Post Modern Era

 This week I will be looking at fiber art. Fiber art is defined as art made from fibers such as fabric or yarn. It generally prioritizes aesthetic value over utility.


One. Fiber artist is Nancy Young who lives in Maine. She originally got into braiding because it was a cost effective form of art through which she could also decorate her home. Now she inspires and teaches other people to braid.






These are two of Young's pieces. The first one is her first rug, and the second one is one she made many years later. In the first rug, there are lines of mostly solid color, while the second rug has more complicated color and shape patterns. Both rugs are made so that when you look at them from further away the blending makes it harder to see what colors are present, and how many in each band. The shapes of the second rug are also more complicated. In the first rug, each of the bands are made in an oval, while in the second rug, the center is circular, while moving out, the shape appears to be more straight to the left. 


Shannon Weber is another fiber artist from Oregon. For her art, she collects raw materials like kelp, burnt wood and rocks. This is a very different approach from Young, and results in unique pieces that she allows to take shape as she works. 





These are two pieces by Weber. Obviously they are a very different style to the rugs by Young. This is one of the things I appreciate about fiber art, is that with nearly endless material available, there are equally endless pieces to be created. These pieces are my favorites from this post, I enjoy art made from things people just happen to find. I feel like it adds an extra level of spontaneity to the work. These specific pieces are very 3D. The artist chose materials that can hold shape well. The spheres are also hollow which gives them a sense of fragility, meanwhile the same material used in the boat does not provoke that feeling. 

The last fiber artist I want to talk about is Ashley Blalock, she is from California and crochets many of her pieces. 



Ashley V. Blalock 20

Ashley V. Blalock 03

I wanted to talk about these pieces because I feel like they are opposites. In the first the dark color of the yarn against the dark background allows you to read the words crocheted into the piece. In the second piece however, the yarn is a very light pink which makes it nearly impossible to see the image woven into it. The light steaming through it allows you to see the image in the shadow, which I think is very clever. 

A central part of the post modern movement is the quest for a non traditional approach. This is really encapsulated with fiber art, with so many mediums and possibilities for what an artist can create.

References:

“Ashley Blalock.” California Fibers, www.californiafibers.com/ashleyblalock. Accessed 21 Nov. 2023.

Macchi, Christine. “Christine Macchi.” Fiber Folio, 31 May 2023, www.mainefiberfolio.com/her-life-in-braiding/#more-8413.

Shannon Weber, shannonweber.com/images.php. Accessed 21 Nov. 2023.

 












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