Fiber Archives - Tallahassee Arts Guide

Share

Shalini Agarwal

Shalini Goel Agarwal trained in Odissi with Guru Jyoti Rout, the founder of Jyoti Kala Mandir and winner of the Mahari Award, in the bay area, California, since 2001. Prior to that, Shalini had studied Bharatnatyam for a number of years and completed her arangetram. Shalini had her ranga puja, or first full-length solo recital in 2006, and was selected to perform in the prestigious San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival that year. Shalini has performed extensively since and moved to Tallahassee with her family in 2016. She put on her first solo show here, Aarambha, in 2017 and continues to perform and teach in the Tallahassee area.

Connie Betterley

Visual Arts: Fiber, Textiles

The ever-changing colors, textures, and beauty of nature is the source of inspiration for my art quilts. Through the characteristics of the fabric, design, and piecing process, I try to capture the essence of nature's spirit rather than mimic every detail. As a result, each quilt allows the viewer to use their imagination and make their own connection with the subject. The fabrics I use most often are cotton batiks and my own hand-dyed fabrics. The richness of color and variation of design in these fabrics reflects the imperfections in nature's beauty and brings texture and depth to the designs. Some designs are meticulously planned at the beginning of the process, while others are more spontaneously designed as I work with the fabrics. All of my art quilts are machine-pieced to bring structural integrity to the finished art. With larger works, I collaborate with other machine quilters to choose the thread and pattern of the final quilt stitches, which join my pieced design with the inner layer of cotton batting and the outer back layer of fabric. This final process always transforms the pieced design into a unified whole and adds a subtle secondary layer of pattern and texture to the quilt. By tapping into nature's colors and themes, each quilt presents a challenge to express part of nature's complexity. Just as in nature, where time is measured by the quiet passing of seasons, each quilt has the potential to transform the viewer's moods and emotions.

Mikael Byrd

Multi Arts; Visual Arts: Ceramics, Crafts, Earthworks, Fiber, Graphic Arts, Illustration, Jewelry, Mixed Media, Murals, Painting, Printmaking, Sculpture, Works on paper

Undergraduate in Fine Arts at FSU. Planning to continue through to my Masters in the BA/MS Art Education Program. Future Art Educator, Museum Art Educator, and Exhibition Artist.

Alice Cappa

Teaching Artist/Instructor: Guest Speaker for Schools/Classrooms, Multi-Day Artist Residency for Schools/Classrooms, Private Lessons for Kids, Workshop Presenter for Schools/Classrooms; Visual Arts: Crafts, Fiber, Mixed Media, Textiles, Visual Arts Instructor; multi activities for ESE students, camp field trips and private groups

My handwoven wearables in natural fibers integrate a variety of techniques. A favorite is Leno-lace, with which I shape imagery as I progress up the warp on a 4-harness loom. Tri-weaving allows a simple technique to mix in a myriad of textures, colors, trims, or beads. Another is handspinning, whirling "art yarns" with fleece from my sheep that are hand-dyed on a fire with nature's colors. And a related activity, paper-making, brings together fiber, color, and collage. I demo any of these processes for schools, camp field trips, and kid's or adult workshops. Various activities have developed through VSA artist residencies for ESE students in schools since 1980. For the "Dyed 'N Wool" activities, my home studio/farmette now welcomes visiting groups of young artists. Come feed the sheep, weave on the loom, find out where color really comes from, and create a take-home project. Or I can come to you with all equipment and maybe a lamb, too. For selected wearables, my work is shown at local galleries or festivals, and exhibited around the Southeast since 1980.

Jay Clay

Visual Arts: Fiber, Graphic Arts, Jewelry, New Media/Technology, Printmaking

Hey, I’m Jay (he/him or they/them), and I'm studying math and studio art at Florida State University. I enjoy incorporating both the mathematical and artistic to find new perspectives. I hope to continue this combination in science communication/graphics and AI art.

