Planning for 2021

 

Yes, planning for next year is a positive way to end this horrible year, I guess. I have a few things in the works to look forward to and hope will be able to take place. It's an understatement to say that everyone is getting fatigued with stress and anxiety about when--or even whether--this pandemic will begin to ease up. That's not even taking into account the people who've gotten the virus, some being extremely ill and many others dying. The toll it's taken on families and communities is impossible to understand yet. I'll surely be in line for vaccination as soon as I'm eligible. And that probably won't happen anytime soon. So I'll continue to use safe practices including wearing masks when out, in fact, not going out very much, washing my hands frequently, and trying to not be part of the problem. 

 So... now some positive planning thoughts! Here's a new item based on my book, The Nature of Things: Essays of a Tapestry Weaver. The University of North Georgia Press has used images from the book to create a planner for 2021. It's just now been release by the press and is available at several booksellers, including Amazon and Barnes & Noble.  I haven't seen the planner yet but here's a screen shot from the Barnes & Noble listing:

For the book, I was recently interviewed by Ariana Adams, an intern with the University of North Georgia Press via zoom. The transcript of the interview is now posted at the UNG Press website at this link. 

One of the goals I've had for 2020 was to complete a "major" tapestry. I've woven several small tapestries in this year and worked long and hard on a larger one that I'd started in late December of 2019. I finally cut that one off the loom in its unfinished state a couple of months ago because I just didn't have the heart to continue it. It had gotten its start during some troubling times and continued as the pandemic began it's deadly march around the world. After struggling to find the desire to keep on with the piece but neglecting to work on it for weeks on end I made the decision to take the scissors to the warp and release it from its (and my) misery. I might eventually mount the piece in some way as a record of one more 2020 disaster--but maybe not. Right now it's hanging in my studio as a reminder of what wasn't to be.

After looking at the empty warp ends hanging down on the loom for several weeks I decided to retie them and start another piece. The width of the warp is 24" and I knew there was enough length remaining to weave something about 36" high. One of the small designs I've had around for a few years was what I selected for the cartoon. After blowing the image up to the size needed I started the tapestry using wool from natural dyes, some of the remaining skeins from the earlier workshop at the Folk School in October. I dyed several more skeins to be sure there would be enough of the yellows and golden colors needed and got underway with the tapestry in early November.

There have been a few things taking me away for several days since beginning the tapestry but it looks like I'll actually be able to finish it THIS year! And maybe even in a couple of days.  Here are a two  photos of the piece in progress. First, one from a few days ago and the last one taken as I left the studio yesterday. I'll post the completed tapestry sometime soon.

Happy planning for a better 2021 to one and all!

 

 

A New Day Arrives--exhibit and a book signing

 

The new days after the election are dawning with continuing upheaval and uncertainty of when this will come to an end. With votes counted, results announced--and in spite of continuing push-back from the current administration--history was indeed made as the first woman vice president-elect for the nation was selected. Now, let's hope for the best through the next fifty-nine days. And for all of the days to come after Inauguration Day.

Now, on to other news!

My exhibit at the Hambidge Weave Shed Gallery has been extended until December 19. I did a book signing on November 19 between 2 and 5:30 p.m. With masks and safe distancing, of course! The gallery is a large, open room and I didn't have hoards of visitors but there were a few. It was really nice to see old friends and to know that a few more books were sold. The gallery has a small sales area with lots of wonderful pottery and some of my niece's stuffed creations. There are a few of my books remaining and there are books written by other Hambidge Fellows, as well.

 A few photos of the gallery with my work installed:

And, happily I'm weaving again on something larger than a teeny tapestry. I'm using natural dyed wool and a wool warp. The image is based on a mixed media collage I made a few years ago. The working title is "Memories of Ferns"--that might change later but right now it seems appropriate.

More about The Nature of Things

 November 3, 2020--a day of reflection and hope. I think back to this blog post from four years ago. I was right... it was a historic day.

November 3, 2020 is important also for being the launch date for Rebecca Mezoff's new book, The Art of Tapestry Weaving: A Complete Guide to Mastering the Techniques for Making Images with Yarn. It's going to be a tremendous addition to the tapestry literature, joining several books published this year.  My copy should be here soon--but I've also gotten a Kindle version so I can already dig in! It's a beautiful book. 

