STL - Week of April 2, 2012

some things looming

526 washington street

reading, pa 19601

610-373-7337

April 21st

10:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Click here to register:

Pine Needle Sampler

Teacher: Debra Hammond

This class will teach the basics of traditional pine needle basketry. We will start the coil on a black walnut slice, and then explore several traditional stitches and options for ending the coil. Shaping techniques will also be discussed.

History of Pine Needle Art

Pine needle art is one of the oldest crafts known. It dates back some 9000 years, even before pottery which was made by lining twig baskets with clay.

The Seminole Indians were one of the first tribes to make the pine needle baskets. They used a sharp piece of sea shell or bone as a needle. Some of the baskets were used to carry water, also for winnowing seeds, and feed baskets.

During the era of the Civil War the women made hats of pine needles. They were sewn together with home spun threads. As transportation became more widely used, raffia as well as sinew, was used to sew the baskets. Raffia comes from the raffia palm which grows on Madagascar, an island off the coast of Africa. However, today the art of pine needle basketry is still being done by a few creative people. There is no limit to what one can do with pine needles along with a little imagination and skills which will come with patience and practice.

April 28 & 29

10 am - 5 pm

Click here to register:

Introduction To Shibori

Teacher: Kachina Martin

Offered by PA Craft Guild

Location: 'some things looming'

Imagine a plain, white piece of silk...now fold it...twist it...bind it. After dyeing, you'll be amazed at the transformation! This class will introduce the participant to shibori, the ancient Japanese fabric dyeing technique that utilizes a variety of methods - wrapping, tying, stitching, folding, twisting - to create richly textured patterns of color on fabric. Students will focus on arashi shibori (pole wrapped), stitch resist shibori, and clamped shibori. Participants will complete a series of finished pieces as well as fabric samples suitable for multiple uses.

Got Yarn?

STL is collecting yarn scraps. Drop them off in our lobby. Clean out your stash and help us with our project.

April 14th through June 2nd

Opening Reception:

April 14th - 1:00 PM - 4:00 pm

Traditional Irish Music by:

The Gooseberries

Refreshments in part by:

The Ugly Oyster - 21 S. 5th Streert

Juror: Warren Seeling

Artists:

Bewley, Deborah - OH; Burton, J. Penney - MO; Casto, Marilyn - VA; Cook, Miyuki Akai - WV; Davison, Kim - MI;
Dennis, Michael - PA; Dever, Jeffery Lloyd - MD; Dvorin, Emily - CA; Field-Alvarez, Heidi - VA; Fram, Elizabeth - VT;
Gruetter, Marlene - OH; Halliday, Carolyn - MN; Horansky, Ruby - NY; Jenni, Lisa - WA; Kessler, Vicki - ND; Kjonaas, Dona - FL; Kornblum, Julie - CA; Krynick, John - PA;
Lee, Won - PA; Lessmon-Moss, Janice - OH; Lingford, Jennifer - PA; Malarcher, Patricia - NJ; Marcus, Claire - PA; Martin, Kachina - PA; Morisette, Elizabeth - CO; Muise, Kara - MA; NG, Meei Ling - PA; Plumb, Susan - PA; Shuman, Sheila - PA; Stealey, Jo - MO; Tabancay, Ruth - CA; Talvila, Kaarina - BC; Veenstra, Anton - NSW; Wittock, Mindy Sue - WI; Zwartjes, Georgia - TX;

This exhibit is proud to be a participating venue for Fiber Philadelphia 2012.

FiberPhiladelphia is an international biennial and regional festival for innovative fiber/textile art. Exhibitions are planned for 40 locations including major institutions and independent venues. They will include work by renowned international artists and a new generation of artists breaking into the field.

In the past 20 years, the boundaries between High/Low art and medium specific recognition have been blurred. Unlike the other major craft media, textile artists have the freedom of transcending materials, unbound from tradition. Although many choose to continue to work with historic materials and methods, many have branched out to explore the infinite possibilities of materials and techniques. One can weave metal, clay, even light. Quilts are not necessarily bound by thread or cloth and vessels can be more than objects to contain physical matter; they can reject functionality and explore conceptual notions of spiritual and metaphysical containment.