Several Exhibits at the San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles

The San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles has several exhibits worth visiting. I had not heard of them before, but when a friend from Paducah Fiber Artists sent me the notice, I thought how wonderful it would be to be able to visit this place. Here is some background on the museum:

"The mission of the San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles is to promote the art, craft and history of quilts and textiles.

Textile art transcends cultural, ethnic, age and gender boundaries and encompasses traditional as well as contemporary forms. The museum provides a serious venue for all artists working with textiles, filling a void left by larger institutions with a narrower view of what defines artistic expression. Its exhibits and programs promote the appreciation of quilts and textiles as art and provide an understanding of their role in the lives of their makers, in cultural traditions, and as historical documents."

The Shows:

June 17 – August 24, 2008
Beyond Knitting: Uncharted Stitches

Beyond Knitting is an awakening to the brave new world of sculptural knitting. With pieces that are both visually stunning and intellectually provocative, the exhibition highlights the tremendous variety of approaches and subject matter that contemporary textile artists here and abroad are tackling using knitting as the primary technique.

“Knitting shapes have long been defined by the human form,” said exhibit guest co-curator Adrienne Sloane. “Knitting has moved from clothing geometry to sculpture, joining other textile art media in taking advantage of the form’s rich and powerful historical references. The knit art in this exhibit links us emotionally to the past while presenting an important visual commentary on the present.”

Added Museum curator Deborah Corsini, “Beyond Knitting uncovers the most current and exciting art being created today by a new generation of knitters who are moving away from any traditional focus of knitting to arenas of wall art, sculpture and installation. Each of the artists selected for this exhibition transforms the simple notion of needles and yarn with new techniques and fibers to create work that is haunting, humorous, political and personal.”

The exhibition includes ethereal wire sculptures by Czech artist Blanka Sperkova, who developed her own technique of finger-knitting fine wire with a basic looping stitch to create human and animal representations as well as abstract forms. The result is an interplay of the sculpted forms and the transparency of the knitted wire in multi-layered, textured pieces that play with light and shadow. (Photo: Pillow by Blanka Sperkova)

Lindsay Obermeyer’s surprising work deals with issues of genetic inheritance, aging, and motherhood. Her knitted sweaters with their unusual appendages manifest the hidden nature of her own inner worrisome thoughts and issues. “On the surface her pieces are bright, humorous and attractive, but there is a darker, deeper content to this work that reflects questions and concerns we all face,” said Corsini. (Photo: Genetic Inheritance (Detail) by Lindsay Obermeyer, 2006 photo credit: Larry Sanders)

This exhibition is co-presented by The Knitting Guild Association an organization whose mission is to provide education and communication to advance the quality of workmanship and creativity in knitting, and encourage interest in the art of knitting.

The artists included in the exhibition are:
Katharine Cobey
Donna Lish
Ruth Marshall
Janet Morton
Kerry Mosley
Mark Newport
Lindsay Obermeyer
Karen Paust
Karen Searle
Adrienne Sloane
Blanka Sperkova

June 17 – August 24, 2008
Pun Intended: The Appliquéd Wit of Dorothy Vance

Pun Intended: The Appliquéd Wit of Dorothy Vance, features 14 humorous quilts juxtaposing folk art, politics and pop culture. Dorothy Vance is known for her unique, clever and humanly charming folk art quilts, and this exhibition showcases this original work and the vision of an imaginative and irrepressible artistic personality.

Throughout her life, Vance engaged in various sorts of arts and crafts including pottery, tile making, bread making, writing, and graphic design. In 1977, Vance began to stitch, and continued to create new works until her death in February 2007 at the age of 77. She combined her writing and sewing skills to embed clever irony and wit into such quilts as the award-winning Presidents; the limerick-filled quilt There Was An Old Man; and Odd Couples, a humorous pairing of icons from history and popular culture who share the same last name, such as Nat and Lana Turner, Karl and Harpo Marx, and James and Marilyn Monroe.

