Sarah Swett ~ Slow Literature: Story Telling in Tapestry

On Sunday, May 9, 2010 we will welcome nationally recognized tapestry weaver Sarah Swett as she presents a special program beginning at 7:30 p.m. in Bellingham, WA.

Sarah isn't bound by one medium, she explores them all ~ tapestry weaving, knitting, painting, writing. As a creative woman in the 21st century, Ms. Swett allows each artistic form to influence the other when communicating her work's many themes and stories. Her writing influences her painting: her painting influences her tapestry design.

By intertwining many methods of creative expression, Sarah shares her enthusiasm for her work, "The design worth pursuing is not a design at all, but love made manifest in color, texture, image. It is a second captured in cloth, an unfolding story, a small miracle..(My) work infiltrates my dreams, builds my biceps, thrills me to the bone and drives me to tears."

Sarah Swett's May 9th program is open to the public and will be held at the YWCA located at 1026 N. Forest St. Bellingham, WA. Admission: $5.00 suggested donation to the YWCA. Whatcom Guild members are free.

Toby Smith shares her Textile Travels ~

Guild members were enthusiastically treated when fellow member Toby Smith shared a remarkable presentation on her travels to three different countries: Hungary, Norway, and India.

Sadly, she only brought enough images to fill a couple of hours ~ we wanted MORE! Most members would have stayed all night to see the glorious colors, textiles, and images.

Toby brought examples of her travel journals that she makes by hand and fills as she sees the world (examples below).

Detailed sketches, notations about patterns, and design plans fill each book like recipes for future project.

Toby translates the images from her travels into her work. Below are beautiful textiles she has created using the many colors and motifs from the countries she visits.

Hungary was the first place she took us in her presentation. She talked about the places she visited, the people she met, and the rich material history.

Color, texture, pattern, design, and the vibrant culture of Hungary showed through in every image.

We left Hungary for Norway and experienced weaving classes right with Toby.

More color, textiles, and fiber from beautiful Norway.

Oh my gosh, then she took us to India ~ now we are talking REAL color. Toby told us that the radiating color is a stark contrast to the dry and dusty natural world of neutral tones. Yet, she said, people paint their surroundings in intense color ~ doors, walls, even the elephants are painted in color.

The looms, the stitching, the dyeing ~ she showed it all being done by hand in India.

Stunning, incredibly stunning. Thank you so much Toby for the journey into the world of textiles.

Linda Rees and her Tapestry

We were so lucky to have former member and tapestry artist Linda Rees visit the guild in March to share her work and stories with us.  Linda has been a force within a number of local, regional, and national arts groups over the years.  With exhibits, tapestri es, and books under her belt, it is exciting to know that she will showing in the area this fall. 

Linda will be participating in a exhibit at the La Conner Quilt & Textile Museum in La Conner, Washington opening on September 29.  The exhibit called Constructed Inquiries will run through the end of 2010.

Visit the museum’s website for more information.  Also, so there will be Linda Rees website (www.lindarees.com) ~ keep an eye out to see when it goes live.

Above is a photo of one of Linda’s past exhibits in Eugene, Oregon.