Fiber Arts: Quilting, Embroidery & More
Christine Kuta, Ann Bausman, Sue Morris, Liz Doles & Jane Paulson
Artist Statement:
I love to work with fibers – printed, plain and textured fabric, colorful threads, and buttons. The “ingredients” are found in thrift stores, friends’ closets, and rummage sales. Sometimes these “found” ingredients hint at a story. When a friend gave me this cross-stitch piece, I lovingly removed the hideous frame and foggy plastic. I thought about the person who followed the pattern to create a view of “Twilleys of Stamford.” I color outside of the lines, and I do the same with my stitching, adding layers of fabric or thread to alter my pieces. This piece began with a few stitched hints of green to make those trees pop… and the rest is history. I hope you enjoy it.
Bio:
I've always loved the play of color and pattern. For years I worked in paper but more recently rediscovered a love of textiles. A friend gave me some upholstery samples and there was no going back. I became obsessed with finding and using "found fabrics", taking inspiration from the layering of colors and patterns. Look closely at one of my collages and you might see snippets from an old dishcloth, a loved Boden skirt, the now-too-tight Old Navy sundress and more. Amidst this journey I felt inspired to stop buying new clothes in response to the waste and environmental impact of the fashion industry. I took to shopping at thrift stores, mending clothing, and reading up on Boro stitching which has its roots in Japan. Reuse of even the smallest scraps of fabric and visible mending are characteristics of Boro and can be found in my collages and other pieces. The process is slow and meditative.
A graduate of Tufts University, I also attended classes at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts and later at the American College in Paris and their partner program with the Parsons School of Design.
I have taught classes and workshops at Arlington Center for the Arts, Arlington Community Education, the Scandinavian Cultural Center, Rockport Art Association, and the Bolton Public Library. I love teaching and introducing people to my work and relaxing techniques. I have also participated in Open Studios in both Arlington and West Medford. This is my second show at Belmont Gallery of Art.
I am a former member of the Board at the Arlington Center for the Arts.
My day job is fundraising for The Immigrant Learning Center in Malden where I use my creativity to write grant applications and to help run successful events.
Sue Morris
Artist statement:
In quick succession, I experienced “empty nest syndrome” followed by a worldwide pandemic. Both conspired to give me more free time than I’d been used to. I loved arts and crafts when I was younger, and I had done hundreds of art projects with my kids when they were young. So I rediscovered my creative self and started doing embroidery, cross-stitch, collage, crochet, etc. In 2022, I converted half of my home office into a craft room, and I try to devote at least a few hours a week to creative pursuits. I enjoy learning new skills and have taken classes in embroidery, crochet, collage, felting, fabric dying, jewelry, and basket making. This summer, I’ll return to Snow Farm in Williamsburg, MA, for the third time for a 3-day workshop in visible mending and ornamentation.
Bio:
Sue Morris has lived in Belmont for 26 years and has raised three children here with her husband David. After starting her career as a textbook editor, she took several years off to raise her kids. When her youngest daughter was a baby, Sue went back to school to earn a certificate in Decorative Arts. That was when Sue’s interior-decorating consulting business, The Design Coach, was born. In addition to interior design and crafts, Sue enjoys gardening, walking with friends, and traveling.
Christine Kuta
Artist statement:
I am fascinated by surfaces and surface texture and I am also intrigued by what might be hidden behind those surfaces. My textile piece, which was produced using the fabric manipulation method of furrowing, merges these fascinations in a visually dynamic surface with hidden stitches holding the fabric folds in place against a backing fabric.
I try to see the world with fresh eyes every day. I believe that by continually seeking out new perspectives and challenging our preconceptions, we can find treasures waiting for us out in the open. Through my work, I aim to capture the beauty and complexity of the world, while also exploring the ways in which we can reimagine it. My artistic influences include Friedensreich Hundertwasser and Yayoi Kusama. The influence of Hundertwasser’s love of nature’s irregularities and his rejection of straight lines can be seen in the complex and disordered folding of the fabric in my piece. Kusama’s boundless creativity and obsession with intricate details further inspired the folding. The pearl embellishments are an homage to Kusama’s dots and the viewer is encouraged to imagine the piece extending to infinity in keeping with Kusama’s artistic philosophy.
Jane Paulson
Biography
Although a librarian by profession, I’ve always made sure to carve out time for art. I’ve been making art and taking art classes for over twenty years now. My work has been exhibited throughout the Boston area in galleries, colleges, art associations and libraries.
Artist Statement
I’m a mixed media artist, making collages, assemblages, box constructions, sculptures, cut paper pieces and, most recently, textile works. The materials I use often dictate the direction of the work. Usually, I don’t have a fixed idea of what I want the piece to be. That uncertainty can be frustrating but also energizing.