Bob Shaw, a curator and appraiser, wrote of her work, “Vance used her stitched and appliquéd art to express her political views and wide ranging interests in wryly humorous and complexly allusive ways. Most of her quilts feature cartoon-like caricatures of historical and contemporary figures, and many incorporate her own humorous verse, which compares favorably with the work of Ogden Nash.”

Photos: Call Me Doctor (Detail) by Dorothy Vance, 2004 and Odd Couples (Detail) by Dorothy Vance, 2006


June 17 – August 24, 2008
In Javanese Moonlight: Sha Sha Higby in Transition

Sha Sha Higby approaches dance through the medium of sculpture. She creates intricate costumes of materials such as wood, silk, paper and gold leaf and animates them with subtlety and grace in performances of her own contemplative form of dance.

In Javanese Moonlight features three of the monumental, sculptural forms that Sha Sha Higby wears in performance. This exhibit situates Higby’s artwork within the context of Indonesian batik traditions. Like batik artists, whose work is deliberate and slow—not infrequently taking months or even years to produce one stunning length of cloth—Higby mines the spiritual meaning in the physical discipline required to devote up to two years developing a complex sculptural form. As stationary art objects and moving sculpture in Higby’s performances, these forms are an invitation to a meditative space, where time slows down and we find ourselves quietly contemplating life’s mysteries.

Higby’s contemporary mixed-media fiber sculptures are juxtaposed with rare royal Indonesian batiks from her own collection and the private collection of Noeleke Glenn Klavert. These batiks introduce visitors to the many cultural symbols that have shaped the iconic designs found in Indonesian batiks and have informed the artistic and spiritual practices behind Sha Sha Higby’s creations. Design influences in these batiks can be traced to India, China, Japan, the Middle East and Holland.

Photo: Sleeping in a Sandstorm (Detail) by Sha Sha Higby, 2002
Photo by Albert Holander

June 17 – August 24, 2008
Crocheted Reef and Anemone Garden

Crocheted Reef and Anemone Garden is an installation of sea life created by the 7th grade class at Gideon Hausner Jewish Day School in Palo Alto, California. Students created this coral reef, composed of approximately 500 crocheted life forms, including coral, sea sponges, squid, sea stars, sea jellies and urchins, as part of a hands-on experiential unit combining art, science and language arts and to draw attention to conditions threatening the world's coral reefs.

Lots of inspiration here! Looks like a wonderful place.

The Museum has a gift shop that might be a venue for those of you who are looking for new markets. Although they focus mostly on local artists, it can't hurt to find out what other opportunities they may have or know about.

Location:
520 South First Street
San Jose, California 95113
408.971.0323

Several Exhibits at the San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles

Not Only Men Who Knit, But Men Who Knit Lace

by Diane Gerlach
the Yin Yang Knitter

Contemporary male knitters abound, well, at least are becoming more common. The first male knitter I knew of was Kaffe Fassett, famous for his fabulous colorwork in the decorative arts.

Other than Kaffe, it was not common to hear of men knitters in the late 20^th Century. Rosie Greer embroidering? [All Pro defensive lineman, Los Angeles Rams, 1960’s and 70’s] Yes, but knitting…no.

In World War II Britain, it was expected that everyone, schoolchildren and adults alike, would “Knit for Britain." When World War I was waging, the American Red Cross provided yarn and instructions to knitters all over the US, to encourage them to knit gloves, hats, vests, socks, etc, for the men in the military. It is not known how many men on the home front were knitters.

"War, War, War, Warm, Warm" by Rayela Art
Reverse painting on glass collage

During the American Civil War, there was a huge effort to produce knitted goods for soldiers on both sides of the conflict; there is documentation that boys and men were involved in this effort.

Not so surprising when one considers that the first French knitting guilds in the 1300’s were male organizations, and it is likely that knitting came to Europe as it was spread from port to port by Arabic sailors.

In many communities in the Andes, men are the knitters.

