A Close Look at the Eye of the Needle Fiber Art Exhibition
by Terri Wells
The new exhibition at the Museum of Florida Art in DeLand, Florida, illustrates how far fiber arts have come in both beauty and respectability over the past few decades. Eye of the Needle displays work by three women: Katherine K. Allen, Eleanor A. McCain and Barbara W. Watler. All three artists use quilting techniques as a means to create works of art that are more at home on a gallery wall than a bed. At turns stunning, whimsical, and contemplative, the work of these women will leave you delighted.
Allen's works focus on nature. She starts with plain silk or cotton, and adds water-based pigments. She achieves an organic, growing look to her work in part by not planning her painting too carefully.
Her "August Moon" is a case in point. In shades of muted browns and yellows, she captures the mood of an evening at the end of summer, with grasses bent over in a gentle breeze. She builds up the color by screen printing in consecutive layers, which renders, in her own words, "a dense and complex surface." Allen often embroiders on the surface of her pictures, giving them even more depth and texture. Not all of her works are so somber; other works in the show (and many on her web site) show a more extensive use of color and even include animal images.
Eleanor A. McCain's work is impossible to miss; one of her nine patch color studies hangs on the first wall of the show, presenting visitors with an almost overwhelming assault of color.
McCain uses traditional patchwork and quilting techniques to make her statement. Clearly, this is not your grandmother's patchwork! Rather, McCain uses these traditional, even humble, methods to unleash her creativity and play with color on a large scale. Not all of her works are quite so loud; one piece in particular, a study in greens, is almost relaxing – rather like being surrounded by trees in the middle of summer. Those who love color will find it in abundance on McCain's web site, along with several image galleries displaying her color explorations on various themes.
Of the three artists represented, Barbara W. Watler presented both the greatest number of works and seemed to use the greatest variety of techniques. Several of her smaller works featured thread painting by machine to render trees in a forest; in one case, the trees appeared to be reflected in a river, thanks to judicious use of thread density. Fabric painting and reverse applique techniques featured prominently on her "Red Biolumninescence" and "Blue Bioluminescence" artworks, depicting bubbles of dancing color so lovely you're disappointed to see they're not for sale.
Watler ventures into whimsy – and three dimensions – with her depiction of beetles having chewed through a leaf. I've included a detail of the work here so you can better appreciate the amount of work that went into this piece.
Almost all of the pieces in the exhibition are for sale, and there are even works that the art lover on a budget can afford. Prices range from $100 all the way up to the high four figures. If you love fiber arts, or are simply looking for something visual to do in central Florida this exhibition is well worth a look.
Eye of the Needle continues at the Museum of Florida Art through August 23, 2009. The museum is located at 600 N. Woodland Blvd., DeLand, FL, 32720. You can call for hours and other details at (386) 734-4371. While you're there, don't forget to check out the museum's other exhibits, too.
photos by Philip Chien.
Links
Katherine K. Allen's website.
Eleanor A. McCain's website.
Barbara W. Watler's website.
Museum of Florida Art website.
About the author
Terri Wells has been a crafter for most of her life and a writer for nearly as long.
© 2009 neatinformation.com. All Rights Reserved.
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