On pins and needles

Fiber Arctic show ties crafty art to climate change 1

"Ice Cold" embroidery“Ice Cold” by Kris GarlandPhoto: Sarah van SchagenGlobal warming got you in stitches? Trying to understand all the tightly knit issues by looking for common threads?

Weave your way down to Schmancy (part of the “trilogy of awesome”) in Seattle, Wash., for an artsy display of embroidery, quilting, felting, and otherwise fiber-fab interpretations of the Arctic’s plight. The Fiber Arctic show, on display through July 9, features sculpted icebergs, sequined whales, stranded polar bears, and one very sassy reindeer.

Though Schmancy regularly hosts group shows, this one was unique in terms of the environmental theme, offering the artists more of a challenge, said owner Kristin Rask at the opening June 12.

It was also an opportunity to utilize alternative fibers, like the iridescent seaweed Coco Howard used in her felted piece “What the Tara Expedition Found There,” created by repeatedly poking a barbed needle into the fibers to create the heat and friction that binds them.

“Art has always reflected what is in our world and in our horizon and what our fears are,” Howard said, “which is all tied in to climate change.”

Sarah van Schagen is Grist’s Seattle editor.

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  1. ethansim Posted 11:44 am
    29 Jun 2009

     Quite agree with most of the other comments. That's not to say I don't also think we need to clean our act up! But that will not happen because a massive mind set would have to be changed, And whilst in the developed countries the arty farty middle classes will purchase all the 'green' products they can they will not sacrifice to an extent that would make things 'uncomfortable'. So they will still run their kids to school in the little green car. instead of making the next generation of polluters WALK. No. they will not compromise on lifestyle!As I said I do believe that we have to do something about environmental issues, URGENTLY. Not to avoid climate change, but for the sake of our souls. What's left of them. My fear is this- just as the right thinking ideas on fairness and equality have been hi-jacked over the past 15 years or so, by nutters, by people who simply wouldn't be able to formulate such ideals themselves in years gone by, dedicated servers more likely would be the most bigoted sorts around - the same will happen to green and envoronmental issues. It will  become an industry! Just like equalities, endless courses in big companies teaching employies  how to be PC. Ah sod it, too late.  

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