6/06/2014

The Aesthetic Appeal Of Fiber Art Quilts

By Sally Delacruz


A traditional quilt is made up wadding or batting between two fabric layers. Quilt making was very popular as a craft for centuries. However, soon artists were seduced by the variety of fabrics and techniques available to them and began to stretch the boundaries of traditional quilting. They began producing fiber art quilts, sometimes using traditional themes but reinterpreting and adapting them.

In the 1960s and 1970s traditional quilt making was popular but before long quilters began to stretch the possibilities presented by the vast array fabrics, threads and techniques available to them. Traditional rules regarding quilting were ignored and a new form of expression came into being.

Each artist uses different techniques, fabrics and threads to bring their project to life. The use of fiber to do so offers them a flexible medium and painting, dyeing, stamping and tearing are all possible. A variety of colors and textures are used to bring depth and excitement to pieces. Each piece is different, created painstakingly by the artist and taking many hours of work.

The techniques used to create these pieces are vary from embroidery, weaving and collage to knitting and crochet. Traditionally, stitching was the means of holding the layers of the quilt together. However, stitching is now used to add another whole element, contributing to the design and the texture. Artists experiment constantly with new techniques and materials, playing with color, combining shapes and developing textures.

Many of these artists receive their inspiration from nature. Some autumn leaves, a sunset, a walk on the beach and many other simple aspects of nature can be interpreted in such a piece. The variety of styles is vast, from representational to abstract and impressionistic. A simple idea or a concept can be a catalyst for a design.

All art quilters are faced with a decision on how to finish their pieces. The actual quilt may be given a border or binding may be used but then there is the question as to whether it should be framed. Many fiber artists feel it is more consistent with their aesthetic not to use frames, especially when a piece is designed to hang in a private, comfortable space like a bedroom or living room.

Prices of these items can be fairly high as many hours of work and lots of materials go into each piece. The number of hours taken to design and execute the piece plays a large part in the price. The materials used is another factor taken into account as well as whether the piece is framed. A price per square foot is usually arrived at after all factors have been considered.

Artists often spend many hours on a piece and put their heart and soul into their work. The combination of techniques and materials used as well as the vision and labor of each artist is what makes a piece unique and desirable. As the debate over what constitutes art or craft continues, there is no doubt that many of these items are not just craft but an artwork in their own right.




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