mercredi 11 juin 2014

Fiber Art Quilts Offer New Forms Of Expression

By Sally Delacruz


A quilt has been an popular item for many years as a bed covering and the art of making these items was prevalent in the 1960s and 1970s. Fiber art quilts are different from the traditional quilt. They are not intended to be useful but to have aesthetic value. Instead of lying at the foot of a bed, they are made to be hung on walls and admired.

There are artists who still use many of the techniques they learned from quilting. However, they have adapted them and departed from tradition, treating the quilt more like a blank canvas for expressing creativity. The variety of techniques, fabrics and threads available inspired their creativity, moving them into a more free flowing expression. They moved beyond the rules governing traditional quilting, giving rise to a new medium altogether.

There pieces are intended to take their place alongside other forms of art displayed in houses and galleries. They are not bed coverings any more. Artists often have all sorts of ways of handling the fiber they use. They tear, stamp, dye and paint until they are satisfied with the result. Colors, textures and shapes are used in arresting new ways.

In the past, a quilt was stitched in a certain way so as to keep the layers together. With this new form of art, stitches have much more than a purely practical function. The variety of threads available make it possible to use them to add all sorts of color, texture and shine. There are also many techniques used for stitching such as embroidery, knitting and weaving.

Many of these artists receive their inspiration from nature. Some autumn leaves, a sunset, a walk on the beach and many other simple aspects of nature can be interpreted in such a piece. The variety of styles is vast, from representational to abstract and impressionistic. A simple idea or a concept can be a catalyst for a design.

The finish on such a quilt intended for hanging is often a question for debate by the artist. There are those that feel that framing such a piece actually detracts from its appeal whilst others feel a piece is often more likely to sell if it is framed in some way. Artists may even be involved in the hanging process once a work is sold as this has to be done correctly to avoid any damage.

Prices of these items can be fairly high as many hours of work and lots of materials go into each piece. The number of hours taken to design and execute the piece plays a large part in the price. The materials used is another factor taken into account as well as whether the piece is framed. A price per square foot is usually arrived at after all factors have been considered.

Each piece is unique, with different techniques and materials being used to execute the. Artists sometimes battle to obtain recognition for this type of work as art rather craft. This can be frustrating for artists who make these pieces to be admired aesthetically and expect them to be regarded in the same way as any other art form.




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