All Discussions Tagged 'knitting' - crafthaus2024-03-28T21:44:58Zhttp://crafthaus.ning.com/forum/topic/listForTag?groupUrl=showing-publicly-and-building-a-legacy-privately&tag=knitting&feed=yes&xn_auth=noShowing Publicly: The Curatorial Eyes of Ellen Schindermantag:crafthaus.ning.com,2014-02-09:2104389:Topic:4566442014-02-09T00:14:03.726ZRebecca Rosehttp://crafthaus.ning.com/profile/RebeccaRose
<p><span style="font-size: 13px;">Another facet of the Showing Publicly portion of the blog, The Curatorial Eye, allows me to share the inside scoop behind the scenes of putting together a nationwide exhibition. </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">This week I was able to interview Ellen Schinderman, founder and curator of the annual exhibition "Stitch Fetish II." …</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 13px;">Another facet of the Showing Publicly portion of the blog, The Curatorial Eye, allows me to share the inside scoop behind the scenes of putting together a nationwide exhibition. </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">This week I was able to interview Ellen Schinderman, founder and curator of the annual exhibition "Stitch Fetish II." </span></p>
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<div class="page" title="Page 1"><div class="section"><div class="layoutArea"><div class="column"><p style="text-align: left;">"Stitch Fetish II," held every February at<span> The Hive Gallery & Studios in downtown Los Angeles, continues to explore the art of the stitch, revealing the fetishized secrets lurking in the minds of artists as interpreted through hand made approaches like<span> knitting, crochet, embroidery, needlepoint, cross-stitch, quilting, plushes, appliqué, tapestry, and needlefelting.</span></span></p>
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<p style="text-align: left;"><span>This year’s "Stitch Fetish II" exhibition showcases the work of more than 30 contemporary stitchers, who have offered their interpretations on the theme:</span></p>
<div class="page" title="Page 1"><div class="section"><div class="layoutArea"><div class="column" style="text-align: center;"><p style="text-align: left;">Bren Ahearn, Mark Bieraugel, Katharine Lawrie, Amy Goldsmith Sheridan, Meghan Willis, Tara Fields, Carol Powell, Ashford Harrison, Mo Powers, Judith Pudden, Robert Marbury, Pita Garcia, Matthew Monthei, Erin M Riley, Shae Merrit, Kevin Muth aka Dirty Pillowz, David & Vesna Miller, Ken Amarit, Hine Mizushima, Luke Haynes, Billy Kheel, Oh Sew Nerdy, Rebeka Trigg, Spike Dennis, Maxine Shaw, Maggie Hunt, Iviva Olenick, Reavis Eitel, Leah Emery, and Ellen Schinderman.</p>
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<p style="text-align: left;"><span>Ellen graciously gave me</span><span> a sneak preview of the show, as well as details on her personal body of hand stitched work. Enjoy! </span></p>
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<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058534978?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="375" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058534978?profile=RESIZE_480x480" width="375" class="align-center"/></a></p>
<p>"Angela" linen on cotton, 24" x 24", Ellen Schinderman, 2014</p>
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<p><span><span style="color: #0000ff;">RR:</span> This is your second annual Stitch Fetish show held at The Hive Gallery & Studios in Los Angeles. Take us back a few years, how did you come up with the idea?<br/></span></p>
<p><span><span style="color: #ff0000;">ES:</span> I had just curated my first show, "Home is Where the Needle Marks" at Pop Tart Gallery, and was having a featured solo show at The Hive Gallery. Nathan Cartwright, the owner, and I got into a conversation about the show I had just put up, which he came to see. I said I’d love more opportunities to curate and we started talking about the next available slot at the Hive, which turned out to be February 2013, and since February is all Valentines and lovers anyway, Fetish and Erotica seemed obvious.</span></p>
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<p><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058533353?profile=original" width="375" class="align-center"/></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">"The Feminine Ideal" thread on paper, Mark Bieraugel, 2014.</p>
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<div class="layoutArea"><div class="column"><p><span><span style="color: #0000ff;">RR:</span> </span> <span>Has the show ever been a subject of controversy given the subject matter?</span></p>
<p><span><span style="color: #ff0000;">ES:</span> Not that I’m aware of. God, please picket me! Such good press! No, no controversy, though I have been banned by Facebook for 24 hours for posting smut.</span></p>
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<div class="layoutArea"><div class="column"><p><span><span style="color: #0000ff;">RR:</span> What experiences are different this time around?<br/> <span style="color: #ff0000;">ES:</span> It’s much easier - not easy, but easier. Having done this twice, and once before in this space, I knew what to expect and was very prepared. The hanging went far more smoothly this year, and overall it’s been less stressful and more fun.</span></p>
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<p><img width="375" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058536791?profile=RESIZE_480x480" width="375" class="align-center"/></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span>"Woman With Long Brown Hair" c</span><span>otton & chiyogami paper, </span><br/> <span>6.75" x 6.75" Judith Pudden, 2013.</span></p>
