The Texture of Now

FIBERART INTERNATIONAL 2010, the 20^th juried exhibition of the best in contemporary fiber art, will be in Pittsburgh April 16 through August 22, 2010 at two locations – Pittsburgh Center for the Arts and the Society for Contemporary Craft.

Produced by the Fiberarts Guild of Pittsburgh, inc., the triennial exhibition features 87 works, 24 of which are by artists living outside the US.  Countries represented include Australia, Canada, Chile, China, France, Germany, Israel, Japan, Korea, Norway, the Netherlands, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.  A total of 1,685 pieces were submitted for jurying.

The selected artists employed a dazzling variety of techniques, often in a single work.  Many combine traditional techniques such as embroidery, quilting, or weaving with laminating, plant dyeing, digital printing, and burning.  Materials range from linen, wool, and silk to plastic bags, cable ties, and X-rays.

This year’s jurors include Vibeke Riisberg, textile designer, artist, and Associate Professor at the Designskolen, Kolding, Denmark; Rebecca A.T. Stevens, author, frequent juror, and Consulting Curator, Contemporary Textiles at The Textile Museum, Washington, D.C.; and Mary Ruth Smith, internationally exhibited artist and Professor of Art, Baylor University, Waco, Texas.  Juror Vibeke Riisberg writes, “I was impressed with the many artworks with strong figurative images telling stories in a great variety of techniques.”

Fiberart International 2010 opens with a weekend of events including a gala reception Friday evening, April 16, 2010, where awards totaling over $5,000 will be announced.  Fiberart Forum, a daylong conference that includes a keynote speech by juror Rebecca A.T. Stevens and dialogue with exhibiting artists, takes place the next day at both locations.  For more information, visit fiberartsinternational.org.

After its run in Pittsburgh, Fiberart International 2010 will move to other venues, including the Memorial Art Gallery of the University of Rochester and the San Francisco Museum of Craft + Design.