Adirondack Fabric & Fiber Arts Festival - 09/16/2011

Fabulous fibers and regional artists are featured at this celebration of spinning, weaving, quilting, knitting, knotting and all fiber arts.

Get ready for fall and the holidays with demonstrations, displays, presentations, music, and fiber items for sale. DEMONSTRATIONS 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Art Quilt with Adirondack Regional Textile Artists Alliance Adirondack Regional Textile Artists Alliance (ARTAA) was formed in 2005 by six women who wanted to share ideas and broaden their awareness of the art quilt and how it both resembles and differs from the traditional quilt. Group membership quickly grew to over 20 members. Most members belong to one or more local quilt guilds in which the primary focus is traditional quilts. And, while most continue to make traditional quilts for family and friends, they've come together from varied backgrounds to explore new things. ARTAA members embrace the principles of the world of fine art - design, color theory, harmony, etc. - and look for ways to incorporate them into their textile work. Each member has her own approach to the quilt medium and engages in an on-going process of learning and experimenting to find what works best. Twice-monthly group meetings in Saratoga Springs serve as a place to share works and ideas, learn from each other, and receive constructive feedback. ARTAA first exhibited as a group in 2006 at the invitation of the Widlund Gallery, Tannery Pond Community Center, in North Creek. Membership in ARTAA is by invitation only. ARTAA members enjoy the small size of the group, have no plans to expand it at this time, and encourage others to form similar groups. Basket Making with Flo Hoppe Flo Hoppe accidentally fell into basket making in the early 70s when she picked up some reed and a small basketry booklet from her mother's basement. Since that time she has become an accomplished basket maker as well as teacher and writer. She has taught all over the US and abroad: Canada, Japan, Russia, England, and Australia. She has been writing articles for fiber arts publications since the 1980s and published her first book on basketry design and technique, Wicker Basketry in 1989. A second book, Contemporary Wicker Basketry, followed eight years later. Flo has also co-authored a book with Vladimir Yarish, a Russian basket maker, entitled Plaited Basketry with Birch Bark. Flo's true interest lies in the finer points of technique, color patterning, and surface decoration. She is always trying to find new ways to execute a base or border or handle, or to create different textures with unusual weaves and colors. A trip to Japan in 1994 to study with master basket makers led her to try embroidery techniques which create multiple layers of color and texture. Bobbin Lace with Judy Anderson and Holly Van Sciver Judy Anderson is a member of the Finger Lakes Lace Guild and the New England Lace Guild. As a member of both guilds, as well as the national organization - IOLI (International Old Lacers, Inc.), Judy is fortunate to have taken classes and seminars with teachers from all over the world. She recently returned from the national convention in Bethesda, MD where she studied a contemporary free lace for four days with Ulrike Voelcker, a very talented bobbin lace designer from Germany. Judy practices and studies British bobbin laces - Bucks Point, Bedfordshire, and Honiton - with Holly Van Sciver in Ithaca, NY. She also enjoys working contemporary interpretations of traditional laces; especially working Milanese lace with colored silk threads. Judy describes bobbin lace as a rewarding hobby that offers unlimited opportunities to demonstrate creativity and workmanship. Judy is also an avid knitter; lace knitting being her favorite. Several of her designs have been published in recent issues of Knitter's Magazine, as well as other XRX publications. She has also designed for several independent yarn producers. Holly has been a student and teacher of lacemaking for over 37 years. Originally trained in England, she specializes in teaching the 19th century English laces. She has taught and lectured in the United States, Canada and Europe for the International Old Lacers, regional lace guilds, national lace conferences, museums, historical societies, universities and professional organizations. Holly is a leader in teaching the fundamentals underlying lacemaking theory and design. She is the founder of the Finger Lakes