ARTICLE

CYBER FYBER, an international exhibition of fiber arts created by Internet connected textile artists, opens at Gallery 80808/Vista Studios on Thursday, January 8, 2009 and runs through January 20th. An opening reception will be held on Friday, January 9 from 5 – 9 PM. The gallery is located at 808 Lady Street in downtown Columbia, South Carolina.

The art show is divided into two areas: the work of seventeen invited, international fiber artists and hundreds of fiber cards traded with other textile enthusiasts from over twenty-six countries and 46 states.

The invitational art show will include art quilts by Jacqueline de Jong of the Netherlands and Dijanne Cevaal of Australia as well as wall pieces by the internationally recognized author Maggie Grey of Great Britain. Most of the work is quite contemporary, including embellished or machine felted work by Beate Knappe of Germany; fiber paper quilts by Nikki Wheeler of Washington; beading by Veleta Staffney of Oregon; and experimental techniques by Lynda Monk of England. Susan Lenz, a Columbia based fiber artist whose work will also be included in the exhibition, selected the international roster carefully. Each invited artist represents a unique benefit of Internet communication within in the global community of likeminded fiber artists.

Arlee Barr of Canada was selected for her remote, Canadian location. Arlee’s connection to the larger art world is completely on-line. Susan Lenz also selected her sister Wanda Lenz who lives in Munich, Germany. They are able to share their embroideries through blogging. Internet exposure broadens any artist’s experiences and ideas. For that reason, Jill Rumoshosky Werner’s three dimensional art quilts were selected. Susan Lenz explains, “Jill’s approach to artmaking is so unlike mine that I am always inspired. Her blog and website challenge my way of viewing fiber arts. Jill is exceptionally strong on art concepts and she has influenced me by her willingness to share her experiences on-line.”

Educational opportunities foster interconnectivity in the fiber arts world. Sharon Boggon of Australia has initiated several free on-line fiber challenges including “Take a Stitch Tuesday”. Each week a stitch was introduced and hundreds of artists participated in the lessons, including Emmy Schoonbeek of the Netherlands. Emmy turned her year of stitches into a one-of-a-kind fiber book. This book and work by Sharon Boggan will be included in CYBER FYBER.

Susan Sorrell of Greenville will also have works in the show. She teaches on-line classes. Dale Rollerson of Perth, Australia teaches on-line too. The work she is sending for the January show also represents some of the contemporary materials available through Internet shopping. Dale and her husband Ian own and operate The Thread Studio, an international supplier for today’s contemporary fiber artists.

Penny Sisto, who was born on the Orkney Islands but now lives in Indiana, stays in communication with other fiber artists through her website and is sending two art quilts from her Slavery Series including “Flying In A Pink Dress” and “Strange Fruit VI”. Connie Stubison of Oregon works primarily in paper but incorporates textiles and has created a unique artist book, Flower Child, for this exhibition. Annica Lindsten represents another wonderful aspect to Internet communication. Her blog promoted last August’s Swedish Embroidery Symposium. Susan Lenz accepted her invitation to attend and brought an on-line relationship into a real, international fiber experience. Annica is unable to come to the USA but her work is!

Doreen Grey and her granddaughter Ebony of Australia will have work at CYBER FYBER, including Ebony’s first quilt. The eleven-year-old represents the future of contemporary textiles. She is being taught at her grandmother’s side, which is also in front of a computer screen.

In order to include as many fiber artists as possible in the exhibition, Susan Lenz created hundreds of fiber cards, which were traded internationally. Postcards and small, Artist Trading Cards (ATCs) came from all over the United States, England, Scotland, Wales, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Poland, Germany, France, Italy, Cyprus, India, Japan, South Africa, Israel, Malawi, Romania, Canada, and the Netherlands. CYBER FYBER will have Internet access in order for viewers to leave comments for each of these talented fiber artists.

On Saturday, January 10 CYBER FYBER is partnering with Creative Sewing of West Columbia for “Fiber Day”. From 10 – 4 there will be on going sewing and embellishing demonstrations, guest speakers, and show-and-tell opportunities. On Saturday, January 17 from 1 – 4 CYBER FYBER is holding ATC Day. For more information, please contact Susan Lenz at (803) 254-0842 or http://cyberfyberexhibition.blogspot.com.