Because of Fashion Week the Textile Arts Center’s blog has been consumed with fashion. However, with our Grand Opening party quickly approaching and the opening of our first gallery exhibition, Cutting Edge: A Celebration of Fiber, it is time to get back to the forward-thinking art.  One artist whose work spans over the past 16 years immediately came to mind.

I came across Joana Vasconcelos one day when I googled fiber art.  One of the first pictures to pop up was a piece called Piano Dentelle (2008) which is a hand crochet piano and stool.  Of course I was immediately drawn to it being a woman of music.  It just looks so dainty, like those piano fortes that were used in the time of Mozart.  I just want to run my fingers across the ivory.

This artist doesn’t stop at just pianos; she covers literally every surface imaginable with beautiful crochet covers.  I wish I could put more of her beautiful snakes up on this, but I’ll leave a little mystery so you will go out and check out her amazing website.

(Yes, it is a urinal.)

Joana was born in Paris and now lives and works in Lisbon.  Her creative process is based on the appropriation, decontextualization, and subversion of pre-existent objects and everyday realities.  From this process she derives a conversation of contemporary idiosyncrasies: hand-crafted/industrial, private/public, tradition/modernity, and popular culture/erudite culture.

Her materials range all over the spectrum of materials, some materials you wouldn’t even suspect…like pots, zip-ties, and tampons.

Marilyn 2009 (Materials: Pots and Pot Lids)

The Bride 2001 (Material: Tampons)

Wives 2005 (Material: Zip Ties)

Sugar Baby 2010 (Materials: Plastic Sand Moulds, Stainless Steel)

Mr. Wine 2010 (Material: Wrought Iron)

And remember, the Textile Arts Center’s Grand Opening party and Cutting Edge:A Celebration of Fiber are both this Friday September 17th from 8pm-11pm.  Music, food, beer, wine, and great textile art.  (Suggested donation of $20.00)