This month’s exhibit features works by a fabric art critique group known as “Joined by Stitch.” The artists include Betsy Abbott of Andover, Tarja Cockell of North Andover, Sue Colozzi of Reading, Janis Doucette of North Reading, Anne Kimball of Lexington, Madalene Axford Murphy of Amesbury, and Alanna Nelson of Melrose. They are all members of SAQA, Studio Art Quilt Associates, a major national organization of quilt artists, as well as several other regional fiber arts groups. They first came together nearly two years ago to support their individual journeys as artists. Every member uses fiber in creating her work but each has also developed a unique voice ranging from the abstract to the representational. While all value color, line, and texture, they achieve those goals through a variety of techniques, some beginning with hand-dyeing, printing or painting, even weaving the fabric, others using the evocative commercial fabrics available today. All use machine stitching in their work but some add hand stitching as a design element. Once a month the members bring work to a meeting, seeking either feedback from the rest of the group for a finished piece or advice on a particular aspect of a work in progress. Their exhibition is available for viewing during regular library hours. The public is also invited to a special evening gathering, “Meet the Artists,” on Tuesday, April 17 from 7:00 to 8:00pm.
Group member Betsy Abbott has said, “We represent a rapidly growing number of diverse, fiber artists in our country and around the world, and we are delighted to have this local opportunity to share some of our work.”
For information about the work on display visit