Linda Weber Collins

Performing Arts: Music; Teaching Artist/Instructor: Guest Speaker for Schools/Classrooms, Multi-Day Artist Residency for Schools/Classrooms, Performer for Schools/Classrooms, Private Lessons for Adults, Private Lessons for Kids, Workshop Presenter for Schools/Classrooms; Visual Arts: Crafts, Fiber, Jewelry

Linda Weber Collins earned a Bachelor of Music Education in piano and cello at Florida State University before being seduced by Celtic music during 10 years living in Ireland. On her return to the U.S., Linda’s heart was captured by the sweet sound of the dulcimer. A Florida State Champion on Mountain Dulcimer and in Old Time Singing, Linda teaches dulcimer, piano, strings and voice in the piney woods of North Florida. She performs and teaches at festivals from Florida to New England and online, promoting a musical genre which she calls “chamber folk.” Her two dulcimer books in the Beyond the Basics series are highly regarded. Two books, Melodies of the Scottish Isles and Mainland and Melodies from the Celtic World, were published during the pandemic. Her 2022 project was Tunes from the Roaring ‘20s. In 2023, she published Celtic Duets. Teaching music is Linda’s passion. Her goal is to make music a meaningful part of her students’ lives. www.cabinhillstudios.com Linda Weber Collins is also a Fiber Artist. She creates handknits for the Florida cllimate and boho style fiber-based jewelry. She relies on natural fibers such as cotton, linen, silk and wool in creating her original designs. Her signature shawl | shrug | cowl is designed for comfort in overly cold AC or on a cool evening. You can find her work at the LeMoyne Holiday Show, the AHA Gallery in Havana, other local galleries and sometimes at the Saturday Downtown Marketplace.

Rachel Dixon

Graphic Arts; Visual Arts: Ceramics, Crafts, Fiber, Functional and/or Decorative, Graphic Arts, Illustration, Mixed Media, Painting, Textiles, Works on paper

I am a young aspiring artist just starting my career. I am an undergrad junior year student at Florida State University, and I'm currently working on my BA in Studio Art. I specialize in drawing with graphite and ink on paper and collage but have experience with painting and mixed media. Currently, I'm dabbling in a form of collage involving sewing and stuffed animals.

Pam Doffek

Visual Arts: Crafts, Fiber, Functional and/or Decorative, Jewelry, Textiles

I do multi-medium, multi-dimension philanthropic art. I teach, work and contribute in quilting, embroidery, and many types of fiber. I'm a member of Quilters Unlimited of Tallahassee; Canopy Oaks Chapter Embroiderers' Guild of America (EGA); Rags2Bags (Sustainable Tallahassee); A Bag For Hope; LeMoyne Arts, Sustainable Tallahassee and Sunrise Rotary. I'm a volunteer Cuddler at the TMH NICU.

Linda Schuyler Ford

Literary Arts; Visual Arts: Architectural Illustration, Constructions/Collage, Fiber, Film, Functional and/or Decorative, Glasswork

Linda Schuyler Ford is a traditional Storyteller/Spoken Word Artist whose repertoire includes personal narrative, folk and fairy tales, and literacy stories. She is in demand for performances of women's stories, stories of peace/community building, and for performing the works of Washington Irving. She has performed at museums, festivals, and community centers along the east coast, and is the producer of two popular storytelling events: Stories at Blue, and Storytelling House Concerts at Dragonfly Lodge. You will also find her in the center of storytelling coaching retreats; she is respected as an insightful and encouraging teacher among both new and seasoned storytellers. Linda combines her love of story with a career in long term care, and has developed "Aging Out Loud" and "Tell, Touch, and Triumph" both offer innovative and diverse storytelling training in Medicine Stories to long term care and health care professionals.

Valerie Goodwin

Teaching Artist/Instructor; Visual Arts: Crafts, Fiber, Mixed Media, Textiles, Visual Arts Instructor

ARTIST’S STATEMENT: Valerie S. Goodwin is an Architect and Professor who began designing and making quilts in 1998. Her interest began as part of her involvement in teaching architectural design classes at Florida A& M University's School of Architecture. Her students investigate parallels between architecture and quilting as an introduction to ideas about composition, ordering systems, color and pattern. Her work as an artist uses architectural elements such as built form, city grid, mapping and composition as a source of inspiration. These pieces are part of a continuing investigation of ideas that focus on geometrical relationships, patterns and ordering principles found in architecture. Her work conveys these ideas abstractly, through the use of collage, layering, transparency, density and improvisation. BIOGRAPHY: She is an Architect and college Professor educated at Yale University and Washington University in St. Louis. She became very interested in designing and making quilts in 1998 as an outgrowth of her architectural background. It began as part of an investigation in the design classes that she teaches at Florida A& M University’s School of Architecture. Students were asked to investigate parallels between architecture and quilting. They studied issues related to composition, ordering systems, color and pattern. As a result, she felt compelled to gain actual experience with this medium. To her surprise, she found the design and making of quilts as engaging as the design and study of architecture.

