“The Fabric of Art” with the Williamsburg Spinners and Weavers Guild
featuring
Catherine Bond, Elizabeth Bunch, Ginger Flynn, Janet Griffin, Caryn Hogg, Gudrun Kiel-Bullock, Kathy Kuhn, Sara McCourt, Sandra Petty, Kate Swanson, and Caron Veynar
Opening reception: Friday, April 4th
5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
This April, join Arts on Main and the Williamsburg Spinners and Weavers Guild as they celebrate Fiber Arts! The eleven featured artists have used beads, plant and animal fibers, and assorted dyes to create stunning works of art. The pieces range from felted and woven wall hangings to clothing made from handspun yarn to intricately delicate shawls and wraps. This distinct show challenges viewers to reevaluate the intersection of art and functional objects and encourages all to find ways to spin and weave art into their everyday lives. Don’t miss your chance to see the beauty of fiber!
This show will open on Friday, April 4th from 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM. Live music will be provided by Ami Baker. Light hors d'oeuvres will be served and beer + wine will be available for purchase. The show will be on display at Arts on Main until Saturday, April 26th. The gallery is open Wednesday - Saturday 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM.
Many thanks to our April Exhibit Sponsors, Vera and Chris Green!
About the Williamsburg Spinners & Weavers Guild
Williamsburg Spinners and Weavers Guild is an educational organization formed in 1986 to foster interest in spinning, weaving and the related fiber arts, and to encourage the exchange of information and inspiration among members and the greater community and region at large. Anyone interested in spinning, weaving, knitting, felting, etc. is welcome to join. The members are located primarily in the Williamsburg area and on the Middle and Northern Necks.
MEET A FEW OF THE ARTISTS!
ELIZABETH BUNCH
“I started knitting at baseball, football and wrestling practices. I picked up a drop spindle in 2013 and was immediately engrossed with yarn structure. Color was the next addition, so I started dyeing fiber in my kitchen with food color and other things found in my kitchen. I acquired my first wheel in 2015, so I had to start processing fleeces to feed the beast. Joining the Williamsburg Spinners and Weavers Guild in March of 2023 has been a revelation, creatively.”
JANET GRIFFIN
Hi I’m Janet Griffin, retired elementary art teacher. Yes, I had a great time doing that for 40 years. So now I get to teach adults, and I must say it has been fabulous. So my work is based on our natural world, I find texture in colors to be so alluring. Both weaving and felting we will explore.
KATHY KUHN
Kathy Kuhn, a Williamsburg-based fiber artist, has loved fiber and textiles for a lifetime. Kathy earned her Bachelor of Clothing and Textiles from Auburn University in 1976 and her Master of Science in Textiles and Clothing with Minor in Handweaving from the University of Tennessee in 1978.
“My textile journey began as a child crocheting dresses for troll dolls, then designing and sewing clothing. While majoring in Clothing and Textiles at Auburn University, a corner room in the Home Economics (yes, I went to school when Home Ec was taught!) building had a room full of looms. I was hooked - drawn to color and texture. Weaving allows an endless possibility to express oneself and produce fun and functional items. When I’m not weaving I can be found working in my garden, walking my dog, working out at the JCC Rec Center, or the best times are spent visiting one of my three sons, or playing with one of my 5 grandsons or the Princess. Yes, one granddaughter!”
SARA MCCOURT
An avid knitter, Sara found that the needles in her hands were the gateway tool to a deeper passion: fiber. Wondering about the sourcing and processing of her mail-order wools led her to complete her Master’s Spinning Certification program at the Olds College in Alberta, Canada. She then began to use her handspun yarns in weaving. This of course led to the use of natural and synthetic dyes in her work. Now,Sara spins and dyes her own yarn, fibers, and fabrics for use in her various fiber arts.
SANDI PETTY
A weaver, designer, seamstress, teacher. I came to weaving by the luck of environment! My mother learned to weave from our neighbor, so from the age of 9 or 10 there has been weaving in my life. Sewing hand wovens came when my mom would give me yardage she had woven and say,” do something with this!” I am challenged by yarn, fiber and yardage that I purchase or is gifted to me, and I love to find purpose for discarded items. I have added to my knowledge through fiber friends, guilds and classes. I now spin, make Kumihimo braids, stitch Japanese style Tamari balls and find ways to combine these skills with my sewing to produce decorative and useful products.
KATHRYN SWANSON
Kathryn “Kate” Swanson’s love of art began at an early age with art classes starting when she was about five years old. Since then, she has explored a wide variety of media including painting, drawing, pastel, pottery, glass, and fiber. Today, she primarily works in fiber, embracing a medium and technique that she has loved since elementary school. She sees her weaving as a meditative practice that is both calming and exhilarating, and she loves creating works of art that are aesthetically pleasing and often functional. Taking the cloth off the loom and realizing that she’s transformed yarn into handwoven art is one of her favorite parts of being an artist. When she is not weaving, Kate is the Executive Director of Gloucester Arts on Main.
Live music will be provided by Ami Baker.
Thank you to our First Friday Music Sponsor, Yolanda’s!
Ami Baker is 29 year-old female musician local to Gloucester VA. She is a singer-songwriter, lover of Jesus, and she enjoys writing songs to make people feel less alone.