I just received this little book of stitchwork by 30
different artists who are “exploring the boundaries of stitched art”. It first caught my eye because of the unusual
cover … the arrow shape ends with a die-cut hole in the cover which reveals one
of the stitcheries contained in the book.
It’s a tantalizing taste of what lies within.
Jamie Chalmers (“Mr. X” of the U.K.) has curated this book
with an eye towards showcasing the cutting edge of stitchery and where it is going,
blurring the line between craft and art.
As a stitcher himself (and author of the blog,
Mr. X Stitch, Mr. Chalmers seems to
have the ability to seek out some of the most innovative stitchers I’ve seen in
a while. (As an art quilter myself, I
try to keep up with what’s new and exciting, but I had never heard of some of
these artists before … and they are well-worth hearing about.
Each artist is given
a generous 5 or 6 pages to showcase his or her work. Although most have chosen fabric as their
medium of choice, there are some unexpected and exciting alternative mediums to
see, too … such as Clyde Olliver’s work in stone, and Severija Incirauskaité-Kriauneviciené’s work in found metals.
Cayce Zavagla uses crewel embroidery to create masterly
images that rival oil-painted portraits.
The detailing is incredible, and I want to reach out and touch
them. Rosie James works in stitched
drawings, and her sketches in thread are vibrant and exciting.
There are artists who work in collage, illustration, vintage
linens, photography, reclaimed fabrics, paper, mixed media, old textbook images,
and found objects.
Alicia Ross uses a combination of the computerization of
sewing with pop art to create extremely unusual works that are impossible to
describe. She states that her work “examines
contradicting female roles and the simultaneous attraction and repulsion to
their objectification.” This is not
merely a lofty-sounding artist’s statement, it truly deserves further
investigation.
Of course, not every artist’s work is to my taste, nor will
it be to yours. But I find that I learn
something even from those whose work I dislike at first. Upon second or third examination, I can see “where
they are going”, and even tag along for a while.
William Schaff’s work in this book focuses on some bizarre
religious imagery that may shock some.
Aya Kakeda’s embroidery appears to be childlike and innocent at first,
but can turn out to be dark and violent upon closer inspection.
There is some beautiful and sweet embroidery, some complex
stitchery, some figural and some abstract artwork, and vibrant color alongside stark
black-and-white imagery. There is even
an installation artist included, Louise Riley.
One artist that I am familiar with is Jimmy McBride (USA),
who “works for an intergalactic shipping company”, and whose “views out my
window provide amazing inspirations for the quilts that I make.”
There’s no room to name all the artists and all their works …
needless to say, I can wholeheartedly recommend this little (about 7”x9” with 176 pages)
book. The photography is excellent, the
artists’ interviews are concise and clearly written, and I’m glad to have added
this one to my library. (I received this
book from the publisher (
www.larkcrafts.com)
for the purpose of an independent review.)
As always, I could wish for a larger size, but there is something to be
said for a smaller book, too, as it’s easier to tote around in my bag and share with friends.