Jennifer Haskins

Visual Arts: Fiber, Sculpture, Textiles, Visual Arts Instructor; Hatter/Milliner

I am a transplant to Tallahassee, FL from Asheville, NC. My mission is to fuse inspiration, style and comfort in handcrafted hats.We are all so wonderfully unique, beautiful and quirky! I want to help you love and express your awesomeness. I am a designer who uses natural fibers to craft hats as an art accessory of self-expression. I use two techniques when crafting my hats; cut & sewn and blocked. When blocking a hat I use a wool felt body that is hood shaped and a hat block. A hat block is a crown shaped mold made from smooth, soft wood. I begin by steaming the wool to loosen the wool fibers which makes it stretchy. I then quickly stretch the wool over the hat block, pulling and pinning until it is smooth against the wood. I use an iron to manipulate the bottom of the wool body into the brim. My berets are an example of the cut and sewn technique. I design the pattern using paper and then use that pattern to cut pieces from flat fabric that are sewn together to make the hat. I am inspired by the ways art, music and fashion set trends and help define a generation. I aim to obtain an edge of timelessness in all my hats. Recently as an artist I have been using the techniques and tools used in hat making to create soft sculptures that are an expression of emotions.

Venessa Hurst

Visual Arts: Fiber, Painting, Visual Arts Instructor

I have always been creative; music was my first passion. I have a B.S. in Music (vocal concentration) from Liberty University. I have enjoyed various art classes over time, but fell in love with Fluid Art about 2 years ago. Since that time I have worked on various techniques with in the land of Fluid Art. It is such a freeing art form. While a great deal of planning and color theory come into play; there is still an aspect of the unknown. I like how that helps me let go from by busy life and work schedule as a Project Manager for a local construction company. I also enjoy crochet and getting to work with various fibers and yarns to create beautiful pieces that can ben treasured and serve a useful purpose. I donate many blankets, hats to the local hospitals as a way of giving back and using my skills to comfort others.

Celeste Ivory

Visual Arts: Fiber, Mixed Media, Sculpture, Textiles

Bio Celeste Ivory is a visual artist based in Tallahassee, the capital city of the Sunshine State. Ivory holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in Studio Art, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology from Florida State University. She was employed in historic preservation for a decade. Her many craft practice and artmaking experiences led her to found Ivory Tower Collective and return to FSU to pursue the field of studio art as a career. She now works in the FSU Department of Art as adjunct faculty. Statement contemplation on moments of intersection in life | the creation of opportunities to intertwine and meld, or support and connect with others | impulses to be a part of something greater than ourselves | awareness that our lives exist in parallel for great lengths then suddenly merge | our paths' twists and turns | the desire to make meaningful connections met with the realization that reciprocal relationships may never be possible when interactional patterns prevent vulnerability and communication | | | | pausing | | | | to address feelings of not being able to escape, and comfort in being bound to others and memory | My work examines the complex need for intimacy with nature, others, and self in a hurried, consumer culture. My interest lies in how our desire for connection is often undermined by the quick fix of disconnect, distancing us from beneficial social and environmental relations. Recurring themes of exploration include masking our true intentions for gain, hiding behind a façade, being wolves in sheep’s clothing, becoming blinded by patterns or behaviors, and the inability or fear to share our true self. I make work about the outcomes of duplicity and detachment.

Harmony Joi

Multi Arts; Performing Arts: Spoken Word; Teaching Artist/Instructor: Performer for Schools/Classrooms, Workshop Presenter for Schools/Classrooms; Visual Arts: Ceramics, Crafts, Fiber, Functional and/or Decorative, Graphic Arts, Jewelry, Performance Art, Performers and Writers, Textiles, Visual Arts Instructor, Works on paper

My name is Joi and I am a painter, (oil, acrylic, face paint, body paint, murals), I draw, sculpt, sing, write, dance, model, and I do photography.

