September 21 - October 18, 1997
Fabric of Life: 150 Years of Northern California Fiber Art History
ARTISTS
Mar Adams,
Artist unknown (Karuk),
Artist unknown (Maidu),
Artists unknown (Lower Klamath River),
Artist unknown (Pomo),
Artist unknown (Shasta),
Artist unknown (Yurok),
Ruth Asawa,
Gaza Bowen,
Judy Chicago,
Marian Clayden,
Lia Cook,
Dominic Di Mare,
Emily DuBois,
Raymond Duncan,
Lillian Elliott,
Valborg (Mama) Gravander,
Thomassin Grim,
Trude Guermonprez,
Ana Lisa Hedstrom,
Marisa Hernandez,
Lucien Labaudt,
Cora Laine,
Marilyn Larkin,
Jean-Pierre Larochette and Yael Lurie, Jean Ray Laury,
Dorothy Liebes,
Margery Livingston,
Nance O'Banion,
Linda R. MacDonald,
K. Lee Manuel,
Madeline Mason,
Susanna Matthay,
Helen Pope,
Patricia Ravarra,
Nanilee S. Robarge,
Michael Roman,
Ed Rossbach,
Debra S.
Kay, Sekimachi, Barbara Shawcroft,
Martha Stanely,
Isabella Lillie, Syme
Chi Tominaga,
Rosie Lee Tompkins,
Frank Tuttle,
Consuelo Jimenez Underwood,
Lydia Van Gelder,
Katherine Westphal,
Flo Oy Wong,
Kaisik Wong,
Marguerite Zorach.
California art history has been the subject of a
number of studies that emphasize the media of painting, sculpture and
photography. This exhibition shifts the lens of study to focus on fiber
and textiles.
By starting with Native American art and then moving through time to
the present, we have attempted to weave a Northern California fiber
art history. Northern California, (here defined as reaching north to
the Salmon River and extending south to include Monterey-Fresno 37th
parallel) represents a distinct region with distinct voices that are
historically significant. Many different issues, influences, and vocabulary
surface as we examine this history.
This exhibition was organized collaboratively. Regrettably, gallery space
limitations precluded our ability to represent the work of more than
a handful of artists from any given time. We have altogether excluded
fabric production, fashion, and theatrical costume, although San Francisco's
reputation in this area is such that it is worthy of it's own separate
study.
- Mark Johnson
CATALOG ESSAYS (Click to read)
Weaving the End of the World?
by Julian Lang
Contemporary Developments in Northern California Fiber and
Textile Art
by Candace Crockett with notes by Vanessa Van Orden
Tapestry: The French
Connection by Joyce Hulbert
