Snyderman's 5th International Fiber Biennial

Just before my plane left Philadelphia, I got over to Snyderman Gallery to see their 5th International Fiber Biennial and was glad I did. They have a great cd catalog for only 7.50, so I've been able review the artists and their statements now that I'm home. The show had lots of great work, and here's some artists who made me take a second look.

Ed Bing Lee's Hamburger is made of thousands of knots marks..."the beginning of a series of 'sculptured' food images. I have elected to start with the Burger and Hot Dog because they are so ubiquitous; because they are the quintessential icons of Americana, socially, economically and philosophically; and because they are so whimsical."

Photos don't do justice to the beauty of Karin Birch's framed embroidery pieces. She definately takes embroidery to a new level.

Shizuko Kimura does these amazingly delicate drawings from live models with thread, paper and fabric.

I've always loved Kay Kahn's quilted vessels. She starts with words from a fragmented dialogue combined with allusions to ancient Greek amphorae and the classical frieze, but places her human figures into contemporary life. I think it is exceptional to have a mastery over so many things -- color, three-dimensional form, and imagery. This is the first time I've read her artist statement, which included a section on how she works:

"My vessels are basically quilted, but I approach quilting from a different point of view from other artists. I quilt first, using the layered structure of quilting to make a thick, yet malleable material to use for construction and as a strong background for my imagery. As I work to build up the surface, I am looking for a complexity of color, composition and idea, using fabric and stitching techniques to achieve this goal. I stitch as if I am drawing, overlapping layers of lines, and I use applique to make large blocks of color and shape. I work the imagery on flat panels, then construct the three dimensional forms in a technique similar to slab building in ceramic sculpture except, of course, I am lacing up the edges with thread."

Cereal Boxes by Bird Ross, another artist who intrigues me. I love her artist's statement:

"Wear what you like and like what you wear! In my most recent explorations of constructing jewelry from reclaimed materials, I combine the unexpected with the unusable, the marvelous with the mundane, and the precious with the passed-over.

It is important to play when you can because tomorrow...you may have an appointment."