At the heart of the creative process for the three artists featured here lies a simple yet powerful tool: the sketchbook. Through their stories, they reveal how their sketchbooks serve as repositories of ideas and catalysts for their work.
In the bustling corridors of Coupeville, Washington, Middle School, amidst the chaos of academics and extracurricular activities, lies a haven of tranquility and creativity—the Knitting Club.
A unique blend of art and community engagement was hosted at the Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences in Charleston, West Virginia. Art After Dark is a vibrant event with live music and art demonstrations by local artists. Offering free access to the Juliet Art Museum at the Center, it allows community members to immerse themselves in creativity.
Looking around the gallery, it was exciting to see the newly created works by 37 extraordinary textile artists. Each piece was exquisitely crafted and conveyed profound messages on current topics such as war, the climate emergency, plastics in our oceans, freedom of religion, and the relentless search for respite from misinformation and digital connectivity in the 21st century.
In a society that often emphasizes individualism and consumption, Threaded Together’s Create + Connect initiative stands as a beacon of community-building and empowerment. By providing a space for people to interact with materials, realize their agency, and celebrate their interconnection, the organization is contributing to the resilience of the community, one Wednesday night at a time.
The inaugural Men’s Spring Knitting Retreat, held in May 2008, brought 32 like-minded individuals from various corners of the continent. From the serene backdrop of Easton Mountain, these men reveled in the joy of knitting, spinning, and most importantly, each other’s company. A unanimous decision was made to make it an annual affair and birthed the idea of regional retreats across the country.
At the Rochambeau Library in Providence, Rhode Island, stitching took center stage as textile artists Hayley Perry and Liz Bessel offered a hands-on presentation: The Art of Expressive Stitching.
As San Diego and Tijuana share the stage, the exhibition becomes a unique binational experience, showcasing the talents of artists and designers from both sides of the international border.
Having never delved into the intricate stitching of embroidery, Zsofi took a leap and decided to transform a dissatisfying acrylic artwork with stitching, creating a canvas punctured with threads. This proved to be a creative turning point.
The Amani Sewing Academy helps refugee women break the cycle of isolation by providing a safe space for them to gather, develop marketable sewing skills, and begin building a community of their own.
As the artist explored the area for the commissioned art piece, she glanced out the large windows and saw the New York City skyline, with water towers scattered across the landscape. This inspired the shape of the Bird Cage.
Stitch Buffalo is a nonprofit textile art center in Buffalo, New York that is committed to empowering refugee and immigrant women through the sale of their handcrafted goods, inspiring creativity and inclusion through community education, and stewarding the environment through the re-use of textile supplies.
Over 120,000 fiber artists connect with Fiber Art Now through our various platforms – and we want you to join us! Connect and get inspired by contemporary fiber arts around the world.
For the latest news, special offers, and exclusive content you won’t find anywhere else, sign up for our newsletter below!