Jeanine Kane

Visual Arts: Fiber, Textiles; repurposed fabric

I recently came across one of my daughter's favorite old tee shirts I had put aside to make into something for her. This inspired me to create my first Quiltatee. It was so much fun to make I decided to find more used tee shirts to transform! I have always loved sewing and quilting and using repurposed materials in my creations so this was perfect. I realized after I started collecting tee shirts from thrift stores that there is so much incredible contemporary art being displayed on tees and by turning them into Quiltatees the artwork can be appreciated for decades longer than the life of a normal tee.

Natalie Kudrashova

Graphic Arts; Literary Arts; Visual Arts: Crafts, Fiber, Media and Visual Communications, New Media/Technology, Textiles; Embroidery

The charisma of creativity resided in our small Russian apartment in different forms. The Siberian rocks fragments with mineral traces (parenting research) blended with variety of books on shelves that run from floor level all the way to a celing and mom's sewing/embroidery project as well as dad's poetry. My first participation in form of my opinion was promoted to the mom's assistant of handing the right tool or placing a decorative element. At the age of six, she put a needle in my hands, like it was the most precious instrument; my dolls' garments stand out with curvy stitches. Later projects originated from plain social economic. the black school uniform earned a lace collar, pants - a cuff, a dress - an embroidery, a purse -design. family, friends, and neighbors became clients as my dedication was divided between nursing occupation also. The immigration to the US struck me with possibilities. But wait, where are the words? I began to write while mastering the language. i wrote every day to express my deepest thoughts and feelings; it became my counselor, a friend, a tutor. After some devastating events many new verses emerged within one year; I read them at a social gathering and finally planted "Salvage Garden"- a garden of the most significant feelings and things in life. "Formula of Love", "Solitude","Lullaby",and even "Cat" are there! Everyone should stroll there and find own flower.

Mary Jane Lord

Visual Arts: Fiber, Textiles

Mary Jane Lord fell in love with weaving at age nine after receiving a loom as a gift. She spent the next several decades experimenting with equipment and techniques, ultimately settling on the simplest kind of loom and the plain weave structure of tapestry. Playing with color, texture, and imagery, Lord finds that she loves the weaving process as much as or more than the artworks she produces. Her tapestries tend to be abstract and highly personal. Constantly developing her craft, she frequently attends workshops to hone her skills and gain new insights and inspiration. As an active member of the Seven Hills Handweavers Guild of Tallahassee, Lord enjoys spending time with other weavers and sharing her own knowledge through classes and weaving demonstrations.

Michelle Magallon

Visual Arts: Ceramics, Fiber, Illustration, Media and Visual Communications, Mixed Media, Murals, Painting, Performance Art, Photography, Sculpture, Works on paper

Bio Michelle Magallon (1997, Panama) graduated with a BFA in Studio Art from Florida State University in 2019. She focuses on painting, sculpture, and performance. Currently residing in Panama City, Panama she is exploring the materiality of paint (color, texture, mark-making) and belongingness (within space and place.) Statement Small gestures serve as the backbone for my explorations. My current body of work aims to look beyond the traditional uses of paint to further emphasize its formal elements of color, shape, and texture. Either by using the body to emphasize the plasticity of paint or by itself as an object. My practice is fueled by small narratives of the mundane, being a young woman, belongingness, and space and place.

Delbra Percy

Teaching Artist/Instructor: Private Lessons for Adults, Private Lessons for Kids, Workshop Presenter for Schools/Classrooms; Visual Arts: Conservation/Restoration, Crafts, Fiber, Functional and/or Decorative, Mixed Media, Textiles; Sewing, Seamstress, Alterations, Tailoring

At the Couture Seamstress we pride ourselves on providing the highest quality Bridal Alterations, Custom Costumes and Sewing Classes. Our team has over 80 years of experience in everything ranging from Civil War reenactments to extravagant weddings. Although our specialty is bridal alterations, we also handle other alterations and garment creation services. Our team of instructors are excellent! Chosen for their diverse sewing skills, knowledge, and desire to share those skills with others, each instructor has over 20 years of experience. At The Couture Seamstress our goal is to make your special day exemplary by preparing the perfect formal wear. It doesn't matter if you need a gown or a couple of tuxedos; our talented team of experts will tailor it to perfection. We also create custom veils & custom costumes designed with your ideas and specifications. Based in Tallahassee, Florida, we serve all the surrounding areas. Have a question about services? Please give us a call.