Lauren Weinhold explains her photo, “This gentleman is knitting a hat by the side of the road. I had heard that needles are often recycled bicycle spokes, sharpened to a fine point, and this picture seems to confirm it. Also, his technique is quite different from European circular knitting - he is actually purling every row in the round, working from the outside of the loop, not the inside. This is supposed to be "easier" for the integrated colorwork. It is also a tradition that the working yarn is looped around the neck - it is here, although hard to see. (The end ball is in the small bag near his foot on the ground).“

In Men Who Knit and the Dogs Who Love Them,

Annie Modesitt and Drew Emborsky include short bios of 16 male knitters, one of whom learned to knit as a child from his grandmother and another who learned from his wife as a way of spending more time with her. Selected pages are available here.

But men who knit lace, now that’s special. A personal favorite is Jared at Brooklyn Tweed who scaled up a vintage knitted doily pattern

into this jaw-dropping Hemlock Ring Blanket in a lovely manly shade of gray.

He also knit Elizabeth Zimmerman’s Pi Shawl as a blanket,

which became so large it presented a blocking problem. (Photos courtesy of Jared)

Montse Stanley’s book, Knitter's Handbook : A Comprehensive Guide to the Principles and Techniques of Handknitting has an illustration of a wonderful pair of Spanish 19^th century knitted stockings with inscriptions ‘Jacinta Cabanes’ knitted into one sock and ‘Recuerdo de Vicente’ on the other, recording a gift from a man to a woman.

Were they knitted by Vicente himself? On needles finer than anything readily available today?

Kenny, The Boy Who Knits produces lace shawls

scarves,

and lace socks. (Photos courtesy of Kenny)

A lovely Spiral Counterpane was knit by Ricke Scott:

He is a member of Men Who Knit, an online community where you can buy Real Men Knit, the DVD.

In The Dining Room at 209 Main, a restaurant in the central Wisconsin small town of Monticello, a display features the exquisite work of Gene Beugler:

Yknit offers a podcast by WonderMike and Stephen hizKNITS, who describe themselves as "two needle junkies who happen to be men". Episode 5, "Lace in Your Face" interviews Nino Esposito

and Ted Myatt, the Knitter Guy.

Who would have predicted it, all these men who knit? And, men’s knitting retreats are popping up from Australia to Albany, NY. Steve reports in his blog, Famous Steve Knits, that there were six male knitters at the Atlanta Knitter’s Guild’s recent retreat, an all-time high. EZ would be so proud!

[Elizabeth Zimmerman affectionately known among knitters as EZ, revolutionized modern knitting with innovative techniques and patterns in her books and in her knitting series shown on American Public Television. In 1974, she founded Knitting Camp, which continues today under the direction of her daughter.]

Amazing work. Good job, all of you guy knitters, and thank you for the eye candy!

____________________________________

Note from Rachel:
I made a series of reverse painting on glass collage pieces recently. I had found an article on men knitting during World War II and used the images in the collaged pieces. These were inspired by Diane's charity knitting and are available for sale on Etsy. Click on the images for the link.

Not Only Men Who Knit, But Men Who Knit Lace

Guest Artist: Diane Gerlach, Charity Knitter

Diane is a long time friend who started out as a customer in one of my retail stores in Chicago a long, long time ago. She lives in Kenosha, Wisconsin, most of the time. She must have some nomad blood in her because she is often off somewhere visiting some friend in need (including me). She was just here for the quilt show, lending her much needed support.

Diane is a charity knitter. I asked her to write about what she does because I think it is of interest to all of us in the fiber community. She knits both for children in Afghanistan and for American soldiers based there. When I first learned about what she was doing, it struck me as a bit odd, kind of like patting both the victim and the victimizer on the back. I am personally against the Bush Administration's position and action in Central Asia, but I also differentiate between the troops and our government's policies. When I lived in Chicago, I rarely met someone who was not a Democrat or who favored the war in Afghanistan and Iraq. Ironically, my Afghan partner in my former gallery is a Republican. Moving to Kentucky, especially during my one year stint at Home Depot, introduced me to wonderful guys and men who had either served in a war, were in the reserves or were on their way.

