Back to the Here and Now

It's been several weeks since our last communiqué. The "keeper of the blog" was away tending to personal matters so we took a short break. We're back so expect regular updates.

While we were away...

1. The jurying process for ArtQuilts at the Sedgwick was completed. Based on the bountiful array of submissions, all indications point to an outstanding show.
   The Committee wishes to extend thanks to each applicant for submitting such fine work.
2. The 29th Annual Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show wrapped yesterday. The "keeper", a regular attendee, notes that the overall event seemed to be infused with freshness. Perhaps it was the influx of new exhibitors. Whatever the reason, we're already looking forward to next years show!
3. An exhibit at the Fabric Workshop and Museum featuring the work of Artist-in-Residence, Teresita Fernández closed on Saturday, November 12th. "Teresita Fernández finds inspiration in nature and draws upon a wide range of materials to translate natural forces into essential elements of color and light, depth and space."

Current & Coming...

Through January 8, 2006
Jack Lenor Larsen: Creator and Collector
Kress and Rodale Galleries, Allentown Art Museum

"Jack Lenor Larsen: Creator and Collector explores Larsen as weaver, designer, technological innovator, collector, and mentor. Featured in the exhibition are many of his most admired fabric creations, drawn from the historic archives of his firm and from corporate and museum collections. These extraordinary works, landmarks in twentieth-century textile design, are accompanied by a stunning selection of pieces in glass, ceramics, wood, fiber, and metal, all collected by Larsen. He acquired many of these works when the artists, like Dale Chihuly, were just beginning their careers; others represent traditional arts from Asia, Africa, and South America. The exhibition reveals aspects of Larsen's creative process by juxtaposing objects from his collection with his textile designs so that his way of seeing and developing new ideas is illuminated."

December 3, 2005 – January 27, 2006
Craft Forms is a national juried exhibition dedicated to enhancing the public's awareness of fine contemporary American craft while providing a venue for established and emerging artists alike to share their creative endeavors. The juror for Craft Forms 2005 is David McFadden, Chief Curator, Museum of Arts and Design, New York, NY.

December 7, 2005 -March 6, 2006
Orange County Regional History Center
"New Kiosk Technology at The History Center Allows Visitors to add Stories to Digital Quilt. The exhibit, titled From Fabric to Pixels: Storytelling through Quilts, opens in Orlando featuring historic quilts and contemporary creations by quilters or quilt owners from across Florida. These fabric quilts are juxtaposed against a digital quilt installation composed of stories created by the exhibit’s visiting patrons."

January 9 - 11, 2006
Global Creative Economy Convergence Summit
The University of the Arts
Philadelphia, PA

"The creative industry impacts every aspect of the economy. Entrepreneurs, business leaders, artists, and technology professionals will exchange ideas and help to create a framework for understanding how the Creative Economy contributes to the economic future of the world.
Creative professionals representing design, architecture, engineering, textiles, fashion, music production, film production, communications, software development, the performing and fine arts, and web design will meet for three days to learn best practices and strategies of successful creative economies. Participants from around the glode will share their experiences and learn how creative industries interact and converge, generate wealth, businesses, and jobs within their regions."

January 27 – March 15, 2006
The Thread Counts Project
Coordinated by Luanne Stovall and Leila Lee Mitchell for Gallery Artists Studio Projects
"The Thread Counts Project is designed to investigate the binding nature of thread and to recognize its dual role as both a noun and a verb. Through this lens, thread is experienced as an interconnective dynamic tissue that operates at the core of our daily lives."

March 3, 2005 - April 29, 2005
5th International Fiber Biennial 2006- Curated by Bruce Hoffman
Snyderman-Works Galleries, 303 Cherry Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106

April 1 - 9, 2006
DesignPhiladelphia
"DesignPhiladelphia is a catalyst for advancing the public's awareness of design exploration and innovation in or about this city. To realize this effort, DesignPhiladelphia creates opportunities to enhance the public's appreciation of the design disciplines. DesignPhiladelphia spotlights retailers, galleries, restaurants, museums and professional associations, producing gallery tours, public lectures, exhibitions, fashion shows and design-oriented children's workshops. The annual kick-off event is an exhibition and symposium entitled Philadelphia design experiment, v. 2.0. The exhibition showcases multidisciplinary design work from seven universities and colleges whose students are proposing innovative ideas and strategies for revitalizing the city's neighborhoods, communities, culture and industries."

June 11-July 28, 2006
Focus: Fiber 2006
Artists Archives of the Western Reserve, 1834 E. 123rd Street, Cleveland OH 44106
Presented by The Textile Art Alliance of the Cleveland Museum of Art. A regional exhibition open to fiber artists who live in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania or West Virginia or are members of The Textile Art Alliance.