December 2022 Exhibit
Hook, Pulp & Weave
A celebration of fiber as art
We’re excited to host the annual Hook, Pulp and Weave once again, a rich and diverse invitational exhibition exploring fiber as art, opening in conjunction with Astoria’s Artwalk, Saturday December 10th. Always a favorite exhibition at Imogen, this year’s annual exhibition will not disappoint. Functional and nonfunctional work will be included in this unique exhibition of textile-based arts. Color, texture, and composition form the backbone of this diverse collection designed with the gift giving season in mind. Included to the diverse array is the extraordinary “crochet paintings” by Jo Hamilton, “vegan taxidermy” by Marjorie Taylor, wall hung linear space fiber drawings by Kimberly Lakin, wall hung art and throw pillows by Pamela Chipman, nuno felted scarves and wraps by Julie Kern Smith, needle felted wool sculpture by Patti Breidenbach, abstract wall hung fiber art of Susan Circone, intricate needle woven beaded jewelry by Celeste Olivares, large scale needle felted figurative sculpture by Amelia Santiago, paper cut assemblages by Kathy Karbo and the whimsical mushroom sculpture of Kim Tepe. Join us in celebrating the season with the artists, Saturday 12/10, 5 – 8 pm. The exhibition will remain on view through January 9.
Fiber based art has a long running history, with weaving techniques dating back to Neolithic times some 12,000 years ago. It is respected as one of the oldest surviving craft forms in the world that evolved from multiple cultures, including the Incans who utilized textiles as currency, which held a more prominent role then gold for trade. Native Americans, for centuries have created elaborate basketry for all uses, including vessels that were watertight, made from regionally known plant materials. Middle Eastern nomadic tribes, have been respected for intricate hand knotted rugs made of wool and silk, dating back over 4000 years, and the rich illustrative tapestries of the 14th and 15th centuries of European cultures, all helped to forge what we appreciate as textile-based art today. The term “fiber arts” came to be applied much later; post World War II with the insurgence of the craft movement. With this came the recognition of craft as fine art and the diminished idea of utilitarian needs.
Hook, Pulp & Weave is a collection of just a few examples of what textile or fiber art has evolved into. With the lessening of the importance of function, and the consideration of pure artistic expression being delivered through the fiber medium, artists have found a new voice to explore ancient arts, utilizing texture, color, and form. While some of the work included to this exhibition is functional, many pieces are based strictly on the principle of art form, utilizing fiber to create compelling and complex pieces.
We welcome back the intricate wall hung abstract compositions of Susan Circone from Portland. Her imagery places focus on subtle use of texture, pattern, and color. Coming from a career in geological sciences, her compositions are inspired by nature. Circone’s work explores the minutiae of the physical and natural world. She finds inspiration in the structures, textures, and forms observed in both organic and inorganic matter. The importance of the mundane and the microscopic, ignored, unseen, and often ephemeral, is a reminder of our temporal existence.
Pamela Chipman also from Portland is known primarily as a photographer. It was during the lockdown in 2020 that she began exploring with transferring her art to fiber during the pandemic. Experimenting with sun activated fiber dyes, she creates fabric prints from her negatives and local plant materials. She includes both wall hung pieces as well as gorgeous art pillows from her silhouette figurative photography and botanical imagery.
Celeste Olivares of Astoria brings a new collection of her intricately needle woven beaded necklaces and earrings. Each piece is an exotic one-of-a-kind design utilizing semi-precious stones, vintage glass, and crystal, often incorporating found objects. She exquisitely combines brilliant color and form with a result of timeless and original jewelry pieces.
We are also excited to welcome back the needle felted sculpture of Astoria’s Amelia Santiago. Her lifelike large scale figurative sculpture is created with careful attention to detail. She creates solid wool sculpture by hand, a painstaking process of forming felted wool through needle work into realistic creatures. Also working in needle felted wool are the small figurative sculptural pieces by Patti Breidenbach. Breidenbach brings a series of tiny dancers atop music boxes. Her new series is titled “Love is Love”.
Julie Kern Smith of Porland, returns with her rich and sophisticated wraps made of nuno felted wool and repurposed silk from vintage scarves and kimonos. Her choice of materials is exquisitely brought together through fusion of fiber, creating elegant and tactile wearable art forms. We also welcome back the delightful 3-d hand painted, paper cut assemblages of Kathy Karbo.
We welcome back the work of Marjorie Taylor. Taylor, creates what she calls “Vegan Taxidermy” that she describes as “animal replicas that are a mix of realism and fantasy.” Her one of kind sculptural pieces are made from recycled needlepoint, faux fur, chenille, beads, and ribbon. She proudly states, “there are no animal parts of any kind used in the construction.”
This year we are proud to include the work of 3 new fiber artists, Jo Hamilton brings her “crochet paintings”, large scale wall hung works created from yarn that she has crocheted. She brings a series of buildings/cityscapes as well as an extraordinary larger than life Man Moth. Her work is currently on display at the Portland airport and included to the permanent collection of the Portland Art Museum.
Kim Lakin includes her large-scale wall hung linear space drawings. She enjoys working with fiber medium for its tactile and sculptural qualities, describing it as the line between two and three dimensions.
Also new to Imogen are the delightful terrariums of Kim Tepe. Focusing on the natural world she brings the forest floor and all that grows from it, creating with mixed fabrics and stitching, intricate replicas of mushroom life.
