“Ahead of her time.” This was one of the first things that Nancy Hemenway Barton’s son, Bill Barton, said about his mother during a lecture last month withJill D’Alessandro, curator of the Denver ArtMuseum’s Avenir Institute of Textile Arts & Fashion.
Through fiber, metal, and process, Beatrice Atencah transforms history into form, weaving together stories of resilience, migration, and cultural continuity. Her sculptures invite us to see textiles not just as fabric, but as vessels of memory and transformation—where tradition and identity shift and evolve.
“At its core, this initiative is about taking action—if we want change, we must create the opportunities to make it happen.”
California-based artist Andrée Carter invites us to see cities through the eyes of an artist, where texture, color, and needlepoint come together to tell layered and evocative stories.
As the founder of the Fiber Art Network, former publisher, editor-in-chief of Fiber Art Now magazine, and author, Marcia Young has tirelessly championed the visibility and value of fiber arts. Now, as the executive director of the Society of Arts and Crafts, she brings her passion and vision to a broader creative community.
In the creative journeys of Alice Fox, Leslie Rottner, and Bonni Brooks, tools are far more than functional items; they’re as expressive and essential as the art itself. Each artist repurposes or crafts their tools from everyday and natural materials, transforming them into something personal and powerful.
Experimentation is also key for me. I improvise during the printing process, allowing my inspiration to guide me, resulting in a unique piece each time. I have never used printmaking in a very classical way, except when I studied it. I use printmaking more like a painter who works on a canvas.
When I first started working in sketchbooks, I often felt pressure to follow a theme or stick to a structure. But it wasn’t until I embraced a more free-flowing approach that I truly started enjoying the process.
Perez’s sketchbooks are where her creative magic begins—a space for experimenting with dyes, acrylic inks, and intricate textile techniques like shibori and monoprinting. These pages are the foundation of her richly textured fabrics and complex patterns, offering us a glimpse into the alchemical process that transforms her ideas into art.
Eliza Day-Green’s artistry goes beyond simple categorization. As the fifth featured artist in Fiber Art Now’s ongoing series, her work spans a vibrant spectrum. From wearable art to sculpting with natural fibers, her creative journey is one of constant experimentation and innovation.
“My stitching is a reflection of the calmness, tranquility, and contentedness that I feel when sitting at the sewing machine and creating. Sewing is my meditation, and the art emerges from this experience.”
Jacqueline Rueff started her artistic journey as a sculptor, making a variety of art dolls and elaborate wall sculptures called Woodland Spirits. Over time, she decided she needed to find something else to feed her creative spirit, something that wouldn’t tax her body so much. On a whim, she took a three-hour course on broom making . . . and she fell in love.
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