw a woman boldly holding my embroidery up to the light, turning it and stretching it. She told the woman sternly, “You need to put that down.” Thank god for her timing but what about all the unseen moments of possible destruction? There is an ongoing argument in the arts world of fine art vs. craft. Frankly, I find that argument tiresome, cliche and worn out. Obviously both sides are right in their own ways. But for me at least, the kicker is textile art is still considered craft by the general populace and therefore disregarded by the general populace. There have been incredibly amazing pieces of textile art that has been hailed by critics, collectors and lovers of fine art. Some notables include Sheila Hicks, Anni Albers, Magdelena Abakanovicz, Mark Newport, and Buzz Spector. I was fortunate enough to have teacherly contact with artists Pauline Verbeek-Cowart, Jason Pollen, Marcie Miller Gross, Maria Elena Buszek, Judi Ross, Michelle Fricke and Tim Towner. But these artists are largely unknown to the general public. So, because everyones grandma crocheted, knitted or sewed, it must not be very special and can obviously be picked up for comparison to Gram’s doilies. I wish that we artists could send a memo out to the rest of the world saying, “Please Refrain From Touching the Fabric/Paper/Fiber Art On Display No Matter Where It’s On Display”. So, next time you are at an exhibit, a fair, a museum, gallery, your friends living room, assume you can’t touch the fiber art and if you really want to, ask first.

Preston's Snake Scarf

Felted Teddy/Mouse

Bird Painting

Alleyway painting

Moving to the big city

Living room for Rats

Living room for Rats

Wicked Sweater

I’ve also decided, with relief, that I’m no painter. I gave it a healthy stab and I’m just not good at it. Same with photography. It’s a relief because I can focus on my fiber pieces knowing that I’m working in the right medium for me.