Lace Guild and owner of Van Sciver Bobbin Lace, which has served to promote lacemaking worldwide since 1981. Mixed-Media Textile Arts and Quilting with Louisa Woodworth Louisa Austin Woodworth creates unique mixed media textile art. Louisa learned at an early age how to sew from her mother. She was never satisfied with "run of the mill" patterns and quilt designs and was always adding something different to make them unique. Over the years she has experimented with many art mediums and techniques. Through all of that, her mixed media textile art has evolved. The medium allows her unlimited freedom of design and expression. Louisa is a founding member of the the Long Lake Artisan's Cooperative and a sixth generation Adirondack Long Lake native. Artistic minds and influence have been in her heritage since the first Austin immigrant from England; a tailor by trade. One of the first settlers of Long Lake, William Austin, is credited with sharing ideas and patterns with Mitchell Sabattis in developing the first guide boat. Every generation since has included boat builders, guides, sportsmen and carpenter. Her appreciation and love of Adirondack history is the basis and inspiration for her work. Louisa's pieces are ever-evolving as she is constantly learning and incorporating new ideas and techniques into her work. Quilting with Northern Needles Northern Needles is a community-based needlework group which meets twice a month in Long Lake, NY. The purpose of Northern Needles is to foster a congenial atmosphere where members and visitors may gather and socialize, as well as educate, learn and perform any needlework desired. Although the original members were quilters, people who enjoy any type of needlework are welcome to join. Northern Needles takes on at least one community project each year. Over the years they have donated many items for the benefit of those in need. Such projects have included: teddy bears for the Long Lake rescue squad to use with children; wheelchair/walker bags for nursing home residents; lap quilts for Alzheimer's patients; and clothing for premature newborns. The group hosts its own quilt show bi-annually in August, at the Long Lake Town Hall. Northern Needles was featured in the June 2004 issue of Adirondack Life magazine. They also are pleased to display quilts and perform demonstrations at the Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts and the Adirondack Museum, both in Blue Mountain Lake. Rug Hooking with the Country Ruggers Members of the Country Ruggers, based at the Providence town hall in Saratoga County, will be shoiwng a wide variety of traditional hooked ruges both professionally and personally designed. Rust hooking, traditionally done useing burlap feed sacks and clothing scraps, will be demonstrated by Sue Wemple, Sukretta Seastrom, JoAnn Hipp, Donna Erickson, and Edna Bixby. Wool Arts with Serendipity Spinners The Serendipity Spinners - a "loosely knit" group of women who have been spinning together for many years - will demonstrate the various aspects of wool processing. INSTALLATION PIECE Crocheted SUV Cover by Jerilea Zempel Jerilea Zempel is a visual artist and art activist who has taught studio classes in visual thinking, drawing, color, sculpture and art and politics at Fordham since 1984. Originally trained as an art historian (Pennsylvania State University, B.A. & M.A.), she did curatorial work at the M.I.T.'s Hayden Gallery, now the Vera List Center, where she organized a pioneering exhibition, Images of The Feminine in the Belle Epoque. Later, on the staff of the New York Cultural Center, she designed the catalog for the show, Robert Smithson: Drawings. After receiving her MFA in sculpture from Columbia University she designed stage properties for Ping Chong and the Fuji Company and Meridith Monk/The House. She has won grants for her own art practice from The National Endowment for the Arts, the New York Foundation, the Middle Atlantic Arts Foundation, CEC Arts Link, and the Gunk Foundation. She has done public art projects in Battery Park, Kenmare Square, Snug Harbor, Prospect Park and City Hall Park in New York City, Art Park in Lewiston, NY, Cazenovia, New York, Utica, New York, Fairmount Park in Philadelphia, the Atlanta Arts Festival, and in New Castle, England, Canterbury, England, St Catherines, Ontario, Canada, and Poznan, Poland. She has had solo shows in New York City, upstate New York, Hartford Conn, and Burlington Vermont. Her most recent pubic project, a crocheted cover