Our Program will be presented by Marilyn Romatka on the topic of Uzbek Ikat. This is a technique that many of us have been intrigued with over the years. We will be able to
experience the exotic from our own homes; traveling to Central Asia in this multi-media presentation. Uzbekistan isn’t just bluetiled monuments. We have been enchanted by Uzbek Ikat in museums and on the runways in New York and London. We will accompany Marilyn to see the Uzbek artisans weave the bold patterns into this fabric. Each thread is manipulated, dyed and woven into exquisite cloth – truly hand-crafted.
Marilyn says that her “…focus is living folk art crafts. I teach a wide variety of crafts from painting techniques to weaving. The common thread being that the techniques are all deep-rooted in a culture from around the world. You might say the techniques that I teach have all survived the ‘test of time.’ I have the best job in the world. I travel to various countries gathering folk art techniques, then I return to the US to teach enthusiastic students.”
You are encouraged to visit Marilyn’s web page to learn more about her and to see the large
selection of international folk ar ts that she is available to teach at marilyn@taprootfolkarts.com.
NOVEMBER PROGRAM
November 12, 2020
Anastasia Azure will present a program entitled Weaving a Story: Personal Expression in Handwovens
Weaving a Story is a design-oriented approach towards creating self-expressive and meaningful handwoven cloth. As weavers we often focus on the end product, however there is an alternative approach that allows higher creativity to lead the way. Anastasia will share step-by-step exercises that can connect you to artistic weaving.
Anastasia earned her MFA in Textiles at the Rhode Island School of Design in 2011 and BFA in Jewelry Metal Arts at the California College of the Arts in 2005. She has participated in many artist residencies and travels the globe teaching imaginative textile and jewelry workshops. Presently she is developing a fair-trade, woven jewelry collection that will provide economic empowerment to Mayan women weavers in Guatemala.
EXPLORING UNCONVENTIONAL MATERIALS WITH KATHLEEN REMSA
OCTOBER 8 , 2020
Exploring Unconventional Materials is a presentation that examines the work of several fiber artists who have challenged the concept of what a textile is or have incorporated unusual or nontraditional materials in their work. The presentation is designed to encourage weavers to think “outside the box” and perhaps embark on their own material exploration. As weavers we often become complacent with traditional materials and all of the pre-determined constraints associated with them. Essentially, our creativity becomes confined to working “inside the box”. Undertaking an unconventional material exploration can free us to work without pre-conceived ideas or restraints, reinforce the creative process and spark new creativity in our approach to using traditional yarns and materials.
Kathleen Remsa is a member of Harmony Weavers Guild and South Jersey Weavers Guild. She is a fiber artist currently living in Mount Laurel, New Jersey. She attained a Bachelor of Science from Cook College, Rutgers University in Plant Science and a Master of Science in Textile Design from Philadelphia University. After recently concluding a fifteen-year career designing and styling jacquard woven fabrics and collections for the residential and outdoor markets for Sunbury Textile Mill and Glen Raven Corporation, Kathleen now devotes her full attention to creating fiber art and instructing others in the design process and textile explorations.
NOTE: Guild members who would like Kathleen to consider particular unconventional materials they are interested in are invited to send her their ideas in advance of the meeting. They can email her at kbremsa@aol.com.
You can join the program beginning at 9:45 am.
The presentation will begin at 10, and will be followed by the business meeting.