Posts filed under ‘Exhibits’
Upcoming textile show at the Denver Art Museum
Exciting news from the Denver Art Museum! An extensive new series of textile exhibits is opening in May. Read on for details.
Lucas Samaras, “Reconstruction #20,” 1977. Sewn
fabrics; 87 x 85 in. Denver Art Museum; National Endowment for the Arts, Dayton Hudson Foundation, Alliance for Contemporary Art M/M Edward Strauss, M/M Donald S. Graham, and anonymous donor, © the artist.
Spun: Adventures in Textiles at the Denver Art Museum
The Denver Art Museum (DAM) is gearing up to unveil its summer exhibition, Spun: Adventures in Textiles, on view May 19–September 22, 2013. The museum-wide exhibition blends ancient traditions and surprising innovations in textile arts. It will be home to an extensive collection of artworks that range from pre-Columbian weavings to modern fiber art, Navajo blankets to an examination of clothing in paintings and photography. From wool to recycled plastics, embroidered silk to buttons, a variety of materials and mediums will emerge in a rich and colorful spectacle.
In celebration of the DAM’s new textile galleries, its inaugural show, Cover Story, harnesses the essence of Spun. Featuring approximately 60 objects, Cover Story provides an intimate lens into the ways in which textiles have permeated human life across time and space. Exploring further, delve into other cultures through Irresistible’s intricately dyed Asian textiles and the elaborate Navajo weavings in Red, White and Bold: Masterworks of Navajo Design, 1840-1870. Examine how blue jeans inspired the iconic images of the Wild West in Western Duds: How Clothing Helped Create an Archetype and witness the telling stories of social change through the photographs in Common Threads: Portraits by August Sander and Seydou Keïta. Or push the boundaries of textile art in Material World’s subversive social commentaries and hover between textile and technology in Transposition, among many others.
An interwoven medley, Spun is held together by a common fiber—a shared humanity in textiles. The DAM’s diverse collections explore the ways in which textiles enrich and encircle human lives, as textured and vibrant as the cultures themselves. For more information, visit www.denverartmuseum.org.
April 1, 2013 at 7:50 pm Kathy Mitchell-Garton Leave a comment
Preserving Fiber Traditions
RMWG Exhibit at Tactile
Tactile is pleased to present an exhibit of work by the members of the Rocky Mountain Weavers’ Guild. “Preserving Fiber Traditions” features 14 talented artists and craftspeople and includes tapestry and loom weaving, knitting, fabric dying, wearable art, and textile art pieces. The range of work showcases the skill and broad interests of the members of this well-established and vital local guild.
The Weavers’ Guild is one of Tactile’s founding guild members, and meets monthly at Tactile. Founded in 1953, the guild is dedicated to inspiring creativity and excellence in fiber work and promoting fiber traditions and enthusiasm through education. Find out more about the guild at their website.
“Preserving Fiber Traditions” runs through April 19. Tactile is open Thursday through Saturday, 12-5pm.
March 2, 2013 at 12:17 pm Kathy Mitchell-Garton Leave a comment
“Original Friends” dolls speak to the heart
Rebecca Roth didn’t start out wanting to be a fiber artist. She came to doll-making through a uniquely difficult, yet inspiring, route.
An American expatriate living in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Rebecca was wrongfully incarcerated in a women’s prison outside of Guadalajara for four years. The lengthy and convoluted Mexican legal system leaves many people in prison for years without trial or definitive sentences. Rebecca’s time in the overcrowded women’s prison was understandably painful, depressing, and soul depleting. She knew that to survive she needed something to lift her spirits.
That something came in the form of a child born to a fellow inmate in the prison. Lupita and her mother lived with Rebecca and 13 other women in a cell designed for six. Lupita had no toys or any other trappings of a “normal’ childhood. Rebecca found herself thinking, Lupita needs a doll. This inspired Rebecca to create her first Original Friend doll from scraps of fabric, yarn, and ribbon collected from sewing workrooms and classes in the prison.
Rebecca began collaborating with other women in the prison to make and sell more dolls. The dolls are colorful and festive, with smiling faces and fanciful clothing and jewelry. Each has its own unique personality. Rebecca and her doll-making friends sold over 100 dolls while she was still in prison. Once she was released she decided to continue working with her friends who are still incarcerated to make and sell dolls. The proceeds from doll sales go back to the women in prison to provide for their personal needs; making the dolls helps build their skills and self-esteem.