for an SUV, made for a Canadian Cultural Capital Festival in Sackville, New Brunswick, landed her on the Colbert Report in December, 2008. This car cozy has had an afterlife at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin on Earth Day, 2010 and will reappear at the train station in Saranac Lake, New York for a Hobo Festival on Labor Day, 2010, and the Fabric and Fiber Arts Festival at the Adirondack Museum. DISPLAYS AND EXHIBITS Third Annual Great Adirondack Quilt Show Special display of quilts inspired by or used in the Adirondacks. Common Threads: 150 Years of Adirondack Quilts and Comforters & Quilt Trail Don't miss this fiber fabulous exhibit featuring more than 30 historic and contemporary quilts! Pick up a quilt trail guide and see additional quilts displayed throughout the museum. Yarn Bombing: An Explosion of Fiber! Enjoy a variety of yarn Installations, or yarn bombings, displayed throughout the museum campus during the Fabric and Fiber Arts Festival. Yarnbombing is a type of street art that is usually found in urban areas. The museum asked regional fiber guilds and artists to "bomb" more utiliarian parts of the museum in celebration of the fiber arts and to showcase how traditional crafts like knitting and crocheting are being applied in new ways in the 21st century. PRESENTATION "Weaving Through History" with Hallie Bond and Rabbit Goody Auditorium 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. Hear about the history and tradition of weaving. TEXTILE APPRAISALS Textile Appraisals with Rabbit Goody Visitor Center 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Don't miss the chance to discover more about your own antique and collectible fabric pieces with textile appraiser Rabbit Goody. VENDOR FAIR Browse and buy from a small group of talented North Country fiber artists. 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Main Campus and Marion River Carry Pavilion HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES Recycled Rugs Help us braid strips of blue jeans into a floor rug and placemats for the Little Log Cabin and make a coaster for home from recycled tee-shirts. Knit-In This year's Fiber Fest at the Adirondack Museum will include an afternoon Knit-In hosted by Carol Wilson. This will be an opportunity for knitters to work on a project in the company of other knitting enthusiasts, and to exchange tips with other participants about how to tackle tricky techniques. Knitters are highly encouraged to bring finished projects to display, as well as works in progress. MUSIC Enjoy fiddle and guitar music by talented musicians Doug Moody and John Kribs. Doug Moody is fiddler extraordinaire and a fly rod maker. Doug also known as "The Fishin' Musician" is a freelance musician, playing violin and singing with many regional and international acts, including the McKrells and Steam Donkey. A one-time Suzuki kid, Moody went on to become the "only Bebop fiddler" at the University of Buffalo. As a professional Cane Rod maker with over 20 years experience, his rods are highly prized for their superior craftsmanship and their lively action. A passion for Adirondack small stream fishing led him to create unique rods for local waters and form his company, Bark Eater Bamboo in 2006. John Kribs is an instrumentalist, singer and songwriter whose talents have garnered 35 years of critical acclaim. Johns' songs have been used on National Public Radio's 'Car Talk' and published by CBS and Boptalk Music. An accomplished guitarist, John is equally at ease on fretless bass, mandolin, and banjo. His voice has been described by reviewers as "clear," "smooth," "haunting" and "captivating." During his long career John has served as opening act for such artists as Arlo Guthrie, The J. Geils Band, James Cotton, Joe Cocker, Jorma Kaukonen, Robert Cray, Chubby Checker, John Hammond, Henny Youngman, Dave VonRonk, Sha Na Na, Johnny Copeland, Norman Blake, Sam Bush, The Clancy Brothers and others. He has performed in Denmark and Norway as well as throughout the US and Canada. John continues to perform with both The Racquette River Rounders as well as Johnny and the Triumphs. You can also see him with dobro wizard Kevin Maul and the mysterious The Von Bulows. We also have a weekend full of workshops planned. Come for the Festival and stay Sunday, September 18 to take part in one of these unique classes: Mixed Media Techniques for Textile Art Workshop Casey's Poppy Art Quilt Workshop Rug Hooking Workshop: The Basics and Beyond