Hook, Pulp & Weave
A celebration of fiber as art
We’re excited to host the annual Hook, Pulp and Weave once again, a rich and diverse invitational exhibition exploring fiber as art, opening in conjunction with Astoria’s Artwalk, Saturday December 10th. Always a favorite exhibition at Imogen, this year’s annual exhibition will not disappoint. Functional and nonfunctional work will be included in this unique exhibition of textile-based arts. Color, texture, and composition form the backbone of this diverse collection designed with the gift giving season in mind. Included to the diverse array is the extraordinary “crochet paintings” by Jo Hamilton, “vegan taxidermy” by Marjorie Taylor, wall hung linear space fiber drawings by Kimberly Lakin, wall hung art and throw pillows by Pamela Chipman, nuno felted scarves and wraps by Julie Kern Smith, needle felted wool sculpture by Patti Breidenbach, abstract wall hung fiber art of Susan Circone, intricate needle woven beaded jewelry by Celeste Olivares, large scale needle felted figurative sculpture by Amelia Santiago, paper cut assemblages by Kathy Karbo and the whimsical mushroom sculpture of Kim Tepe. Join us in celebrating the season with the artists, Saturday 12/10, 5 – 8 pm. The exhibition will remain on view through January 9.
Fiber based art has a long running history, with weaving techniques dating back to Neolithic times some 12,000 years ago. It is respected as one of the oldest surviving craft forms in the world that evolved from multiple cultures, including the Incans who utilized textiles as currency, which held a more prominent role then gold for trade. Native Americans, for centuries have created elaborate basketry for all uses, including vessels that were watertight, made from regionally known plant materials. Middle Eastern nomadic tribes, have been respected for intricate hand knotted rugs made of wool and silk, dating back over 4000 years, and the rich illustrative tapestries of the 14th and 15th centuries of European cultures, all helped to forge what we appreciate as textile-based art today. The term “fiber arts” came to be applied much later; post World War II with the insurgence of the craft movement. With this came the recognition of craft as fine art and the diminished idea of utilitarian needs.
Hook, Pulp & Weave is a collection of just a few examples of what textile or fiber art has evolved into. With the lessening of the importance of function, and the consideration of pure artistic expression being delivered through the fiber medium, artists have found a new voice to explore ancient arts, utilizing texture, color, and form. While some of the work included to this exhibition is functional, many pieces are based strictly on the principle of art form, utilizing fiber to create compelling and complex pieces.
We welcome back the intricate wall hung abstract compositions of Susan Circone from Portland. Her imagery places focus on subtle use of texture, pattern, and color. Coming from a career in geological sciences, her compositions are inspired by nature. Circone’s work explores the minutiae of the physical and natural world. She finds inspiration in the structures, textures, and forms observed in both organic and inorganic matter. The importance of the mundane and the microscopic, ignored, unseen, and often ephemeral, is a reminder of our temporal existence.
Pamela Chipman also from Portland is known primarily as a photographer. It was during the lockdown in 2020 that she began exploring with transferring her art to fiber during the pandemic. Experimenting with sun activated fiber dyes, she creates fabric prints from her negatives and local plant materials. She includes both wall hung pieces as well as gorgeous art pillows from her silhouette figurative photography and botanical imagery.
Celeste Olivares of Astoria brings a new collection of her intricately needle woven beaded necklaces and earrings. Each piece is an exotic one-of-a-kind design utilizing semi-precious stones, vintage glass, and crystal, often incorporating found objects. She exquisitely combines brilliant color and form with a result of timeless and original jewelry pieces.
We are also excited to welcome back the needle felted sculpture of Astoria’s Amelia Santiago. Her lifelike large scale figurative sculpture is created with careful attention to detail. She creates solid wool sculpture by hand, a painstaking process of forming felted wool through needle work into realistic creatures. Also working in needle felted wool are the small figurative sculptural pieces by Patti Breidenbach. Breidenbach brings a series of tiny dancers atop music boxes. Her new series is titled “Love is Love”.
Julie Kern Smith of Porland, returns with her rich and sophisticated wraps made of nuno felted wool and repurposed silk from vintage scarves and kimonos. Her choice of materials is exquisitely brought together through fusion of fiber, creating elegant and tactile wearable art forms. We also welcome back the delightful 3-d hand painted, paper cut assemblages of Kathy Karbo.
We welcome back the work of Marjorie Taylor. Taylor, creates what she calls “Vegan Taxidermy” that she describes as “animal replicas that are a mix of realism and fantasy.” Her one of kind sculptural pieces are made from recycled needlepoint, faux fur, chenille, beads, and ribbon. She proudly states, “there are no animal parts of any kind used in the construction.”
This year we are proud to include the work of 3 new fiber artists, Jo Hamilton brings her “crochet paintings”, large scale wall hung works created from yarn that she has crocheted. She brings a series of buildings/cityscapes as well as an extraordinary larger than life Man Moth. Her work is currently on display at the Portland airport and included to the permanent collection of the Portland Art Museum.
Kim Lakin includes her large-scale wall hung linear space drawings. She enjoys working with fiber medium for its tactile and sculptural qualities, describing it as the line between two and three dimensions.
Also new to Imogen are the delightful terrariums of Kim Tepe. Focusing on the natural world she brings the forest floor and all that grows from it, creating with mixed fabrics and stitching, intricate replicas of mushroom life.