Tactile is happy to be hosting a collection of Original Friend dolls for display and purchase. Come by and see these fun and inspiring creations. You can learn more about Rebecca, the other doll-makers, and the dolls at their website.
July 28, 2012 at 2:21 pm Kathy Mitchell-Garton Leave a comment
Something for everyone – gallery and fashion shows, call for entries, classes, and marketing
Here at TACtile and as temperatures continue to swelter, our gallery is open to help you beat the heat with exhibits and classes. We’ve got some interesting and beautiful presentations this month. As usual, we offer classes to help expand knowledge of fiber arts. Here is what’s going on at TACtile in July and August.
Elfriede Style: A Retrospective of Colorado Couture
Join us through August 25th for ELFRIEDE STYLE: A Retrospective of Colorado Couture now showing at the TACtile Textile Arts Center gallery, which is free to the public. This show features garments from Elfriede’s collection over the years. Since 1974, Elfriede’s Fine Fabric shop in Boulder has been the Denver metro area’s go-to shop for elegant, high quality fabric and accessories. Elfriede has made an impact in the sewing and design community, beginning when she made two huge steps in her life that helped her share her knowledge and love for fibers. She left Germany in 1957 and changed her promising career as a PhD research Biologist to bring fiber arts to all those around. Her shop continues to maintain the hands-on and personal feel that it had in the beginning. Stop by and see this extraordinary collection by Elfriede.
July 14, 1-3pm: Meet and Greet Elfriede while visiting her exhibit at TACtile.
July 28 5:30-7:30: Members exclusive evening with Elfriede. Light catering and a presentation by Elfriede about her Life Journey with fabrics and fashion. Join to be a part of this exclusive evening.
- Call for Entry: Color Shock Fashion Show
§ Do you live for color?
§ Are you as inspired by the Yves Saint Laurent Retrospective at the Denver Art Museum as we are?
§ Does your creativity need a shock?
§ Are you inspired by bold, energetic, colors shown on the runways of Vivienne Westwood, Lois Vuitton, Prada, Diane Von Furstenberg and Yves Saint Laurent?
§ Then our Juried Color Shock Fashion Show is for you!
§ Enter your designs and let the world experience color through your eyes!
§ Open to Everyone!
§ Entries due Thursday July 26th by 6 pm
§ See website for entry details at tactilearts.org
§ Model Call – Friday, July 27th at 6 pm
August 11: Color Shock Fashion Show
Annual Fiber Frenzy
Call for Donations: Fabric and fiber arts related supplies welcome for tax deductible donation toward garage sale like venue Fiber Frenzy, September 29. Donations accepted end August-Sept 23.
August 23: FGI at TACtile with Elfriede
Call for Entry: Holiday Member Showcase Calling all fashion and craft designers for TACtile Holiday Sale to be held from November – January.
September 1-October 13: Studio Art Quilt Associates Regional Member Showcase
Fabulous classes offered in August:
Beginning Beading
with Susan Krof
Saturday 8/11/12 1pm – 3pm
Class Fee: $25 Member; $30 Non-Member
In this fun beginning beading class, you will have the opportunity to make a necklace, bracelet, and/or pair of earrings from jewelry kits of your choice. During class, we will assemble the kits and teach you how to make a simple loop, wrapped loop, and how to attach a crimp, and finishing techniques to create your own personalized wearable art. You will take home your new jewelry creation to keep or to give as a special gift.
Kit costs are in addition to the class fee. Please visit the Beading Friendsy website to view the kits available for purchase. Kits start at $10. Class participants will receive a 10% discount on kit purchases from the instructor in addition to other discounts and specials offered.
Once you have chosen your kits, please call or email the instructor with your choice at least one week prior to class. Please DO NOT order through the website.
Weave a Scarf: Introduction to Weaving
with Peg MacMorris
Sunday 8/5/12 10am – 12:30pm
Class Fee: $80 Member; $95 Non-Member
In this class, participants will learn the basics of weaving – terms and concepts AND leave the class with a completed project, a woven scarf. We will use rigid heddle looms (supplied) and learn to do all the set up required to begin weaving at the first session. Looms will go home with participants and at the second session we will learn finishing techniques and look at other kinds of looms. This is a good first class to explore weaving.
