FAB, Fiber Artist of Beaufort, recently welcomed four new members.  They are Eileen Berchem, Laurie Lovell, Cindy Male and Jada Gray.  The members were selected for their original and innovative manipulation of fibers and textiles into an art form that pushes the envelope on design and creativity. The new members will be showing their work as part of the second annual FAB Collective Works show in November.

Laurie Lovell is a graphic designer who found her creative home in fibers when she received her MFA from the Savannah College of Art and Design.  “My intension is to combine both a creative and meditative approach to the art

[caption id="attachment_13626" align="alignleft" width="300"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/IMG_1542.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-13626" alt="New members of the Fiber Artists of Beaufort, from left: Eileen Berchem, Laurie Lovell, Jada Gray and Cindy Male." src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/IMG_1542-300x225.jpg" width="300" height="225" /></a> New members of the Fiber Artists of Beaufort, from left: Eileen Berchem, Laurie Lovell, Jada Gray and Cindy Male.[/caption]

experience. “ In her work she uses a proprietary process that she developed to create a paper-like material from flax fiber. “Non-Lin” is non woven, non-spun long line flax fiber that is worked with water and an adhesive to form a fabric that can be molded and presented two or three dimensionally. Her “Enso” series of wall art depict the most common subject in Zen calligraphy, the circular form and will be on display at the show.

Cindy Male shares studio space at Art Works with Laurie and also shares her interest for the spiritual aspects of fiber art.  Male explains, “My art work is about the mind and how it connects with spirit. As an artist and yoga practitioner, I find that both disciplines are meditative and develop creativity and intuitive abilities. ” Male offers a series of six workshops entitled ‘Art and Consciousness’ that engage the participant in self-awareness through art history, art making, yoga and guided meditation.  Cindy will exhibit works of art painted and embellished with wax and embroidery on her original Computer Aided Design images printed digitally using a sublimation dye process.

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In her 20’s Eileen Berchem started developing her own knitting patterns, adding personal embellishments and dyeing yarn to make each knitted garment her own.  “My knitting has been an exploration process in finding the fibers that best convey the mood and character of the garment I am designing.  My favorite fiber is alpaca.  You can make a garment that is strong or soft and cuddly.  It holds its shape, can be structured or can drape beautifully.”  Eileen sometimes experiments with other fibers.  An acrylic shawl she has made for the FAB Show is made with 2500 yards of gorgeous fuchsia sequined yarn.  She added a ruffled edge to make it a fabulous one of a kind work of fiber art.

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Jada Gray is a basket maker.  Her emphasis is on organic shapes and natural materials.  She uses rattan and local area grapevine in her work.  With the abundance of local materials she has been encouraged to make larger and larger pieces.  Jada has been exploring shapes and tactile material for the past two years while studying with fellow FAB member and master basket maker, Kim Keats.  Gray comments, “I am inspired by the people I am surrounded by to include artists, art students, family and friends.  In exploring basketry I’ve been motivated by the words ‘Can I…How do I…and What if I…..”

The Second Annual Collective Works of the Contemporary Fiber Artists Show will take place at Tabby Fabric and Studio, 910 Port Republic Street in Beaufort on November 8, 9 and 10, 2013.  A reception, open to the public, will be held on Friday, November 8 from 5:30 to 8:00PM.  Saturday hours are from 10:00 to 5:O0 and on Sunday from 12:00 to 4:00. Other members showing their work will be Barbara James, Rhonda Jordan, Kim Keats, Linda Patalive, Andrea Stern and Cynthia Zeiss.

For more information please call Tabby Fabric and Studio at 843-379-5700.
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