Art

Stella magazine (Denmark) is about to release their first issue, which opens with "Why Patchwork is So Damn Cool". I'm thrilled that they asked to include my artwork on the back cover. Read more about this on Embroidery As Art.

It's been too long since I spent some time on my own embroidery work. I've been working really hard on updating some older pattern sheets and stitching those samples. But, as I was cleaning up my desk, I unfolded my ongoing collaboration with Jim Woodring of numerous, dancing jivas. Sigh. If only I could make art all day long. Jim also has a new book out: Weathercraft (Fantagraphics).

Jim Woodring Embroidery Patterns

SnB with Mary Woodring

"Somewhere in the Reef II" by Erin Paisley

The group show, "Lost At Sea", is still on display (until June 11th) at Gallery Hanahou in NYC. I have three works in the show, of stitching and colored pencil on bristol. Some of my favorite pieces available are by Erin Paisley. All of the work is affordable, unique -and sadly, the subject matter is timely and poignant considering the catastrophic events taking place in the Gulf Atlantic.

Purchase works from "Lost At Sea"

Things have been so busy around here that I didn't even have a chance to post about my solo show that opened this past Saturday, May 1st here in Austin. "Study Hall Drawings" are pencil portraits of students from my own high school year books embellished with hand-drawn embroidery "stitches" in colored pencil. There are 15 drawings in all. I have work in two more shows opening this week in NYC and Indianapolis, so be sure to check my exhibitions schedule over on JennyHart.net and my Embroidery As Art blog for full details on each show.

Study Hall Drawings by Jenny Hart

works can be viewed / purchased here

@ Domy Books, Austin

Exhibition runs May 1st - June 10, 2010

*I will be giving a gallery talk about the work on Wednesday June 9th

Check out Ryan Berkley's embroidered contribution to a group show of modern stitching! (Has the world finally gone contemporary embroidery crazy? I've been waiting for this day.)

"One Stitch Forward, One Stitch Back"
@Redux Gallery, Portland, Oregon
811 east Burnside #110
Portland, Oregon

Related:

Ryan Berkley on Dinosaurs + Robots

As I mentioned earlier, Renegade Handmade in Chicago is having a group show called In Stitches and since I just did a workshop and book-signing there, I got to see the work up close and personal. Short of blogging each person individually, I will give you the warm satisfaction that comes with discovering these artists on your own with helpful leads to some new favorites of mine (and I'm going to blog more individually. Be sure to keep an eye on Embroidery As Art too):

Minature Rhino

Pidge Pidge

Gillian Bates

Lucky Jackson

Link to all the artists and info on the show

A few years ago, someone sent me a link to Marjane Satrapi's graphic novel, Embroideries. Her other books and film, Persepolis are much-better known and I finally read all three of her works this fall (thanks, Elli for loaning them to me!). Embroideries is a work apart in that it deals exclusively with the women in her family sitting around for a ritual of drinking tea and telling secrets and sharing gossip. While "embroidery" could refer to the embellishment of the stories, it has a much more specific meaning that is related by one of Satrapi's aunts. I'll have to let you find out for yourself what "embroidery" means to them.

Link to Satrapi's Books

Related: The Subversive Stitch

On my flight home from France last week, I saw an article about Etsy in the in-flight magazine. It was illustrated by Lizzie Finn and I had to follow up and learn more about her embroidered illustrations. I especially like this piece she did for Vogue.

Link

Tonight is the opening of Over & Under, a show of stitches that I was invited to curate for Yard Dog Gallery here in Austin. I'm really, really excited to have all this wonderful work in one place like this, for the first time in Austin. I want to thank all the artists who enthusiastically participated and made it all possible.

This week is the opening of Fils Croisés at Galeri LJ in Paris, the second group exhibition of contemporary textiles that I'm participating in (last weekend was the opening of Sur le Fil in Lille). Curated by Adeline Jeudy, this show includes works by Sandrine Pelletier, Jenny Hart, Céline Cléron, Birgit Dieker, Anne Geoffroy, Olivier Kosta-Théfaine, Valérie Newland et Yaze.

Fils Croisés
Galerie LJ, 12 rue Commines, Paris
opening: Thursday October 15 at 7pm
(show continues until the beginning of Nov.)

My mom is coming over for the opening! I'll have six works on display: three embroidered pieces and three drawings (like the portrait above). Last spring I began a series of portraits of high school classmates. Instead of doing any actual embroidery, I began drawing the stitches around the portraits for embellishment. A solo show of these portraits is slated for June 2010 at Domy Books in Austin.

Wish you could be here! But, you probably can more easily make it to Over and Under in Austin, which is happening next month!