CURRENT EXHIBITS

Opening to the Wind; Jean-Marie Tarascio.

Tangled Fibers

Pat Herkal, JeanMarie Tarascio,
Barbara Ramsey & Cathie Weir

July 27 - October 30, 2022

Tangled Fibers is a small group of fiber and mixed media artists who meet regularly to share ideas about art and artmaking. The four women: Pat Herkal, Barbara Ramsey, Jean-Marie Tarascio and Cathie Wier provide encouragement, critique, and feedback to each other, acting as a kind of salon for working out ideas and considering new paths. Each of the artists have different skills, styles and areas of interest, which inspires cross-pollination and exploration of multiple fiber techniques.

Pat Herkal describes her approach: “I create to fill my life with joy, to discover how to mix colors and textures, to honor the environment and to keep my brain nimble.” Pat’s work is full of whimsy and color, mixing fiber, thread, beads, trinkets, shells, stones and found objects to create intricate jewelry, sculptures, wall hangings, critters and dolls. 

Barbara Ramsey is a fabric artist who sews original abstract art works using traditional quilting techniques. Like many traditional quilters, she’s devoted to precise construction, but unlike them, her designs distort geometric shapes. These irregular forms impel the viewer’s eye to roam over the surface of the quilt, seeking the harmonies amidst contrast. In recent years, Barbara has ventured into three-dimensional work, using fabric, wire, cardboard, and batting that imitate and embellish forms from the natural world. Barbara says, “In preparation for this exhibit, the Tangled Fibers group steeped ourselves in books, documentaries, and hosted our own artists’ retreat on a Pacific Ocean beach near La Push, Washington. Our immersive research renewed our sense of wonder and enhanced our appreciation of the variety and complexity of the aquatic world.”

Jean-Marie Tarascio creates of one-of-a-kind artist books and mixed media paper sculpture, brought forth from her years of training in book restoration. She works with “the book as art” which provides her the opportunity to explore and experiment with traditional and non-traditional book structures, paper making and letterpress printing. Recently, Tarascio has been exploring the diverse tactile, manipulative and versatile properties of paper, wire, and clay. She remarks, “Movement or the illusion
of movement is a dimension I strive for in my work.”

Cathie Weir says, “Living on the Salish Sea, I discovered the bewildering creatures of the intertidal zone and seaweed of all colors and textures laid out on the sand in beautiful compositions. I am drawn to piles of kelp glistening in the sun, rocks and pebbles washed by the crashing waves, sunrises on the bay, and of course the sea anemones.” As a weaver, Weir’s desire to create three-dimensional pieces led her to weave fine-thread spinners, eventually broadening to include ply-split braiding (an ancient technique from India for making camel girths and other animal regalia) and shibori (the Japanese art of resist dyeing). Now Weir’s work reflects a multi-media approach, often combining weaving, ply-split braiding, and shibori. 

"Look How Far You've Come, Baby!"

The 2022 Festival Challenge:
Silver Celebration
Celebrating the
Museum's 25th Anniversary

August 31 - September 26 2022

Silver symbolizes brilliance, radiance and the value of a long lasting relationship. 2022 is the Museum’s 25th Anniversary so we’ve filled the artists’ kit with fabrics that sparkle or shine with bits of silver. 
 
We asked that the design elements we’ve provided appear in the body of the work – not just the border or binding, in the case of a quilt. Any amount of other fabric, fiber or embellishments could be used to complete the piece.  Design elements could be used as provided or cut apart and incorporated into the design. 
 
We want to know how you think they did!  Vote for your favorite and the winner will receive a “People’s Choice – Challenge” award.  Voting closes on October 10, 2022 at the Festival.

Congratulations! Mom's 60th Birthday - Yoshiko Ogana

Essence of Japan
Group Exhibit from Japanese Quilters
Ako Shimozato & Carla Schultz-Parks,
Co-Curators
June 29 - October 9, 2022

The Museum has been honored to present an exhibit of Japanese quilts every other year since 1998, with a special exhibit offered in 2017 for our 20th Anniversary. 

2022 marks our 25th Anniversary and we are so happy to have this exhibit as a part of it.  It has become a treasured tradition and is a highly anticipated exhibit.  This year we have 33 pieces on display from 16 different artists - some familiar and some new to us!

Thank you to our sponsors!
Glenys Baker
Denny Fox
Ako Shimozato

Exhibiting Artists

CHIAKI DOSHO
HARUE KONISHI
YAEKO HASEGAWA
KAZUKO YOSHIURA
KIYOMI ISHII
NORIKO KOYAMA
MAMI NODA
MASAKO MASUDA
MIWAKO KIMURA
NORIKO ENDO
YOSHIKO OGANO
REIKO KOBATA
SHOKO HATANO
YOSHIKO KATAGIRI
YUMIKO MANDAI
YUUKO MATSUMOTO