Kit Fee: Loom rental fee: $25 (plus credit card number required as a deposit on looms)
Marketing with Pizzazz for Artists
How to Find Your Place in the Market: Get Paid for your Creative Achievements
with Carol Naff
Saturday 8/25/12 1pm – 4pm
Class Fee: $35 Member; $45 Non-Member
You know that you’re a great artist, so why not let others know it as well? TACtile presents this special workshop specifically for artists who want to learn about marketing their businesses and getting results. This workshop will teach you how to identify the best low-cost marketing solutions for your business, avoid dead ends and pitfalls that waste your time and energy, and how to create and implemente a successful marketing plan that gets results!
More Rigid Heddle Weaving – Lace Techniques and Pick-Up Patterns
with Peg McMorris
Saturday 8/25/12, 10 am – 5pm
Member $60.00 Non-members $75.00
Weave a sampler full of ideas for new projects. Either morning or afternoon session may be taken separately and will cover different techniques.
In the morning, we will cover several finger-manipulated lace techniques – Leno, Brooks Bouquet, Danish Medallion, Spanish Lace
In the afternoon, the class will cover pickup techniques that open many possibilities for creating repeating patterns on the rigid heddle loom.
Our SewFA lounge is available by appointment only. Make an appointment with yourself at TACtile to be creative. Be sure to let TACtile know of your plans. Stop by and chat while you work on your project and make use of our equipment. Find people to bounce ideas off of, or just work somewhere other than your normal workspace.
$10/hour for Non-member
$5/hour with Student I.D.
$5/visit for Cotton, Wool, Linen Level Members
Free for Membership levels Silk and above
For more information on these classes, registration information and supplies needed, please log onto our website: tactilearts.org. and visit our blog at tactileartscenter.com
Elfriede Style: A Retrospective of Colorado Couture
Guest Blogger: Susan Froyd, Arts and Culture Editor at Westword. 2012 Westword MasterMind Dianne Denholm has presented exhibitions focusing on the fiber arts in nearly every aspect since opening the TACtile Textile Arts Center six years ago. But never before had she turned the magnifying glass on the fine art of dressmaking and couture, a subject that’s undergone a renaissance in Denver this spring, thanks to the Denver Art Museum’s Yves Saint Laurent block-buster.
Inspired by that show — and a little bit by her own past life as the owner 
of D’Lea’s fabric store in Cherry Creek North — Denholm decided to ask her former competitor, Boulderite Elfriede Gamow, if she might be willing to pull together some of her favorite pieces from over the years for an exhibition to dovetail with the last weeks of the YSL show.
The result is Colorado Couture: Past and Present, which pairs the elegant Gamow’s impeccably sewn garments with a sideshow of prototypes from up-and-coming Denver designer Fallene Wells’s 2013 fashion line. “I wanted to make it educational, so people could know how this is done,” Denholm explains. “This is high-end dressmaking techniques and fabrics we’re talking about, featuring clothing that Elfriede still wears now, which demonstrates their timelessness. The quote she gave us says it all: ‘I’ve always gone for the style rather than the fashion.’”
Colorado Couture continues through August 18 at TACtile, 1955 South Quince Street, Suite 200; an open house is being planned during its run, with details TBA. Admission is free; find information at TACtilearts.org or call 720-524-8886. — By Susan Froyd
Exhibit photos by Carol Naff
World Threads III pays homage to global fiber arts at TACtile Textile Arts Center
Earlier this month, I went to TACtile to capture the World Threads exhibit in photographs. Luckily, our intern from CSU, Kelly Phillips was there to assist me in taking the photos. These three images below capture just some of the beauty of the textile arts represented in the show. Our global talks on Saturday, May 26, feature:
11 am :: Cyndi Maupin, Entwined Artistry
2pm :: Maryanne Wise, Guatemala Rugs
Our exhibit closes at 5:00 on Saturday, the last day of World Threads III.
