threads and nets and wires...knitting a life

As Libbie Soffer's work in ars domestica continues to question the threads of relationship and women's work through the ages...

Carolyn Halliday's work picks up the thread and makes it hard and soft at once, knitting in copper wire of various guages, entangling nature and definitions of body and self. Carolyn will lead a dialog with Libbie Soffer on Friday, May 20, around 7pm, as part of the Mending Circle Soiree that begins at 5pm.

Carolyn will open My Father's Religion on June 17, shown in conjunction with:

GREET SARA CHRISTENSEN BLAIR

RECEPTION FOR SARA CHRISTENSEN BLAIR

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1-3PM

I have the unexpected pleasure of meeting Sara Christensen Blair this weekend, and so will you!

Sara is one of the artists represented in UNCOMMON TEXTILES which runs through February 27. She will be in town to deliver work to the Textile Center and graciously consented to spending the afternoon with us! COME BY AND MEET HER! TEA and TREATS will be served;-)

While you are here, check out the hand felted art and artyarn of Rachel Starr Suntop.

Emily's Windows!

Emily Hertle is a lovely young woman who is graduating from Perpich High School ( the arts high school) today and will be attending the College of Visual Arts in the Fall. She came over before the graduation ceremonies to install her window.

Do drive or walk by. It is lovely.


Artist Statement
Emily Hertle



While making garments I became aware of a pattern among my work, and
would describe my ideas as having three levels: the material, the
garments relationship with the body, and documentation. While
preparing for this show I developed a goal of looking at the world
through an artistic lens. I recently took that into a literal sense
and picked up a camera. I decided to direct a photo shoot for each
garment, To do this I brought together two friends to do modeling
and makeup. The pictures taken then became the background, all of the
sites are on the PCAE campus and either reflect inspiration or the
material used in the garment.

Natural Skin
Japanese rice paper, cattails

Oak Leaves Refined
Dyed abaca

Drink the Rainbow
Plastic drinking straws and wrappers, tulle

Jon in the Venice Biennale!

I just received an email from Jon Coffelt who had the show COMMUNION here in the gallery. A piece of cyberspace art that he collaborated on has been accepted in the Venice Biennale http://biennale.net/ in the Padiglione Pavilion. http://padiglioneinternet.com/

Jon says,
""Wikipedia Art" http://wikipediaart.org/ and http://wikipediaart.org/brief-history/ originators Nathaniel Stern and Scott Kildall conceived the project and Brian Sherwin, Patrick Lichty and myself worked through the specifics of how this would work on Wikipedia. I published the original piece on Wikipedia for the guys and we all fleshed it out over many hours before it received an AfD (article for deletion). Since that time there has been many articles that have talked about the controversy and the hypocrisy behind it. We have been working on this project for some time now."

"Wikipedia Art" http://wikipediaart.org/wiki/index.php?title=Wikipedia_Art

The Controversy http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia_Art_controversy

other related articles:
FaceBook http://www.facebook.com/n/?group.php&gid=75066111912&aref=18815168
What is Wikipedia Art? http://thewhole9.com/blogs/applestooranges/2009/02/14/what-is-wikipedia-art/

Darn cool? yes?

I dreamed a parade!

I dreamed that all the little clothes, worn by their original owners, lined the street in front of the gallery, smiling and waving at the passing cars. They were so pleased!

Wonderful Stuff!

COMMUNION opened Saturday, April 18, with a shared meal and a wonderful discussion about art and fashion among Jon Coffelt, Carolyn G. Halliday, Kathleen Richert and Betsy Dollar.
Issues of identity and the stories we tell with our clothes were discussed.
I love the shadows cast by the little clothes!
Jon told the individual stories of many of the hand stitched clothes...like the story of Marlee; the story of the prom dress; the story of Ruth Bernhard's memorial to Stonewall; the story of Matushka's mastectomy dress designed by Versace; The soldier PJs that memorialized the "last camping trip." And so many more.

