Arts Craft Arts

Showcasing Tradition, Innovation and Resilience in The Art of Fiber and Textile

Spring Landscape. Jo-Ann Jensen, artist

Ellen Bernstein, artist

Through Friday, February 21, the Art League of Henderson County presents The Art of Fiber and Textile, a group exhibition highlighting a diversity of materials and techniques, from felted sculptures to intricate embroidery. Located at The Art Place Gallery in Hendersonville, the exhibition opens with a reception on Saturday, February 1, from 2—4 p.m. Several of the artists featured in the exhibition are members of Local Cloth, a fiber art organization that recently faced devastating damage from Hurricane Helene but continues to champion this versatile medium.

For Tammy Miller, a multidisciplinary artist featured in the show, fiber art is deeply personal. “My art is a form of visual communication, a way for me to process and express what’s happening in my life,” she says. “The act of slow stitching is both meditative and joyful, allowing me to capture memories with images and stitches, each one representing a moment or feeling.” Miller’s work often combines painting and fiber. One of her pieces in the exhibition, a necklace, features her artwork printed on fabric and enhanced with vintage jewelry and beads.

Forest Edge Fox. Stephanie Williams, artist

Jo-Ann Jensen, another artist in the exhibition, uses fabric to craft vivid landscapes inspired by her imagination. “Each piece is constructed from dozens of hand-cut pieces of fabric, collected over decades of being a ‘fabric junkie,’” she says. Her process is akin to painting with fabric, layering cloth in a collaging technique. “The color and pattern of the cloth guide me through this process,” she says. “I know it’s done when I’ve fallen in love with it.”

Members of Local Cloth have found support and inspiration through opportunities such as these to show their work elsewhere as they rebuild. “It was tragic to see the damage to the Local Cloth building and inspiring to see how quickly they have cleaned up and are on the road to rebuilding,” says Miller. “Fiber art has its place in the art world and I believe that Local Cloth provides a valuable resource and avenue for fiber art and artists.”

The Art Place Gallery is located at 2021 Asheville Highway, Hendersonville. For more information, visit ArtLeagueHVL.org.

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