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<div class="layoutArea"><div class="column"><p><span style="color: #0000ff;">RR:</span> In what ways has the show gained in popularity?<br/> <span style="color: #ff0000;">ES:</span> It’s amazing! So many people have told me they’re excited for this year’s show, and that last year’s was one of their favorites of the year! No one knew what to expect last year, lots of people were so amazed by the novelty of stitch, but now they’re prepared. There’s been more press, more pre-sale inquiries, and tons of lovely re-posting and re-blogging of info.</p>
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<p><span style="color: #0000ff;">RR:</span> Is your selection process a combination of juried works and invited artists? How has the selection process varied from year to year?</p>
<p><span style="color: #ff0000;">ES:</span> Yes, I do an open call, ask people I think are fabulous, and troll the web looking for people who work with fabric and thread and have the right mindset. This year I already had a great stable of people to work with, and people randomly began reaching out to me, as I’m “the dirty stitcher,” and some of their works are just wonderful. Finally, I reached out to some people whose work I just love, though they may not usually make erotica - what they’ve come up with are some of my favorite pieces.</p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058533582?profile=original" width="375" class="align-center"/></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span>"Just the Three of Us With Clothes" linen on cotton, 5" x 7", Ellen Schinderman, 2012.</span></p>
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<p><span><span style="color: #0000ff;">RR:</span> </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">What is your history and experience as far as curating exhibitions on a national scale?</span></p>
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<div class="page" title="Page 2"><div class="section"><div class="layoutArea"><div class="column"><p><span><span style="color: #ff0000;">ES:</span> So far I’ve only curated in LA. It’s so much work, it seems daunting to curate a show where I am not, but I am thinking about it. I’ve been asked to curate at a gallery in Seattle and I’m talking about it with a gallery in San Francisco, so we’ll see what happens.</span></p>
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<div class="layoutArea"><div class="column"><p><span><span style="color: #0000ff;">RR:</span> As a curator, what type of work initially catches your eye?<br/> <span style="color: #ff0000;">ES:</span> I’m a big humor girl, so usually things that make me giggle, or that are just so so smart that it hurts... that you thought of that, that you executed it so well, that I didn’t think of it first, that I want it so badly...</span></p>
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<div class="layoutArea"><div class="column"><p><span><span style="color: #0000ff;">RR:</span> </span> <span>What advice would you give to artists seeking out exhibition opportunities?</span></p>
<p><span><span style="color: #ff0000;">ES:</span> Be polite and ask. Seriously. I can’t tell you how many shows and galleries I've gotten into just by saying, “Hey, can I play?” Granted, I usually know the people I'm asking, or they know my work, but don’t be scared to ask for what you want! The worst thing that can happen is they’ll say no, but they’ll probably remember you.</span></p>
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<div class="column"><img width="375" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058532926?profile=RESIZE_480x480" width="375" class="align-center"/><p style="text-align: center;"><span>"The View From Here" linen on cotton, 24" x 36", Ellen Schinderman, 2014.</span></p>
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<div class="layoutArea"><div class="column"><p><span><span style="color: #0000ff;">RR:</span> The creatives at the Hive Gallery combined their efforts with you and filmed a Youtube and Vimeo teaser, which is unique and intriguing marketing aspect of the exhibition before the show opens. Where did this idea come from?<br/> <span style="color: #ff0000;">ES:</span> The idea came from Rick Galiher aka Wilkinson the Butler, but once we decided to go with it, it was truly collaborative, with us riffing off each other and having lots of fun. Daisuke Okamoto shot it and did a fantastic job editing.</span></p>
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<div class="layoutArea"><div class="column"><p><span><span style="color: #0000ff;">RR:</span> What was it like filming the teaser and how has it been received?<br/> <span style="color: #ff0000;">ES:</span> It was super fun, super silly. I come from a theatre background, so it was really fun to play “let’s pretend,” again. It’s been amazingly well received, over 350 views, in just a couple weeks!</span></p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvdqZfele9o" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvdqZfele9o</a></p>
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<div class="layoutArea"><div class="column"><p style="text-align: center;"><span>"Stich Fetish II" teaser at The Hive Gallery & Studios, Los Angeles (NSFW)</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvdqZfele9o" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvdqZfele9o</a></span></p>
