Karen Kamenetzky Fiber Art

A bit scary but very exciting

karenkamenetzky — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:44:49 +0000

I’ve been invited to submit a proposal for a commission to produce a VERY large installation for a new healthcare facility.

This is new territory for me-both in regards to the size and the process. Initially I felt intimidated by it all. But I’m pleased to report that I’ve shifted to a place of loving the challenge!

After spending hours looking at aerial maps of the area AND looking at cellular level images of the healing that takes place at this facility…I’ve started working on sketches that integrate both. Aerial views of course have similar lines, patterns and organic shapes as what you see through a microscope. So it didn’t feel like such a big leap. I’ll be proposing a triptych that includes both views and hopefully ties them together compositionally.
Here’s a peak at a very early loose sketch:

early sketch-detail

Whether my proposal is accepted or not, this has forced me to stretch in a new direction and I’m grateful.

100+ Posts

karenkamenetzky — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 13:07:05 +0000

I just passed the 100 post mark on this blog. When I started it 2 1/2 years ago, I was skeptical of its value- to me OR to others. In my initial post I said:

” I’m hoping this blog will be a way for me to be more reflective about my own creative process and to start dialogues with other art makers and appreciators.”

Surprisingly, I feel maintaining this blog has helped me be more self-reflective about my twisty creative path and what outside influences come onto play. Though posting regularly is always a challenge.

Roots of Rhythm II detail

And I’ve certainly heard from lots of folks and appreciate their comments!. I’d love more back and forth discussions to be happening though. I need to get better at directly asking for feedback!
Any suggestions about what you’d like to hear more (or less!) about in this blog??

Goats and art

karenkamenetzky — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 22:09:15 +0000

My good friends have a herd of beautiful white newly shorn Angora goats AND big bags full of mohair. Looking at those silky curls, I immediately saw great nuno felting possibilities.

So this past weekend my friend Kris and I and my longtime Little Sister, Haley (through the Big Brothers Big Sisters program) and a young member of the goat owning family, Delaney, got together and dyed mohair. Lots of mohair.

dyepots and us

The girls picked the colors, mixed the dyes and stirred in the locks to watch the magical tranformations in the dye pots.

The results were stunningly rich colors.

newly dyed mohair

the results!

The mohair dried quickly next to my wood stove and maintained its brilliant color.
Next weekend: We teach the girls to make nuno felt!

Ten day sale starts on Friday

karenkamenetzky — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 21:04:58 +0000

My Thank you Friends and Fans Sale will offer 16 of my wall hangings at steeply discounted prices ONLY available to folks on my mailing list and only for 10 days.

Not yet on my list? Join by using the link on this page (see it there on the right?) I’ll send you the link to access my sale site on Friday morning.

Cellular Dance I

Bad timing-my iron just died

karenkamenetzky — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 00:07:42 +0000

I didn’t know an iron could suddenly die. But it did right in the middle of a lovely afternoon of fusing down many many many small handcut silk pretend letters/symbols/code.

Pretend letters/symbols/code

Work on this new piece, You Are Here, has been flowing. Lots of technical challenges that usually really throw me but not this time! The silk and I were one.Kumbaya. Cutting and fusing and ripping off and re-fusing while listening to my favorite podcasts…

You Are Here-fusing the little bits

…and then-a cold iron.

But I’m still happy. I’ll buy myself a new one tomorrow. Meanwhile there are hours of stitching to be done.

Getting to Gray

karenkamenetzky — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 13:26:53 +0000

No not my hair, it’s there already.

My new piece, tentatvely titled “You Are Here”, is predominently made of silk gauze dyed to various values of gray. There will be some saturated color at the end but right now my eyes are adjusting to sometimes very subtle variations in gray. I originally acid dyed a batch but have found I need more of the darker variety. So I have been Mickey Mouse overdyeing for days using old containers of black Setacolor and fabric paints.

Dyed gray silk drying on a rack

A messy business indoors. And it is HARD to come up with just the right nuance of gray!! It’s too greenish or purplish or bluish. Of course it all looks the same wet so I have to let it dry and then iron it to see the results. I tried drying still damp silk in the dryer…trust me, don’t do this.

After 5 overdye attempts, I think I finally hit on a batch that hopefully will work!

Gray silk gauze strips

Thank You Fans and Friends Sale!

karenkamenetzky — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 13:40:26 +0000

This once a year sale starts Friday, December 2nd and ends Sunday, December 11th.
10 days • 15%-30% off • MANY pieces (including those below)
Only open to those on my mailing list!
Join my mailing list to get in on the sale-click the link near the top right on this page.

Cellular Dance

Map of Memory

I finally got my camera situation fixed so I can post about the newest piece I’m working on. I decided I wanted to explore more ways to manipulate and layer dyed silk gauze. I love the subtle shifts in color and value when it’s folded or pleated and the wonderfully organic serendipitous edges that are created when ironing it down.

But I knew doing this on a larger scale was going to take me into Technical Difficulties. Which it has. But I’ve perservered. Here’s the working sketch for this piece:

"You Are Here" working sketch

I first acid dyed yards of silk gauze in gradations of gray and blue gray. I have since overdyed some of the fabric with setacolor to tone some of it down.
Here’s a peek at a detail of the work in progress:

You Are Here-in progress 1

I’ll post more soon about my inspiration behind this design.

Sale opportunity ahead

karenkamenetzky — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 13:53:03 +0000

I’m planning to launch a limited time sale in the next month. It’s a way of giving back to my supporters! The sale will only be open to folks on my mailing list.

If you’re not yet on it, click the link near the right hand top of this page and join!

Saying goodbye to the solo show…

karenkamenetzky — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 13:52:22 +0000

My show at the Brattleboro Museum ends on Sunday. Though it’s a bit sad, I’ve learned so much from this experience and am grateful for the opportunity.

One view of part of the exhibit

It pushed me out of my comfort zone; dealing with a curator, gracefully (I hope) interacting with the public, needing to be clear and articulate about my art making and finally giving an artist talk.

Another view-taken by my daugther and supporter, Josie

I feel more confident now and excited and charged about my next project. As soon as I find my camera, I’ll post some about that!