Connecticut Fiber Arts Collective Honors Romare Bearden at the Hartford Public Library

Art, History and Social Activism: CtFAC Honors Romare Bearden

Date: On display December 17, 2014-March 13, 2015
Location: Downtown Library 3rd Floor Gallery

In honor of the recent arrival of two spectacular Romare Bearden murals at Hartford Public Library, The Connecticut Fiber Arts Collective (CtFAC) presents a special exhibit that pays homage to the stylistic works of Bearden, his commitment to civil rights and his contributions to the African-American jazz and art communities. CtFAC has created a collection of works in textiles, fiber, mixed media and surface design celebrating and recognizing one of the greatest visual artists of the 20th century.

A special reception to meet the artists of CtFAC will be held on January 17, 2015, 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. in the 3^rd floor Hartford History Center. This event is free and open to the public. - See more at: http://www.hplct.org/classes-seminars-exhibits#sthash.ehzy0RMn.dpuf

Hartford Public Libarary 500 Main Street Hartford, CT 06103 (860)695-6300 Mon - Thurs 10 am - 8 pm Fri & Sat 10 am - 5 pm Sun (Nov - Apr) 1 pm - 5pm

- See more at: http://www.hplct.org/locations-hours/downtown#sthash.L1TX4i4T.dpuf

CTFAC Saturday Workshop with Susan Carlson

The Connecticut Fiber Arts Collective hosted Susan Carlson Saturday for a workshop to learn her technique of fabric collage. We had an amazing day of creative thinking and visual inspiration. Here are a few photos. 

You might also like to visit Susan Carlson's website 

Susan Carlson

Getting started 

Turtle - Susan's design

Turtle enhanced

Susan's son Sam in Fabric

Gearing Up for 2015 - Romare Bearden

I will let you in on a little secret.
The Connecticut Fiber Arts Collective is gearing up for a show (details to be announced later) inspired by the life and collages of artist ---

Bearden was born in 1911 to parents who were active in the Harlem community. Through his parents, Bearden met writers, artists and musicians of the Harlem Renaissance who later became major influences on his art and life. While studying mathematics at New York University, Bearden created editorial drawings for the Baltimore Afro American, Colliers and The Saturday Evening Post. 

He later enrolled at the Art Students League in New York where he was encouraged to incorporate social and political commentary into his art.

After serving in the military and studying philosophy in Paris, Bearden returned to New York where he worked as a caseworker at the Department of Social Services and painted in his spare time.

In 1963 Bearden formed the Spiral Group, composed of African American artists who sought to make a contribution to the civil rights movement.

It was during this time that Bearden, who previously had worked mostly with paints, developed his collage technique.

In this technique, which was considered radical at the time, Bearden would create photomontages out of clippings from popular magazines, black and white photographs and pieces from his own art. He would then photographically enlarge the collages. Bearden chose a variety of subjects, ranging from the cotton fields of the South to the streets of Harlem and jazz clubs. This new collage technique, which he called "photomontage projections," represented a stylistic breakthrough, which Bearden continued to refine until his death in 1988. 

http://youtu.be/de_mmwpA0ZY

http://youtu.be/YzHYnIWg5V0

These links will provide a little background information on the artist and you might also be inspired to create!

"Jazz Tones" and "Things That Go" at CT DOT

Members of the Connecticut Fiber Arts Collective (CTFAC)  met Saturday at the General Store in Seymour, CT for a breakfast meeting.

"Jazz Tones" and "Things That Go" are on exhibit at the Connecticut Department of Transportation through October 23, 2014.  There areplenty of new works in both shows.

This exhibit will be open during DOT building hours.

Woody Sez

Hanging Crew - Linda Martin, Diane Cadrain, Carol Vinick, and Antonia Torres

The new exhibit 'Woody Sez' is now up at Theater Works in Hartford through September 14, 2014.

The artwork in this show was inspired by the songs and life of Woody Guthrie.

Theater Works

233 Pearl Street 

Hartford, CT 

The gallery is open when the box office is open. 

Connecticut Fiber Arts Collective Surface Design Workshop with Carol R. Eaton

Saturday we were the honored guests of Carol R. Eaton http://www.carolreatondesigns.blogspot.com

for hand-dyeing, painting, stamping, and sunprint fabric workshop. What an amazing day! We had a blast. Here are some photos. 

Receiving instructions from Carol

Linda Miller with the beginnings of a landscape.

Carol in full regalia

Antonia Torres with a stenciled design

Karen Loprete with the beginnings of some happy flowers

Fiber Art Demystified

Check out the Greater Hartford Arts Council Blog and the interviews with some of the CTFAC members regarding the "Jazz Tones" exhibit at 100 Pearl Street Gallery.

Here's the link: http://bit.ly/1qQNG42

CTFAC "Jazz Tones" - 100 Pearl Street Gallery - Hartford, CT

Thanks to everyone who turned out to make the CTFAC reception a HUGE success last Thursday at 100 Pearl Street Gallery in Hartford. 

Remember the exhibit continues through August 31st so there is still time to catch it!

Rosalind Spann and her artwork

EdJohnetta Miller stands beside her art quilt. Thank you EdJohnetta!