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<p><span><span style="color: #0000ff;">RR:</span> What are your thoughts and view on fine craft and fine art? Do you have any thoughts or stories in regards to explaining these views to traditional artists or gallerists that primarily show traditional fine art?<br/> <span style="color: #ff0000;">ES:</span> I ignore the distinction. All art is crafted, not all craft is art. If someone doesn’t get it, I move on. I'm not here to convince people that my work is art even if the medium is a traditional craft.</span></p>
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<div class="layoutArea"><div class="column"><p><span><span style="color: #0000ff;">RR:</span> You've become a very well known and respected fiber artist burgeoning in the field today. How have you overcome obstacles with galleries to show your work alongside paintings?</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: #ff0000;">ES:</span> Again, I ignore the distinction. I approach galleries as an artist, not a fiber artist. I think of my works as paintings and drawings, but using thread and fabric rather than paint and canvas or paper and pen.</span></p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058533232?profile=original" width="364" class="align-center"/></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">"My Mother as a Young Woman" linen on cotton, 24" x 36", Ellen Schinderman, 2012.</p>
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<div class="layoutArea"><div class="column"><p><span><span style="color: #0000ff;">RR:</span> I'm proud to say I have a piece of yours in my private collection. What has been your experience establishing your career in the past five years?<br/> <span style="color: #ff0000;">ES:</span> An amazing and lucky one. I started making things to amuse myself and putting them in a bag in the closet. I finally showed my work to Gallery1988, who I knew as an occasional art buyer, and they put me in a group show. Both my pieces sold in pre-sale and I’ve never looked back. It’s been an incredible ride, I’ve gotten to travel to the UK, teach kids, I get the nicest emails from stitchers all over the world, and when you curate you get presents! Basically, I’m the luckiest girl in the world.</span></p>
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<p><span><span style="color: #0000ff;">RR:</span> Your work ranges anywhere from embroidery to cross stitch to any thread related approach in between, what drew you to your current larger scale works? Can you also tell us the intent and inspiration behind your smaller works?</span></p>
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<div class="layoutArea"><div class="column"><p><span><span style="color: #ff0000;">ES:</span> With the large works, I really wanted to push scale; art collectors aren’t looking for 8”x10” pieces. I dream of having the time to make a 10’x6’ piece. With the small works I tend to do red-work (an embroidery tradition where everything is stitched in a deep red tone), taking modern subjects and recasting them in stitch and only the one color, to force the viewer to see them in a new way.<br/> And the doilies project is a study of the female form - the real one, not the air brushed magazine version - using images of mid-century naked woman stitched onto hand made doilies of the same era.</span></p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><img width="375" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058532276?profile=RESIZE_480x480" width="375" class="align-center"/></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">"DMG" linen on cotton, 30" x 30", Ellen Schinderman, 2013.</p>
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<div class="layoutArea"><div class="column"><p><span><span style="color: #0000ff;">RR:</span> Where can we see your work normally?<br/> <span style="color: #ff0000;">ES:</span> I often have work at the Hive, and most of my work is on my site, <a href="http://www.schindermania.com">www.schindermania.com</a>. There are also a bunch of my pillows and things at the Twilight Gallery in Seattle, and if you’re in LA, I’ll be installing works at Dove Biscuit Gallery, on the Mezzanine level of The Last Bookstore next week, and will be in residence there for several months.</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: #0000ff;">RR:</span> In Addition to "Stitch Fetish II" opening this weekend, what new work are you creating for upcoming shows and events?</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: #ff0000;">ES:</span> I have a lot of stuff coming up, but the bigger and more interesting things are that I’m in Dirty Detroit 15, this weekend and next, with a large piece </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">called, “My Girl Lollypop,” I’m making a couple works on paper for a show Daniel Rolnik is curating at Flower Pepper March 1st, and I’ve just been asked to participate in Gallery1988’s 10th anniversary show - still figuring out what I’ll make for that. Plus, I have a list of other things to make and do... there’s always more to make and do.</span></p>
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<div class="layoutArea"><div class="column"><p><span><span style="color: #0000ff;">RR:</span> Any other comments you'd like to share about the show?<br/> <span style="color: #ff0000;">ES:</span> A huge thank you to Nathan Cartwright, who runs The Hive [Gallery], for letting me get naughty up in his space, not once, but twice.<br/> <br/></span></p>
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<p><span>"Stitch Fetish II" opens tonight, February 8th, and runs through March 1st, 2014.</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 13px;">Until next time!</span></p>
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<p style="text-align: left;">-Rebecca Rose</p>
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