Getting ready for tonight's First Friday event at the Nelson Fine Art gallery. I'm adding a new product to my space there: Fiber Whimsies. The above is a shot of my coffee table this morning as I sipped tea, cut out cards, wrapped fibers and strung buttons.
I am completely in love with these little packets of artistic goodnes, but they take a LOT of time to produce. However, that only adds to their whimsy and makes them more valuable to the artists who will incorporate it into their work ...I like to think that it adds another layer of meaning to the final piece and creates a connection between the community of artists and of work.
Since selling my yarn at Artopia (the adjoining art supply shop), I've really started to look at yarn and fiber in a different light. It isn't just a tool nor is it just a pretty thing to collect (although it certainly is that)...it can be a layer of the finished piece. Choosing one yarn over another doesn't just change the drape or guage, it changes the meaning and personal value of the final piece. This change occurs when you choose an organic fiber over a petroleum product, making your piece a statement of your beliefs. But it also affects your work in smaller ways: when you use a skein you bought with your friends at a fiber festival, or one from your grandmother's stash.
This interaction between yarn maker and knitter/crocheter/weaver is what appeals to me about the history and culture of crafting. I could spin or dye yarn for myself, but I would miss out on seeing my yarn become a part of something bigger, something beyond what I could imagine. In this way, I'm joining in, becoming part of the culture and contributing to it.
And if your in East Tennessee, come see me tonight, between 7-9pm, as I share our culture with the masses and give a spinning demonstration at the Nelson Fine Art Gallery.
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