Featured in Westword, Susan Froyd wrote, One of TACtile Textile Arts Center’s most colorful exhibits is back: World Threads III: Preserving Textile Traditions, featuring — as in the past — a beautiful global palette of fiber-arts handiwork to both look at and to buy. Even more beautiful is the humanitarian purpose behind the show — to sustain traditional arts while supporting women artisans living in poverty and sometimes dire conditions.
This year’s show includes handcrafts — jewelry, weavings, baskets, embroidery, clothing and more — from sixteen nonprofit humanitarian groups working with artisans from Africa, Southeast Asia, Nepal, India, Peru, Guatemala, and other countries.
TACtile, led by director and 2012 Westword MasterMind Dianne Denholm, is also serving up an ongoing series of Global Talks by the various vendors on Saturdays for the duration of the show, which ends May 26.
TACtile is pleased to announce the opening on June 8th of two exhibits, Summer Daze and Colorado Couture: Past and Present. Follow this blog to learn more. Call 720.524.8886 and visit TACtileArts.org
photos by Carol Naff
TACtile Bonus at World Threads III
Fabulous “Global Talks” presented by social entrepreneurs whose products are part of the World Threads III Marketplace. Each Saturday meet them and learn about the creative textile artisans in developing countries.
Maya Cielo Dyer
May 5: 12 pm :: Charlotte Otto, Ten Thousand Villages
1 pm :: Patricia Stoddard, Ralli Quilts
2 pm :: Paula Carter, Egyptian Leather Importing
May 12: ($5 donation at the door)
Mother’s Saturday Tea celebrating mothers around the world
12pm :: Penny Webster, Woven Promises
1 pm :: Linda Stark & Marilyn Murphy, Cloth Roads
2 – 4 pm :: Creative Scarf Tying Demonstration – Eloise Wagers
May 19: 11 am :: Katrina Wert, A Little Something
12 pm :: Sen Nguyen, Bridging Hope
1 pm :: Marissa Saints, Dsenyo
May 26: 11 am :: Cyndi Maupin, Entwined Artistry
2pm :: Maryanne Wise, Guatemala Rugs
World Threads III, Preserving Textile Traditions Sale and Exhibit
TACtile Textile Arts Center presents its colorful 3rd annual World Threads III, Preserving Textile Traditions, to benefit the artists, co-operatives, and social enterprises that support preservation of the fiber arts around the world, Saturday, April 28 through Saturday, May 26, 2012. TACtile is pleased to be showing almost all vendors from previous years, plus several new ones. This gallery exhibit is free and open to the public, Tuesday – Saturday, 12:00 – 5:00 p.m. at 1955 S. Quince Street, Suite 200, Denver, CO 80231. Free Parking.
These festivities are planned throughout the month:
- World Chats: Each Saturday, April 28 through May 19 special presentations by the participating organizations about their textile artisan projects.
- April 27: Members opening reception 5– 7:00 p.m. with a world foods buffet sponsored by the TACtile Board of Directors.
- Periodic demonstrations of artisans using back strap looms.
- May 12: Special Mother’s Day World Tea, 2-5:00 pm
- Private collection Costumes & Textiles on exhibit.
Exhibit and Sale
World Threads III, Preserving Textile Traditions is both an exhibit and marketplace. The exhibit features regional collector costumes, textiles and objects from textile rich regions of the world. The marketplace is a colorful array of fashions, jewelry, crafts, basketry, embroidery, jewelry, gifts and home décor from artists in Africa, South and Central America, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. Sales from the month-long festivities strengthen TACtile and its global partners to sustain textile arts worldwide. The assistance leads to employment of women and youth to provide income, often used to attend school, provide jobs and raise their quality of life in their homelands.
Sixteen regionally based, humanitarian groups will have handcrafted fiber art from around the world for sale to support their work.
1. “A Little Something” a Denver refugee women’s craft cooperative
2. “Maya Cielo” supporting weaving coops in Guatemala
3. “Outreach Uganda” spotlighting Uganda
4. “Bridging Hope” supporting Vietnam & Cambodia
5. “Eternal Threads” supporting Nepal & Madagascar
6. Cloth Roads reaching 17 countries world-wide
7. “Tambani” preserves South African folklore by the Venda women
8. “Dsenyo” empowers Malawi women of Africa.