Diane Cadrain and her art

Antonia Torres, Karen Loprete, Jose Feliciano,Diane Cadrain, Rosalind Spann

Attendees chatting with CTFAC members

Wanda Seldon

Rosalind Spann talks with Antonia Torres about her process. 

"Jazz Tones" through August 23rd at 100 Pearl Street, Hartford, CT

"Jazz Tones" at The 100 Pearl Street in Hartford

The CTFAC members have stepped up the game this month with the opening of "Jazz Tones" a new exhibit that opened June 15th at The 100 Pearl Street Gallery in Hartford.

CTFAC is honored to feature works by the internationally-known, Ed Johnetta Miller,  in this show.

The opening reception is Thursday, June 26, 2014 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at The 100 Pearl Street Gallery.  The exhibit continues through August 23, 2014.  https://letsgoarts.org/gallery

CTFAC Reception at the Norfolk Public Library

Rosalind Spann and her bass 

Yesterday was the perfect day to be in Norfolk, Connecticut for the opening reception of the new CTFAC exhibit, "Northwest Corner". 

Unfortunately several of our members were unable to attend due to prior committments out of town.

Nevertheless we are thrilled to be in the Norfolk Public Library http://norfolklibrary.org this month and want to thank everyone who came out to see us and our art. 

Several CTFAC members had created artwork honoring local sites in Litchfield, Connecticut.  Christina Blais even recreated Infinity Hall in fiber!

We hope you have a chance to see the exhibit which is open through May 28th. Check the library website for directions and hours. 

Left to right, front: Karen Loprete, Antonia Torres
Back row: Rosalind Spann, Christina Blais, Diane Cadrain, Carol Vinick

"Northwest Corner" by CTFAC - Opening in May at Norfolk Library

A new exhibit by the members of CTFAC will open the first weekend of May at the Norfolk Public Library in Norfolk, CT.  Check back for additional details.

"Spring Thaw" Opens at Duncaster in Bloomfield

The Connecticut Fiber Arts Collective exhibit "Spring Thaw" at the Duncaster Center in Bloomfield is open now through March 28, 2014.

What a lovely venue. We were literally wined and dined by the art committee and entire Duncaster community. Here are some pictures from the opening reception.

"Fishing Season 2" by Rosalind Spann

"Donna's Iris" by Carol Eaton

"Geraniums" by Christina Blais

"Vintage Garden" by Karen Loprete

"Acadia" Grey Challenge by Carol R. Eaton

"Sand Ripples" by Diane Cadrain

"And This Tree Doesn't Grow in Brooklyn", Grey Challenge by Wanda Seldon

"Roses and Old Lace" by Mary Lachman

Antonia Torres, Carol Vinick, and Mary Lachman listening to audience questions during the gallery talk. 

Rosalind Spann and Carol Vinick in gallery talk 

Spring Thaw

An art quilt by Carol Vinick

This weekend a new exhibit of art quilts by members of the Connecticut Fiber Arts Collective will open at the Duncaster Retirement Center in Bloomfield, CT.

In addition to spring-themed quilted wall hangings the group will present the Grey Matter Challenge in its first public showing. Each member of CTFAC received a small packet of grey fabrics and was asked to use at least 2 of the fabrics in a small open-themed art quilt. Finished pieces were then mounted on 11"x14" stretched canvas.

The opening reception is Sunday, March 2, 2014 from 4:00-5:30 p.m. Three members (Carol Vinick, Christina Blais, and Diane Cadrain) will be presenting gallery talks and other members of CTFAC will be available to answer questions about their work and inspirations.

I hope you can join us at the reception.

Duncaster Retirement Center
40 Loeffler Road
Bloomfield, CT 06002
http://duncaster.org

"Spring Garden" by Mary Lachman

CTFAC reveals The Grey Matter Challenge

Recently the members of CTFAC met for our monthly meeting at a local cafe. After the business was sorted out we revealed our completed Grey Matter Challenge pieces to one another. This challenge was posed early last summer when each member was given a paper bag containing several strips of grey hued commercial cotton and asked to create a small art quilt using at least 2 of the fabrics.

As always, because CTFAC is composed of such a diverse group of talented individuals, the reveal was exciting and the quilts were all very different from one another.  Some members added beads and paint, others used tulle to create shadows and water effects. Everyone added their own distinct pattern of stitching to the pieces.

Rosalind Spann's Grey Matter

Christina Blais

Karen Loprete

Carol Vinick

Carol Eaton's work with Antonia Torres looking on

The assemblage, lower right work of Mary Lachman

All of the Grey Matter Challenge pieces will be exhibited at our next show at the Duncaster Center in Bloomfield next month. The "Spring Thaw" exhibit will be at the Duncaster March 1 to March 28, 2014. The opening reception is Sunday, March 2nd from 4:00-5:30 p.m.

CTFAC members in 2014 from left to right and first row to second: Antonia Torres, Diane Cadrain, Karen Loprete, Christina Blais, Wanda Seldon, Carol Vinick, Carol R. Eaton, Mary Lachman, Rosalind Spann