Installtion of COMMUNION has begun

Reader's Art 9 is packed and ready to ship next week. People came to see the show right up to the past possible minute. Some people called after the show closed, too late. It seems that the show built a stronger word of mouth following this year.

COMMUNION by Jon Coffelt has arrived and is being installed.



Don't forget the opening events on Saturday, April 18, starting at 5:30 pm.

Soldier PJ's

200
These were Jon's pajamas when he was 6 years old. Before the time of Disney and Warner Brothers cartoon characters, boys were limited cowboys, toy soldiers and the occasional deer. Jon loved his soldier pjs dearly. Speaking of deer, his family went on a camping trip and had to take their pjs with them. It rained the whole way there and since they were pulling a boat behind the car everything in the boat became very wet. Once they set up the tent his mom thought is would be a good idea to try to dry out their clothes on the grill. For whatever reason, she chose to dry out Jon's flannel red housecoat with the deer heads first. Almost immediately they caught on fire. Luckily his soldier pajamas weren’t harmed at the time. Incidentally, after this horror and Jon's crying for a solid hour, his family decided to call it quits in the middle of the night and head home. They were tired, sad, broken hearted and very damp. It was their first and last camping trip as a family. Memories, memories.
2006

Don't forget! Reader's Art ends April 15, whether you have filed your taxes or not! Call to see the show! The gallery is open Mondays and I am here most of the other times as well...just call to make sure I do not have an off-campus meeting.

COMMUNION preview

45
Juliet Blacksher, a dear friend of Jon's found out he collected antique fabrics. When she saw this 1930's silkscreen print, she bought all she could and had him make this miniature from some of it. The print is almost cubist with a 50's flair. Jon thinks artists take cues from fabrics more often than we want to imagine.
1998

COMMUNION and LAMENT

Reader's Art ends April 15TH. Call for an appointment. COMMUNION by Jon Coffelt opens with lots of events April 18. Stay Tuned for details. Meanwhile, preview the waxing and waning shows below.

40
This large gingham pattern blouse is a early piece from Lily Pulitzer. It is so typical of its time with its loose fit to be used as a coverup as much as a blouse. It was bought in 1956 when Jon's mom was only seven years old.
1996

LAMENT by John J. Hensel
Beautifully drawn, Hensel developed a difficult, thought provoking story of survival. What would you do to survive? And how would you process the moral questions presented by the situation? The character in this tale must consider those questions.

Newsletter available in pdf form

The Susan Hensel Gallery emails out a newsletter on no schedule in particular. I seem to write one when the news reaches a critical mass: That time is now! If you want to receive the newsletter before anyone else, get on the email list. Otherwise, click here to download the newletter in pdf. form.

Miniatures and more miniatures

Another miniature book with money issues:
36 Ways to Lose Money by Anne Alexander.

And now, more previews of COMMUNION by Jon Coffelt
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This is the chronological first piece Jon did for Shawn after he wore the shirt almost completely out. Jon decided to miniaturize this 100% linen original as a keepsake for him. If you get to notice, on the back is the actual front pocket of the original shirt. Jon no longer leaves complete parts intact but does continue to utilize existing hemlines and other parts like the points of collars and significant detailing as much as possible.
1993

By the way, you can now download a Susan Hensel Gallery brochure in pdf form.

An Early Shirt

Reader's Art continues to have visitors. Tara O'Brien's bookis especially popular right now, what with all the economic news! My response is,"Who knew fine binding could be made so small?" It even have leather doublures!

In other news, I just learned Friday, that Jon Coffelt will be coming out from New York for the opening of Communion, barring family emergencies .
Today we begin showing you a few of the miniatures that Jon Coffelt will be bringing here in April.17
Interestingly, Jon Coffelt was able to see the selvage on this particular original and found out that it was made in 1952. He actually made two shirts from this garment. The other has long sleeves for whatever reason. Both are 100% screen-printed cotton. This example has a button-down collar.
1997