9. “Memsahib Mar” supports nomadic women in India
10. “Anoothi” helping Rajasthan, India & Vatsalyan street children
11. “Woven Promises” supports Ethiopia and Namibia.
12. “Annie O Boutique” representing Peru
13. “Silks & Stones” helping silk weaving coops in Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand.
14. “Entwined Artistry” silk makers in Cambodia
15. “Cultural Cloth” rug hookers in Guatemala
16. “One World Buttons” button makers from Armenia to Zimbabwe 9 countries
The Need As modern industrial products seep into rural village life, traditional textile arts become rare treasures made and worn only by the older skilled generation, often underappreciated by the younger. TACtile is dedicated to increasing textile art as a living art form throughout all generations. An important aspect to sustaining these beautiful arts is providing a market for them. Educating artisans to translate their skills to modern demand and educating audiences to find value in their human heritage happens with TACtile’s World Threads event. TACtile serves as an important channel to both groups.
In addition, younger generations are saved from leaving their families for poor or very dangerous working conditions and slave trades elsewhere.
Traditional Textiles Breed Quality Contemporary Textiles. Despite living in extreme poverty, artisans in developing countries create incredibly beautiful hand-woven silk, wool, linen, cotton and decorative textiles. They are made on primitive looms, with surfaces often covered with intricate hand embroidery and beadwork. Mud and natural dyes transcend through the cloth into fast paced lifestyles of American consumers, adding meaningful value to the wearer. Textile arts are the threads that keep us all connected across the planet.
Baskets, a functional necessity in the developing world, have become an art form using locally available materials, such as bamboo and recycled box straps. Basket making skills are translated to totes, backpacks and table décor.
Beadwork & Embroidery are an integral part of all cultures, used as body adornment or to embellish cloth. Beads in the show are made from all kinds of materials, including the popular hand rolled magazine paper to form beads in handbags and jewelry. Stitched embroidery motifs serve as humorous storytelling or elegant sophisticated cultural expression.
Local Economy Boost During economic conditions that require thoughtful use of consumer dollars, World Threads III provides products of need that have several layers of higher value. Local people are inspired to be creative themselves. There is a festive quality to buying things you need while also making far away communities happy, with a higher quality of life.
For more information, contact TACtile Textile Arts Center at info@tactilearts.org – 720-524.8886 and visit tactilearts.org
Fiber Forest by Westcliffe Contemporary Quilters and Fiber Artists
TACtile Textile Arts Center is pleased to feature the Fiber Forest exhibit by the
Westcliffe Contemporary Quilters and Fiber Artists
Enjoy a gentle walk through a Fantasy Fiber Forest of 18 types of trees that tell stories of hope, faith, healing, strength, mythology, poetry and joy. Each tree is a visual and tactile celebration of texture, color, and individuality using fabrics in the form of contemporary quilts. The trees are hanging in a maze from ceiling to floor at the TACtile Textile Arts Center gallery from February 16-March 31.
TACtile celebrates the deep roots that textile arts have in our state by giving visibility to so many branches of fiber arts guilds in our mountain, plains and urban communities. TACtile offers classes and events throughout the year in contemporary quilting and many other textile art disciplines.
The exhibit is free and open to the public. TACtile Winter Hours are Thursday – Saturday, 12noon – 5pm, Free parking. info@tactilearts.org At the JHB Button Warehouse, 1955 So. Quince #200, Denver 8023, near Quebec & Evans. TACtilearts.org
World Map Display and new winter hours
Pat Martinek (teacher of many classes at TACtile) has an amazing World map on display at TACtile for a short time.
Pat is a wonderful teacher and also the President of Handweavers Guild of Boulder. She has a delightful approach to the fiber culture, as a past geologist, dyer, spinner, weaver and really engaging personality.
She just did this amazing world map (takes up 2 tables) showing about 2 dozen animal fiber types, with pins and photos, and little felted animals pointing to all the different areas on the globe. It’s a wonderful educational display. We have it at TACtile for a little while. Come see it soon. Quite creatively done….
Also, TACtile just announced a change in hours. We’re doing Winter Hours: Noon-5 p.m., Thursday – Saturday. We’re taking some extra time to plan and strengthen our gallery exhibits and class programming for 2012. It’s our 5th year and we want to make it count!
