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Welcome!
You have just received my first electronic newsletter. I hope you enjoy learning more about my work and the world of textile art. If you ever have a question or suggestion for content, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Thanks,
Liz
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| Featured Work |
| Ring of Fire (detail): 32" x 46" Hand dyed wool on linen. Hand hooked. |
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This recent piece was inspired by a photograph I took of a weathered fence post on the beach in Michigan.
While the work was in the designing stages, forest fires were spreading rampantly in California. I happened to see a TV show where the commentator described how burning a ring of fire around an undisturbed area of vegetation, is a system used to bring raging fires under control.
Symbolically the piece is about hope. It shows that even in the midst of massive destruction there is beauty to be found, and incentive to rebuild.
View this piece in it's entirety and many more examples of my work at my website: www.LizAlpertFay.com.
Custom commissions are always welcome too! |
| Design Inspiration Workshops |
| Available in Your Area |
I am pleased to offer the workshop "Designing from Nature." Several textile artists enjoyed this presentation last August through The Rug Works in Cross Village, Michigan.
Participants explored the shoreline of Lake Michigan taking photographs of nature that could inspire design elements for rugs. They also collected interesting natural objects. I then shared how I draw inspiration from what I see around me and presented ways to translate these observations onto paper and ultimately into rug designs.
To schedule a workshop in your area email liz@lizalpertfay.com. Workshops can focus on textile designs or be more generalized for application to any art form.
The Rug Works is a non profit organization which teaches and employs local artisans to make rugs from locally spun wool which is hand dyed (some with locally gathered plants) and hand hooked. The sale of these rugs helps support these local artisans. www.crossvillagerugworks.com. |
| Pushing the Limits: New Expressions in Hooked Art |
| Upcoming Juried Show in Newtown, Connecticut |
In support of my interest in promoting rug hooking as an art form I, along with Sherry Paisley, initiated a new juried show three years ago titled "Pushing the Limits: New Expressions in Hooked Art" to exhibit innovative work. By innovative we mean work utilizing unusual materials or concepts in the context of this very old art form.
Contemporary hooked fiber art has evolved from one of America's few indigenous art forms, traditional rug hooking. The new work explodes with color, form and originality. It is redefining the art form through use of alternative materials such as paper, plastic, linen, cotton, satin, beading, ribbon, yarn, silk and other materials. The emphasis is on creativity and originality.
"Pushing the Limits: New Expressions in Hooked Art" is sponsored by the Heritage Preservation Trust, Inc., in support of the Newtown Meeting House (Connecticut).
Click here to learn more about this show for which I am the Creative Director. |
| Thanks for Asking! |
| Where do your ideas come from? |
 Over the years many of you have asked where my ideas for designs come from.
My ideas come from all around me. I actually have a hard time keeping up with all of them. Especially since many of the techniques I use are so labor intensive.
I am mostly influenced by nature, my garden, animals (beautiful Calico cat, 5 hens- all different varieties, all different colored eggs) the woods, and the beach.
My first love is walking in the woods. This is probably a result of having been brought up by 2 parents who loved to hike, camp, and canoe. We did this at every opportunity since the time I could walk.
Today I share the joy of being outdoors with our children by hiking, snowshoeing, and canoeing. We have spent most of our vacations over the past 20 years at my husband's family "camp" in the Adirondack Mountains. I also love the beach where I have gathered an extensive collection beach stones. I have started creating a new body of work based on materials I collected along the shore of Lake Michigan.
If you have questions, feel free to email them to me at liz@lizalpertfay.com.
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