Good Work May Day Event: Fiber Bracelets for Iran

Recycled fiber, threads, and yarn strands with environmental art 

by Atefeh Khas and the Iranian New Art Collective as inspiration

I was thrilled to participate in Good Work's May Day celebration at the Textile Arts Center this past Sunday. My afternoon workshop was an occasion to craft fiber 'peace' bracelets to be exchanged with Atefeh Khas and Tara Goodarzy, Iranian environmental fiber artists who I have collaborated with in the past. The goal was to create a kit of braided bracelets that I will send to Iran in exchange for the contribution that these artists made to my exhibit, (Re)Fashioning Fiber, in NYC last May.

Braiding of fiber bracelets with imagery from Iranian artist friends

Participants sharing stories and a love of fiber at the 'Good Work' workshop

Natural dyes provided by jewelry designer, Erin Considine

Prepping the dye vats before immersing the bracelets

Plant dyed fiber bracelets drying in my studio

(These were left over bracelets made by the Iranian artists, 

dyed with natural plant dyes in Brooklyn this past Sunday)

'Good Work' worktable at the end of the afternoon.
These braided designs will be added to the dyed kit
of bracelets that I will send to Iran

Photos of the final mailing kit to be sent to Iran will be posted soon. I will also be returning Atefeh and Tara's 'fiber nets' after photographing them in Central Park. I want to extend a special thank you to Dr. Ahmad Nadalian, teacher and mentor to a whole generation of environmental artists in Iran. His work at the Paradise Art Center in Polour is where many of these artists have found a safe sanctuary to work and explore their ideas. He has been a great art friend and collaborator for the past several years. Congratulations also to Tali Weinberg, curator of 'Good Work', for an exceptional textile show and community building experience.

*all photos by Abigail Doan

Fashioning Self and the Environment for Earth Day

Mosstika's installation of live succulents (Edina Tokodi/József Vályi-Tóth)

I am excited that things are coming together so organically for the Earth Day open house that I am organizing at the Textile Arts Center in Brooklyn. This evening event will take place from 6pm to 9pm on Friday, April 22, 2011, and the range of projects and activities to be shared will include a spectrum of ideas related to fashioning self, fiber, textiles, and craft in environmental outreach. Refreshments and organic treats will also be provided.

Eko-Lab's A/W 2011 Collection

The current list of artist/designer participants is as follows: 


Susan Benarcik, Meiling Chen (Fearless Dreamer), Abigail Doan, Daria Dorosh, Xing-Zhen Chung-Hilyard and Melissa Kirgan of Eko-Lab, Ceca Georgieva, Titania Inglis, Anjelika Krishna (a.d.o. clothing), Renata Mann, Rachel Miller, Eve Mosher, Shannon South (reMade USA), Study NY with Awamaki Lab, Edina Tokodi (Mosstika), Tali Weinberg, and Zoe Sheehan Saldana.


Please RSVP at rsvp@textileartscenter.com 

'Life Jackets' filled with boyant milkweed fiber 

(image courtesy of Zoe Sheehan Saldana)

(Re)Fashioning Fiber with Atefeh Khas, Tara Goodarzy, and Persian New Arts

'Mashalak Jangel' (photograph by Rahele Zomorrodinia)

(photograph by Rahele Zomorrodinia)

(photograph by Rahele Zomorrodinia)

I am thrilled to have Iranian fiber/environmental artists, Atefeh Khas and Tara Goodarzy, participating in the upcoming exhibit that I am curating, (Re)Fashioning Fiber at Greenspaces NY.

Portuguese Castle/Hormoz Island, Iran (photograph by Rahele Zomorrodinia)

I have been in touch with Atefeh over the past year or more - thanks to another outstanding Iranian environmental artist, Dr. Ahmad Nadalian at the Paradise Art Center in Polour, Iran. Atefeh and Tara have particpated in a wave of environmental art festivals in Iran (organized by Nadalian) as well as being founding members of The Persian New Art Collective. I also featured Atefeh and Tara's fiber 'peace bracelets' on Ecco*Eco in March.

Fiber installation in progress on Hormoz Island, Iran (photograph by Rahele Zomorrodinia)

Environmental fiber installation on Hormoz Island, Iran (photograph by Sharnaz Zarkesh)

Fiber installation at Orumieh Lake/Tabriz, Iran (photograph by Sharnaz Zarkesh)

These exquisite images really speak for themselves, and this for me, is the beauty of the site-specific, eco-crafting work that Atefeh, Tara, and their contemporaries collaborate on. Even though Iran is worlds away, these green forests, distant shores, and ancient salt lakes seem like they are all glistening and spun from the same elements and fiber as ours.

(Re)Fashioning Fiber opens on May 20 in NYC.

(Re)Fashioning Fiber with the Women of Iran

photo by Shahnaz Zarkesh

Beautiful, handcrafted fiber 'peace bracelets' being distributed by Iranian artists, Atefeh Khas and Tara Goodarzy.

photo by Shahnaz Zarkesh

Atefeh and Tara have been reviving the domestic arts of their grandmothers and mothers via eco crafting initiatives meant to promote community building and environmental awareness. They are also part of the Iranian/Persian New Art Collective.

photo by Rahele Zomorrodinia

Atefeh Khas and Tara Goodarzy will participate in the upcoming group exhibition that I am curating for GreenSpaces NY in TriBeCa called (Re)Fashioning Fiber. Details to come.

You can also read more about my involvement with the Paradise Art Center in Polour, Iran here.

Knitted Knotted Netted Opening

Hunterdon Art Museum exterior in October 2009

'Knitted, Knotted, Netted' curated by Hildreth York

Pat Hickman video, 'The Gates' (1991-1994)

Ann Coddington Rast's 'Longing' installation

Work by Pat Hickman (foreground) and Karen Ciaramella (background)

Work by Pat Hickman (foreground) and Ann Coddington Rast (background)

Karen Ciaramella's wool forms/installation

Karen Ciaramella's 'Divine Goddess'

Carol D. Westfall's 'This Crowded Planet' series

Carol D. Westfall's 'This Crowded Planet' (detail)

Abigail Doan 'Fiber Flotsam' series (foreground) and Leslie Pontz crochet wire sculpture (background)

Abigail Doan 'Fiber Flotsam' series (foreground) and Leslie Pontz crochet wire sculpture (background)

Ruth Marshall's 'Coral Snake Series'

A special thanks to Knitted, Knotted, Netted's curator Hildreth York for her vision and unique way of allowing artists to come together to weave a greater collective story.

Curator Hildreth York presenting in front of work by Norma Minkowitz

Aziumth: Writing on Walls at THE LAND

Azimuth: Writing on Walls
June 6 - July 17, 2009
Opening reception June 6, 6-9 pm

A text-environment based on a free renga by poet/writer, Miriam Sagan, and fourteen other poets at THE LAND/an art site gallery in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Miriam Sagan is the author of more than twenty books, including the recent Map of the Lost from University of New Mexico Press. Beginning with excerpts from poetry she wrote during her residency at THE LAND/an art site, she created this gallery-sized, collaborative poem with JB Bryan, Paula Castillo, Abigail Doan, Ephia, Dale Harris, Phyllis Hoge, J. A. Lee, Sabra Moore, Terry Mulert, Steve Peters, Suzanne Sbarge, John Tritica, Stefi Weisburd and Mera Wolf.