Detail of recycled fiber forms by Abigail Doan
Here is a sampling of images from the Vogue Knitting Live 'art gallery' this past weekend. My fiber forms were actually handled and touched a lot more than I was hoping for, but all in all, it was a positive experience. I just do not understand why folks cannot learn by looking rather than by handling. It is a curious thing. I guess that I should take it as a compliment that my pieces looked so tactile that touching seemed appropriate? Something to ponder.
I leave for Sofia today. NYC, I will miss you. Thank you for the injection of love and inspiration. See you when the sweet blossoms emerge and winter hibernation is complete.
(photos by Abigail Doan)
materials: old denim, dried grasses, recycled plastic bag 'plarn' from Eastern Bulgaria, textile scraps, hand-dyed wool, treats from Habu textiles, Japanese paper, seed pods, a lace making needle, beer tab, popsicle stick, silk cocoons, deflated party balloon found on the street, candy wrappers, paper ticket, recycled lace, vintage thread spools, linen cord.
2 comments:
I think it's interesting that you do not see how people would not want to touch your work, only look at it. I am also a textile artist and it is this part about the idea of work being in the gallery among other things that I have difficulty with. I consider myself a very tactile person and I think it has a lot to do with why I have became a textile artist. I learn and I come to understand through touch. I think that for viewers to want to touch your work is a great thing! It means that your work and pieces have made some kind of reaction in someone else, even if it is just curiosity.
Although I can also understand the fragile nature of textile and fibre pieces, and as the artist you would never want to see a viewer ruin your piece by handling it without being careful.
Thanks, Jessica. I agree with your points and completely understand why fiber art should ideally be tactile. The agreement, though, with this event is that it was a gallery space that was basically unattended so the work was not supposed to be handled.
In another circumstance, I would gladly have created sculptural work that was meant to be touched and enjoyed, but given that I could not be on-site for this event to engage with visitors, it was requested that the work not be handled. It was supposed to be a gallery and not an interactive installation. I look forward to creating new fiber/textile pieces that might embrace touch and exploration. In this instance, the work was just too fragile to be handled.
Thanks for reading and commenting ~ A.D.
Post a Comment