Workshops at Kingswood

One of the exciting elements of working at Cranbrook is the history of textile work evident in the surroundings. At the girl's high school on campus - Kingswood- there is a weaving studio with approximately 65 looms and a full time artist in residence- Lynn Bennett-Carpenter- teaching weaving as well as other fiber processes. Lynn proposed that the students in the Academy Fiber Department have a show of their work in Kingswood's gallery in exchange the Academy students would provide workshops to the Kingswood students. Earlier this semester my students made proposals to Lynn for workshops and Lynn chose several technical workshops and individual lecturers to present to the Kingswood students. The first workshop happened at the end of October and was presented by Casey Droege and Amy DiPlacido. It introduced the students to silk screen printing and sewing as tools to transform the common t-shirt. Here are some photos from Amy and Casey's workshop.




Rosemary Dardick presented a workshop on embroidery and Mary Smull lectured earlier this month. Next semester Megan Heeres has a sewing workshop scheduled and Rose Pink, Emily Nachison, and Tricia Stackle are slated to co-teach a felting workshop.

A Visit From Amy Honchell

We were lucky to have Amy Honchell pay the Fiber Department a visit for a few days in October. Amy is an artist and teacher based in Chicago at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She creates site-specific installations using stretch fabric, found objects and sound and has exhibited in many venues around the country. She spent two full days in the department giving individual critiques and candid advice about being an installation artist out in the "real world". She was extremely honest and approachable with a great sense of humor about life, art and herself. She provided us with thoughtful insight into our work, materials and processes. Amy also gave an artist talk in the Media Center at Cranbrook to the Fiber Department, as well as students from Sculpture, Architecture, and Print Media. We then hosted a dinner for her and her husband in the department. It was a casual evening in which we shared stories and experiences about a life in the arts. Amy wrapped up her visit with a question and answer session in which she encouraged us to continually pursue opportunities for showing and teaching. Having graduated with an MFA relatively recently, she offered very useful, pertinent advice. Amy was generous with all of her insight into and knowledge of her own practice, as well as our own individual artistic practices. 

Almost everyone before Fanfare

As the headline says, here is a photo of most of the department just before Fanfare. Fanfare is an annual fundraising event at the Academy. Patrons visit each of the normally private studios at the Academy, speak with the students, and eat dinner with the Artist in residence and second year students from the department.

They are seated front: JaYoung Yoon. Standing first row left to right: Derya Hanife Altan, Mary Smull, Amy Diplacido. And the back row: Tricia Stackle, Ema Ishii, Souk Jin Park, Rose Pink, Megan Heeres, Rosemary Dardick, Corrie Baldauf, and Casey Droege. Missing are Emily Nachison and Ashley Allen Short.

Berlin in October

As I mentioned in my last post, many things have been happening in and out of the studio. One of the most exciting developments of October was the opportunity for me to travel to Berlin for the opening reception of Forwards 08, and exhibition at Daimler Contemporary. Daimler Contemporary is the gallery run by Daimler Financial, one of Cranbrook's major benefactors, and the sponsors of the annual Emerging Artist Award. In May Annica Cuppetelli was chosen as the winner of the Emerging Artist Award. Annica was a student in the Fiber Department starting with Jane Lackey and then working with me last year.

On October 10 I was in Berlin to introduce Annica at the opening and represent Cranbrook at the ceremony. The show which looked fantastic, included several of Annica's work. She will be in Berlin for a couple of months with the support of Daimler, researching fashion in the city. You can see more about the show, Annica, and Daimler Contemporary at:

http://www.sammlung.daimlerchrysler.com/contemporary/08_09_forwards08/forwards08_index_emergingartist_e.htm