Rebecca wrote the foreword for the book about design for tapestry I have coming out next May, Tapestry Design Basics and Beyond: Planning and Weaving with Confidence. I think both books will complement each other well.

Here are three other tapestry books published this year--with my book stacked along side them! Just wish the physical version of Rebecca's book was here so I could slip it into place with these.

Links to these books are:

Micala Sidore, The Art is the Cloth:How to Look at and Understand Tapestries

Jean Pierre Larochette and Yadin Larochette, Anatomy of a Tapestry: Techniques, Materials, Care

Mary Zicafoose, Ikat: The Essential Handbook to Weaving with Resists

There's another book that I haven't gotten yet and that will be a great addition. It's How to Weave a Navajo Rug and Other Lessons from Spider Woman, by Lynda Teller Pete and Barbara Teller Ornelas.

I also wanted to post a link to videos of presentations made possible by the Damascus Fiber Arts School in Oregon. You can read about the idea for these presentations at their website here. I'm happy to have been part of the series on October 27 when I discussed my book. 

One of the things that this pandemic has done is made it possible to share in this zoom-y kind of way. Of course, watching a talk online isn't as good as seeing it in person. But, the advantage is that everyone with internet access anywhere in the world can take part! So... is this a great example of making lemonade from lemons? I think so!

 Thank you, Terry Olson, for inviting me to be part of the programs provided through Damascus Fiber Arts School. I'm enjoying each of the presentations several times over.

Now... back to setting up my tapestry loom. The best distraction one can have on this distractible day.

The Nature of Things: Essays of a Tapestry Weaver

 

The book I've worked on for almost three years was released on September 15. It really was several decades in the making as I've traveled through a career in visual art and teaching. 

 There was a virtual book launch done on the release day, thanks to the University of North Georgia Press. Here's a link to a video of that. I also had a book signing at John C. Campbell Folk School during the week I was there teaching in the Traditional Craft Mentorship Program. Here's a blog post from the Folk School about that.

I'll be speaking (virtually, of course) about my book to a couple of groups in the upcoming weeks. I'm happy to be able to be talking to people about my journey in art making--just wish more of it could be happening in person! But I'll take what I can get. 

I'm grateful for those who've written about my book for their blogs recently. Links to those are with their names: Molly Elkind, Rebecca Mezoff, and Kennita Tully.

The Nature of Things is available at Bookshop, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and in limited numbers through the John C. Campbell Folk School Craft Shop and the Hambidge Center Weave Shed Gallery. Also, check with local independent book sellers to see if they can order the book for you!

Times continue to be challenging in so many ways. I'm grateful to have been part of the Traditional Craft Mentorship Program that the Folk School was able to hold. It was limited in participation, each of the three studio areas (music, weaving, basketmaking) had only three students and they were on campus for a month; instructors changed weekly. Here's more about the program, one that was made possible by a generous grant. It introduced young, early-mid career artists and musicians to the wonderful school and I know that all of them will carry what they learned there forward to many others for years to come. The second session of the program will begin on October 25.

News about the next book? Tapestry Design Basics and Beyond: A Guide to Planning and Weaving with Confidence is well underway and should be released by Schiffer in May of 2021. 

 

Tough times continue

Update to this post: A scholarship has been established at the University of North Georgia as a memorial to Mike Stapleton, who served as the Chief of Police at UNG for over a decade. To honor his dedication and service this scholarship is being created. The fundraising to kick this off starts NOW! Here's the link to the Mike Stapleton Memorial Scholarship

 

 

The year 2020 has brought one sad day after another. The pandemic doesn't seem to be any closer to ending. And yet some endings have come. A long hard battle closed for sister's husband in July.

Mike fought hard against glioblastoma for almost two years. In that time he underwent surgery and other therapies. He kept his dignity and strength as his time came to a close. His family surrounded him with care and love in his last days as he spent them at home. He will be dearly missed by his friends, his family, and the community of law enforcement he served throughout his career.

Rest in the peace you deserve, Mike Stapleton.