Contemporary Perspectives in Fiber Arts

By Patricia Frischer

Olivia Batchelder - a lovely painting on silk using the natural flow of the inks. 

We get pleasure from so many things…good company, good food, a walk on the sea shore, even window shopping. And there are many reasons view art; to enjoy the nostalgia evokes by an artwork,  to process a problem that we are dealing with or an emotion that needs airing, or, maybe, to be spurred to a call to action. It can also spur us into critical discussions with others or within ourselves.

But there are occasions when the pleasure of looking is all that is necessary. Seeing an exhibition, can be like looking out the window of a car as landscape reveals itself. It can be a break from thinking and a time to just experience visual stimulus.

This exhibition Contemporary Perspectives inFiber Arts features selections from California Fibers, a group founded in 1970, which supports the artistic growth and professional advancement of contemporary Southern California fiber artists Their creative expression includes weaving, basketry, sculpture, quilting, embroidery, felting, surface design, knit, crochet, wearables and mixed media.

On exhibition at the William D. Cannon Art Gallery until March 18, 2023, I visited this lovely space and enjoyed the arrangement of these works, each given the space and attention it deserved. 

Peggy Wiedmann (front) is winged rocker and Debby Wiess (back)

Debby Weiss (close up) netting with embroidered embelishment

Lydia Tjioe Hall - a entire wall of wire samples

Sandy Abrams - wood vase, birds and limb 

Polly Jacobs - charming group of wrapped spindles

Michael Rhode - large woven variations

Carole Nilsen - shot with metallics bring this work alive 

 

Lift the Sky at Front Porch Gallery

 by Patricia Frischer

Lift the Sky, a global art project inviting artists to answer the question, "What's your message to the world?". This first installation of the San Diego branch of the project is multiple hanging panels at Front Porch Gallery. You walk in this relatively small space and are surrounded by all this positive energy with three images on each banner hanging from the entire ceiling. The works differ widely but they are all tied together by neatly sewn white edging including sewn labels on the side and full details on the back of each one. 

Showing until March 25^th. (2903 Carlsbad Blvd. Carlsbad, 92008). More info: Julie Weaverling 760-795-6120  

This banner has my own image on the top.  A fabulous sunset lifts the sky, and your spirit at the same time. 

This and the image below were made by Julie Weaverling, the producer of the exhibition.

Julie Weaverling

Cheryl Tall

Vicki DeLong

Denise Strahm 

Patricia Frischer

You can read a more in-depth article about the Front Porch Gallery:  Art Resource Focus: Front Porch Gallery by Julie Weaverling

Lift the Sky at the Front Porch Gallery. 

2903 Carlsbad Blvd. Carlsbad, 92008
Showing until March 25^th.
More info: Julie Weaverling 760-795-6120  

Oceanside Museum of Art: Overview January 2023

 by Patricia Frischer

Ethan Chan: Selections from the Closets of the People That I love….
Until April 30, 2023

I have to admit that the description of Ethan Chan’s clothes made out of take away condiment packets was the final push that got me to go to the Oceanside Museum of Art to see ALL the exhibitions on view there. This obsession need to use an everyday material is close to my heart, and Chan took it all the way by creating clothes for his friends which includes some lovely details like untucked shirts and rosette decorations.

 

Quinton McCurine: Materialing
Until April 30, 2023

Quinton McCurine, in his own way, does the same thing by using paint, not to paint, but to make actual objects. You can still smell that familiar oil medium when you walk in to the space. The thickness leaps off the canvas, and his little animal, cake and paint tube sit on a mirror duplicating themselves. 

Lani Emanuel: Beside Herself
Until March 25, 2023

Lani Emanuel’s portrait jump right off the walls and grab you. And that is such a refreshing surprise because we see portraits all the time so it takes some doing to stand out. Emanuel was the grand prize winner of the OMA Artist Alliance 2022 Biennial and she is one to watch. 

 

Legacy: Twenty Five Years of Art Community
The Early Years (1997-2014): Until Jan 29, 2023
The Recent Years (2014-2021): Until Feb 19, 2023

This is a survey show curated by Danielle Sussella of some of the first 25 years of exhibitions at the museum and I have selected just a tiny selection of images from those shows. I am proud to say that many of these artists are recipients of the SD Art Prize or have been shown in the SDVAN’s New Contemporaries series. I am delighted to say that a large portion of the work on view is by women. The two-part exhibition is well displayed and documents a part of the quarter century of the museum and their coming of age. 

Marianela de la Hoz

Claudia Cano

Cheryl Tall

Allison Renshaw, Mary Feemer, Jen Trute, Ethel Greene

Tom Driscol

Ernest Silva

John Dillemuth

Pop Smoke: A Veteran Art Exhibition
Until Jan 15, 2023

Although I saw this exhibition on the last day of its display, I want to give a shout out to some of the artist included and to the curator Amber Zora for trying to expand our view of veterans who are artists.  Although a few of the artist have been inspired directly by Pop Art, “The exhibition's title is a military slang term referring to throwing smoke grenades as a means of cover or escape during battle. The term pop smoke is also common slang that means to leave a place.“ WM Marquez with hanging threads gives us the experience of smoke from grenades. 

Thomas Gronowski

 

 Gina Herrera  uses the memories of the trash she saw while stations abroad and turns it into a whimsical flowing totem. 

Michael Stevens

Vincent Pugliese

WM Marquez

Reginald Green

Fred Marinello

Fred Marinello

Don Reedy