Synchronicity at Highwire

Presented in conjunction with Fiber Philadelphia

Show dates: March 30th – April 27th, 2012

Artists Reception: Saturday, March 31st, 5-9pm

First Friday: April 6th, 5-9pm

                                                                                          graphic design: karen j cooper

Row 1: Karen J Cooper, Patty Hawkins, Jill Rumoshosky Werner, Marilyn Henrion

Row 2: Natalya Aikens, Susan Webb Lee, Jette Clover

Row 3: Rayna Gillman, Dominie Nash, Melissa Maddonni Haims, Sharon M W Bass

 

Curated by Karen J Cooper, Synchronicity brings 11 national and internationally recognized textile artists to Fishtown’s Highwire Gallery.  Synchronicity will be presented in conjunction with Fiber Philadelphia, the city-wide biennial of textile arts, with over 40 participating galleries, museums and universities; as well as the annual meetings of the Studio Art Quilters Association and the Surface Design Association.  You are invited to join us at Highwire to see what meanings and patterns emerge among this unique group of artists.

Select Excerpts from the Artists’ Statements

Natalya Aikens: My art is deeply rooted in my heritage.  The Russian fairy tales, folklore and decorative traditions are intermingled with imagery of my beloved city of St. Petersburg. 

Sharon M W Bass: Poppies are among my regular subjects.  I am always moved by their color and form.  And, I am moved by their symbolic use: the remembrance of those who have died in wartime.  It is a sad, long, continuous line of soldiers from Flanders Field of WWI to the present.  In this piece, I wanted to remember all the soldiers who sacrificed for their country, for its citizens, for me.

Patty Hawkins: I am constantly amazed at the wabi sabi, beauty of imperfection, in the Aspen tree bark, often marked/scratched by elk antlers and bears clawing, and amazing ‘eye’ imagery where branches have broken off.  The forests longevity gives me a feeling of rootedness.  The foliage in Fall is a stunning golden yellow, most striking visually against the deep green of Evergreen trees. 

Marilyn Henrion: As a native New Yorker, I created this series of works to represent my personal take on the city, revealing its soft side, with unexpected visual treats lurking around every corner.  Once Gotham’s hard, unyielding surfaces are peeled back, the beautiful and complex patina of each facade is illuminated. 

Jette Clover: I was a journalist before I became an artist, and language and communication continue to be my major source of inspiration.  I like words and letters both because of their graphic quality and because of their ability to convey meaning.  

 

Karen J Cooper is a textile artist, currently residing and working in Fishtown, Philadelphia.  Images of her work can be seen at www.tincturestudio.com.