Blarney Yarn 8/23/22 Blarney Yarn 8/23/22

Char Norman: Hope

Year: 2022

Category: Design

Venue: Convergence 2022, Knoxville

About Char:

Char Norman is an accomplished fiber artist specializing in weaving, papermaking, and fiber sculpture. Her work addresses environmental issues and the enduring need for all things to exist in a symbiotic relationship with none dominant over another. She received a Master of Fine Art from Claremont Graduate University, a Bachelor of Art from Scripps College and participated in numerous residencies across the nation and abroad. She has lectured and exhibited extensively both nationally and internationally, winning numerous grants and awards. She has developed and conducted workshops for all ages, worked as a consultant to area schools and community arts organizations, and served as a trustee for Greater Columbus Arts Council. She held the positions of Associate Provost and Dean of Faculty at Columbus College of Art & Design. Now as a fulltime studio artist, she draws inspiration from her many travels and explorations of natural environments. Her work can be found at www.charnorman.com and https://www.instagram.com/charstegernorman/

About the work:

Hope

Most of my work speaks of environmental issues and the need to protect and respect the natural world. The woven parts are inspired by seed pods and to me represent either wombs or shrouds-nurturing nature or grieving its demise. In this piece I wanted to present a more uplifting viewpoint. The woven pod incases milkweed seed pods which have already released their seeds into the world. The colors are soft and serene to aid in the feeling of quiet hope. The forms are fitted together in an attitude of harmony. My work usually starts on the loom where I engineer the shape of the pod. Off the loom I finish the edges and further define the shape by coiling the edges. The piece is the assembled with natural materials which I have found on my many nature walks.

Blarney Yarn 8/23/22 Blarney Yarn 8/23/22

Ruth Ronan: "Sunset Over the Smokies" Coat

Year: 2022

Category: Color

Venue: Convergence 2022, Knoxville

From Ruth:

“I have been sewing and making many of my clothes since I was in my early teens. I have taken tailoring classes and made fully tailored jackets for my husband. I bought a loom and begin weaving in 1966 but when my husband died I went back to school and to work and the loom went to the garage for about 20 years. I began weaving again in 1999. I attended my first Convergence in Vancouver, BC, Canada in 2002 and entered my first garment in the Fashion Show in Tampa Bay in 2008. In 2010, Convergence was in Albuquerque and Teresa Ruch produced official painted skeins of 5/2 Tencel in colors we selected for the conference. I purchased some of her painted skeins and wanted to make a shawl and have the colors come together in the warp. So I developed a way to turn the skeins into a “painted” warp (See article in Handwoven - September/October 2010 issue). I liked the results and thought the fabric would make a nice coat. So for the 2022 Convergence I ordered about 15 skeins from Teresa, selected a Vintage Coat pattern (S8509 from Simplicity) and got to work. I selected black satin fabric for the collar and cuffs and a bright yellow fabric for the lining.”