So, Diane's work, to me, is one of blind compassion to all who have cold fingers, toes and heads. I have also personally benefited from her swift fingers. I live in a house with no Central Heating (radiators and a gas wall unit) and it can be bitter on a few winter days. Diane supplied me with wonderful woolen gifts that made my cold house bearable.

Knitting in such volume has a price. Diane had surgery on both wrists last year for carpal tunnel problems. As soon as she healed, she took up her needles and went back at it! Thank you, Diane, for all that you do for all of us!

A Post from the Land of Yin/Yang Knitting

Rachel calls me the Yin/Yang Knitter because of my diametrical charity knitting activities. In real life, I'm Diane Gerlach, and I knit in Kenosha, Wisconsin...and most any other place I happen to be.

Diane Gerlach in Paducah, April 2008, with my monsters.

Now that I’m retired from teaching, with more time to knit and less need for new knitted garments for myself, charity knitting has come into my life. I was especially inspired by Candace Key, “How Knitting for Charity Changed MY [Knitting] Life.”

We are both enthusiastic about Afghans for Afghans which, inspired by the Red Cross Knitting tradition, is a people-to-people project that sends hand-knit and crocheted blankets, sweaters, vests, hats, mittens, and socks to the people of Afghanistan. For so many of us, our first image of Afghanistan was Steve McCurry’s haunting young girl with beautiful eyes on the cover of National Geographic in 1985.

copyright Steve McCurry 1985

Since that time, we have seen all too much evidence of the effects of war on that country.

Helicopter Crash, Google photos

The climate is harsh,

"Near Kabul. 1975. The girls lived in a walled village of a kind fairly common in the region."

germán on Flickr

transportation is limited, and schools such as do exist are unheated,

Hazara schoolboy, copyright Steve McCurry 2008

or even out-of-doors.

An Afghan girl learns the letters of the Dari alphabet on a blackboard in an outdoor classroom, during a lesson on the first day of the official school year in Kabul March 23, 2002. Photo by Natalie Behring

Afghan girls attend their first class on the first day of the official school year at the Amir Dost Mohammad Khan Secondary School in Kabul March 23, 2002.

Copyright, Natalie Behring

Through AFA, American and Canadian knitters and crocheters have contributed more than 70,000 wool garments and blankets to displaced Afghan families since 2001. Recently hats were collected for the Afghan Mobile Mini Circus for Children in organizational colors of red, green, blue, and yellow.

Photo from Aghan Mobile Mini Circus for Children. Kids are wearing AFA hats.

Newborn-size hats were sent to CURE, the only hospital in Afghanistan with a neonatal unit. As we have been asked to provide a link rather than photos, you can see them here.

Afghans for Afghans also has links to many knit and crochet patterns, including a darling one dedicated to newborns in Afghanistan: http://sasw.blogspot.com/2006/03/infant-earflap-hat.html

"Young Packer Fan"
Diane reverse-engineered this hat from a tiny one found among her mother's things after she passed away.
The original pattern likely dates back to the late 30's.

When I was laid up with bronchitis from January to March, I sat in my favorite chair, turned on audio books, and knitted: hats, socks, mittens, sweaters, and an occasional blanket [well, yes, afghan.]

The Ships Project sends handmade “hugs from home” to troops in all four services deployed in the War on Terror. Since 2001, when Ellen Harpin sent a single pair of knitted slippers to a young woman with whom she was corresponding, nearly 290,000 items [hats, slippers, “cool ties”] have been contributed, the product of several thousand crafters. People photos shown below are from their website.

My projects have included black wool hats requested by Special Forces units in cold weather, the always popular patriotic hats,

the bright, soft colorful hats sent to medical evacuation units year round,

and socks.

Knitting for Afghan kids and for Special Forces troops stationed in Afghanistan; there it is: the yin and yang of my charity knitting.

All knitted items shown in the photos were knit by Diane Gerlach for her charity knitting projects. Do you have yarn sitting around that you are not going to use? Think of donating it to the knitters of one of these wonderful projects.

Guest Artist: Diane Gerlach, Charity Knitter