WARNING:::This post contains a dangerous dose of Inspiration! A little over a week ago I returned from TSA Crosscurrents, where I spent a week fully emersed in all kind of fiber goodness. The Textile Society of America conference is held every other year and when I heard they were going to be hosted by SCAD (my Alma Mater) I was quick sign up! I had to find a way to justify this trip since I no longer “work” in the textile field so I offered to volunteer. But any of you who know me have seen that my passion for fibers and textiles is life lasting and not going anywhere!
In conjunction with this Conference, SCAD put together several incredible Exhibitions including this work at the SCAD museum, If We Must Die by Ebony G Patterson (above) and Guests, Stranger and Interlopers by Subodh Gupta (below).
My former textile professor, Pamela Wiley had an incredible one-woman show, Now the Once with her stunningly surface embellished quilts (though I hate to even put them into a category)…works below.
This conference gave me the opportunity to personally meet (and Hang out with!) textile and fiber mentor’s such as Yoshiko Wada, Catharine Ellis, Roland Ricketts and Ana Lisa Headsrom. I have looked to these women’s blogs, artwork, books, DVD’s and more for both inspiration and knowledge over the many years since I stepped foot on this creative path. Yoshiko curated the show Arimatsu to Africa, a stunning sampling of shibori!
Arimatsu to Africa:Shibori Trade, Techniques and Patterns
And Catharine curated Indigo and Beyond including incredible examples of contemporary works in fiber and indigo.
Indigo and Beyond
And, there were even more Exhibitions (5-6) showcasing innovative contemporary textile work!
TSA 2016 Exhibition Works
Beyond the visual delights that seemed to be everywhere I turned, my head was spinning! The session panelists were all foremost curators, experts, archivists, researchers and educators in the museum and education fields. I was both out of my element and totally in it! Have you ever experienced that? I was especially interested in panel’s having anything to do with indigo, natural dye, archiving, organizing, legacy of artists…and I was so excited to learn resources (which I will be sharing in future posts) where my art and organizing worlds overlap!
My final treat of the week was returning to Ossabaw Island to assist Donna Hardy with a fresh leaf indigo workshop. Despite the horrid mosquito’s and the storm damage from Matthew, the weather and workshop were unforgettable as always (do GO if you ever have a chance-next year hopefully).
Sea Island-Ossabaw Indigo Workshop
Feeling so blessed to be able to schedule this time out! Having been a part of TSA helps me feel like I am still connected to the textile and fibers world (which I am locally as well) and gives me a sense of perspective and excitement for my ideas and what’s happening in “the field”!
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Thank you, Heather! You were a life saver for me!
What spectacular images capturing an inspiring event! Thank you Heather!