Soulful Journeys at the Windsor Art Center

Soulful Journeys.  That's the name of the Connecticut Fiber Ats Collective's current art quilt exhibit, hanging at the Windsor Art Center until April 23, 2016.  The show takes its name from the nearby Connecticut River, which flows for several miles through the town of Windsor, bringing to mind a suggestion of journeys, both of the body and of the soul.

Here's the Connecticut Fiber Arts Collective in its glory.  From the left:  Christina Blais, Diane Cadrain, Wanda Seldon, Carol Vinick, Linda Martin, Antonia Torres and Roz Spann.  Missing from this photo are Connecticut Fiber Arts Collective members Carol Eaton, Mary Lachman, and Karen Loprete.

The opening reception for the show was on Saturday, March 12, and it attracted a crowd, as you'll see below.  But if you missed the reception, the show itself is still on view at the Windsor Art Center, 40n Mechanic St., Windsor, Connecticut, on Thursdays from 6 to 8pm, Saturdays from 10am to 4pm, and Sundays from 11am to 4pm.  And there are a number of other related activities on schedule, such as artist's talks, a workshop on fabric collage, and a workshop to construct a felted finger labyrinth.  More details on those events later.  Meanwhile, take a look at our happening reception!

Here's a sampling of the excited crowd we attracted

And here's our own Wanda Seldon, welcoming the crowd and thanking our sponsors, Cigna and Vantis Life.

All of the Connecticut Fiber Arts Collective artists contributed pieces which demonstrate their dedication to, and love of, creating art from fiber. 

For example, here's Carol Vinick, with her art quilt Roots and Wings, which visualizes the journey of raising her daughters, Tasha and Chris, giving the girls both roots and wings.  Carol poses here with her husband Tom and daughter Tasha.

Here's Diane Cadrain with her art quilt Buddhist Temple, an image of a temple called Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep, located in Chaing Mai, Thailand.  This piece reiterates the steps of the Buddhist eightfold path, a journey to enlightment.  Diane poses here with her daughters Lucia Rubin-Cadrain and Julia Cadrain.

Quite a crowd, no?

We members of the Connecticut Fiber Arts Collective have been together for five years, and Soulful Journeys is our fifteenth show.  

If you missed the reception, it's not too late to enjoy these related events:

Saturday, March 19 • 10am – 12 noon
Workshop: The Art of Fabric Collage 

Create original 8”X10” fabric
art pieces through instruction on the use of value, color, and design.
Workshop fee: $30; Materials fee: $5. RSVP at 860-688-2528.
 

Saturday, April 9 • 1 – 2pm
Artists Talk. Meet several of the exhibiting fiber artists and hear how
their work reflects their own life journeys. Free.

 
Saturday, April 16 • 10am – 12 noon
Workshop: Felted Labyrinth 

Create a felted finger labyrinth,
an effective meditation tool – both in creation and use, through
instruction on the technique of needle felting with wool roving.
Workshop fee: $30; Materials fee: $10. RSVP at 860-688-2528.
 

For more information, please call or visit www.windsorartcenter.org.

We of the Connecticut Fiber Arts Collective are very proud of our group's longevity, its track record of exhibitions...and most of all, of our growing skills and abilities, which enable us to express the spirits within us, and share them with you.

Come see our show at Suffield's Phelps-Hatheway house!

We members of the Connecticut Fiber Arts Collective:  We hang together.

Today, for example, we hung our latest show, Steeped in Stitches, at the barn of the Phelps-Hatheway house in Suffield, Connecticut, part of the weekend-long celebration known  as Suffield Days. 

The Phelps-Hatheway house is a gem of a historic property,

...and its barn is one enormous barn!

But you know what?  The Connecticut Fiber Arts Collective had more than enough pieces to fill it.  Most of us went home with unhung, unsung quilts in our cars.

I won't say it wasn't a lot of work.  We were there from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., pushing through without a break.

But what a show we put together!  Below is one example, Determination by Christina Blais.

Here's Coastal Heath by Diane Cadrain:

 And here's Spiraling out of Control by Mary Lachman.

We're hoping that lots of folks who come out to celebrate Suffield Days will stop into the barn and see our work, much of which is for sale.

The Connecticut Fiber Arts Collective:  We hang together!

SAQA Connecticut: Notes from CTFAC's Opening Reception at Hartford P...

SAQA Connecticut: Notes from CTFAC's Opening Reception at Hartford P...:   (Image: Roz Spann speaks to SAQA-CT members and guests about CTFAC and the Romare Bearden project) During our SAQA-CT regional meeting...

CTFAC Reception at the Hartford Public Library - Romare Bearden Exhibit

A wonderful crowd of enthusiastic art lovers turned out for the reception last Saturday at the Hartford Public Library. We had such a good time chatting with everyone!

A gallery adjacent the stairwell was perfect for many of the works but many more were displayed in the beautiful glass showcases in the hall adjacent the History Center.

Here we are from left to right: Mary Lachman, Carol R. Eaton, Edjohnetta Miller, Christina Blais, Linda Miller, Joe from HPL, Karen Loprete, Carol Vinick, Antonia Torres, Rosalind Spann

Karen Ruskin read her original poetry during the formal reception while Antonia Torres and Rosalind Spann looked on. 

CTFAC Fiber Art Reception - This Saturday, January 17, 2015

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