Betty Proctor

Visual Arts: Crafts, Fiber, Functional and/or Decorative, Jewelry, Sculpture

I am the owner of Obsessions jwwm Gift Shop which is not just a jewelry shop. It is a gift shop that caters to that need. We are a collection of locally owned businesses that offer unique and affordable gifts. We currently have four teen/kid entrepreneur businesses located in our shop, in addition to adult business owners. Amoung the kid entrepreneurs, we have Hartsfield Elementary School's Smart Heart Art Club. Come see all of our unique products in at the House of Plywood Breezeway Market, B-3 The products we currently offer are: * Jewelry (Materials often used are wood, wire, and metal.) * Hair and Body products (Natural) * T-shirts * Ornaments (Wood and clay) * Magnets * Metal Artwork * Seasonings (Hot & Spicy) * Eclectic Clothing * Bracelets and Quixels

Susan Howard Sapronetti

Visual Arts: Crafts, Fiber, Jewelry, Murals, Painting

Susan is of Native American Muskogee Creek decent and is very passionate about preserving her heritage through art. She is a member of the Lower Muskogee Creek Tribe. She is a multi - talented artist with skills in photography, painting, beadwork, sewing, weaving and a variety of other crafts. Her beadwork designs combine traditional Native American techniques and contemporary materials. She specializes in the brick stitch, Peyote stitch, and loom work in her hand woven pieces. She has sewn for over thirty years and enjoys keeping alive the art of Native American traditional custom regalia.

Mary Liz Tippin-Moody

Teaching Artist/Instructor: Private Lessons for Adults, Private Lessons for Kids; Visual Arts: Ceramics, Constructions/Collage, Fiber, Graphic Arts, Illustration, Media and Visual Communications, Mixed Media, Murals, Painting, Printmaking, Sculpture, Visual Arts Instructor, Works on paper; Teacher / guide at Tallahassee Senior Center with Engage With Your Page - mixed media explorations

I am a Tallahassee native and FSU graduate in Art Education. Employed for over three decades in the graphic design and advertising agency world, I now enjoy a freelance career creating illustrations, book design projects and creating content for a variety of regional professionals. Most of the fine art images I now show were created in my "spare time," for the joy of the process itself. Since my days back at Kate Sullivan Elementary, I have always loved drawing characters and scenes "from my head" to engage and amuse those around me. I welcome commissions of all kinds and have created custom portraits and one-of-a-kind greeting cards for friends of their pets, themselves, their houses, and cherished local landmarks, rendered with a whimsical touch. I deeply enjoy teaching/guiding my classes at the Tallahassee Senior Center, where we freely explore mixed media techniques and materials with an open mind using the principles of design. The intention one brings to making art is so important. It is very rewarding to see others gain confidence and strike out creatively on individual paths in their art-making journey!

Alexa Turnbull

Multi Arts; Performing Arts: Dance; Teaching Artist/Instructor: Multi-Day Artist Residency for Schools/Classrooms, Performer for Schools/Classrooms; Visual Arts: Fiber, Mixed Media, Murals, New Media/Technology, Painting, Performance Art, Printmaking, Sculpture, Visual Arts Instructor, Works on paper

I emphasize the relationships that demand to be felt between one’s self and the world we live in, such as: the fear of never being taken seriously as a woman resulting from centuries of inequality or the inability to escape the past of our childhood or ancestors, leading to the alienation that is prompted by society, despite endless technological advances that are intended to keep us connected. Though the motivation of my work and research stem from personal narratives to create connections between private and public experiences, using my physical self to express physical topics, such as how the personal is political, allows me to utilize a deconstructed self in performance where the physical body can exist in the immediate present, providing a time and place to let go of the burden of selfhood, while the communication of physical structure questions physical material as we begin to express these ties to the world we live in. By developing a narrative through a choreography to creating a dreamscape from cardboard and paint, I transform the physical space to provoke feelings of fear, displacement or at least self awareness.

Find An Artist

Moose Magnificat Radio