Monthly Archives: January 2010

Now What?

Now that I’ve finished the work for the Foster White show and had time for a breather, there’s the perennial question, “Now what?” It’s not a comfortable place to be as an artist, but something that must be muddled through. I usually spend this time cleaning my studio (I even washed the floor!), looking at books and magazines, and mentally pacing. I pick things ups, I put them down, nothing seems to fit. It’s a good time to try new techniques and make messes, not sure of where I’m heading.

I have a new class at Pratt coming up, Fiber in Three-Dimensions, so that gives me some focus. I’m trying some other ways of working in 3-d, some other structural materials that have been sitting on the shelf. I’m also doing some research on other artists sculpting in fiber. I also picked up a book at the library, Transparency in Textiles by Dawn Thorne, that’s got me thinking about revealing the space within.

And so I continue, picking things up, putting them down, until the next big thing reveals itself to me.

Foster White Show

fa008

Shape clay into a vessel;
It is the space within that makes it useful.
–Tao Te Ching

Cameron Anne Mason’s work is informed by the exploration of surface design on fabric. Her fiber work explores the intersection of nature, civilization, and time. The Vessel Series references the nature of vessels as both useful and sacred objects.
Cameron’s three-fold process incorporates multiple surface design techniques, three-dimensional integration, and stitch embellishment. This synthesis gives the work both structure and form.  Dyeing starts with white or black fabric. Color and patterning are added through shibori, breakdown printing, screen printing, discharge, resist, and immersion.
Cameron is largely self-taught in her work in fiber, but also draws upon her background in design and performance. She has an active teaching schedule at Pratt Fine Arts Center and other studios. She has exhibited locally as part of the MadArt Window Project, Sound Transit’s START on Broadway, The Phinney Neighborhood Center Gallery, Bumbershoot, and in group shows of the Contemporary Quilt Art Association.
Cameron seeks original revelation and wonder, reading fabrics as maps implying ancient messages, ciphers waiting to be translated into form.

Nick Cave in Seattle

I had the opportunity to meet artist and performer Nick Cave yesterday. Seattle Art Museum is bringing a retrospective of his work February through May, 2011. Here’s a link to a video about his work:

Nick Cave Soundsuits

In a question and answer session, the artist emphasized that the fullest experience for him in exhibiting comes when he can connect and work with the community. After the lecture, I had a chance to talk with Mr. Cave and with SAM curator, Pam McCluskey, about ways to structure Master Classes and workshops that would bring together fiber artists, parade artists, and community. There is much excitement there and much to be figured out before this time next year, but keep your ears and eyes open, you never know when a soundsuit will stroll down the streets of our sleepy hamlet.

The New Year

2010 is off to a great start. MadArt Redux at Foster White opens on February 4th, I’ve got a piece in a group show of Pratt instructors at City Hall in March, a piece in a group show for the Contemporary Quilt Arts Association at the Convention Center that opens in February (I think), and I just got asked to be in a group show in Rio de Janeiro. Not to brag but not bad for January 6th!