Fiber Focus 2009
September 14 - October 15, 2009
Fiber Focus was a biennial contemporary fiber exhibit open to artists in Missouri and the eight bordering states: Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Nebraska, Oklahoma & Tennessee.
For this year’s exhibit, 114 artists submitted 278 fiber artworks for the juror’s consideration. From those entries, Dr. Zrebiec selected works by 57 artists representing eight Midwest regional states for this year's exhibition.

Installation view: "Fiber Focus 2009." Photograph by Robin Hirsch.
Juror: Dr. Alice M. Zrebiec received her Ph.D. from the Institute of Fine Arts–New York University. Her dissertation, American Tapestry Manufacturers–1893-1933, examined the work of three prominent ateliers and the artistic and cultural milieu in which this work was produced. For sixteen years Zrebiec was curator of textiles in the department of European Sculpture & Decorative Arts at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where she was responsible for textiles, tapestries, carpets, ecclesiastical vestments, and fans from the Renaissance to the turn of the 20th century. Her own interests, however, have a wider scope and include ethnographic textiles and contemporary works of art in fiber. A recipient of numerous grants and fellowships, Dr. Zrebiec has lectured internationally and published widely on diverse aspects of textiles and tapestries. She is currently a curatorial consultant based in Santa Fe and consulting curator of Textile Art for the Denver Art Museum.

Highlights from the opening reception of "Fiber Focus 2009" on September 25, 2009. Photographs by Robin Hirsch.
The featured artists in this year's "Fiber Focus 2009" were:
Aviva Alter, Chicago, IL
Laurie Appleby-Williams, Lexington, KY
JoAnn Baumann, Glencoe, IL
Odette Brabec, Highland Park, IL
Donna Broyles, Alton, IL
Jean Brueggenjohann, Columbia, MO
Shannah Burton, Belleville, IL
Dianna Callahan, Morrisville, MO
Joy Deeann Carson, Brentwood, TN
Shin-hee Chin, McPherson, KS Merit Award in Needlework
Jill Choate, Van Buren, MO
Rosemary Claus-Gray, Doniphan, MO
Christine Copenhaver, Franklin, TN
Anne Cove, St. Louis, MO
Kristen Davis, Kansas City, MO
Audrey Fitzsimmons, Oklahoma City, OK
Carlene Fullerton, Richmond Heights, MO
Mindy Goodman, Kansas City, MO
Denise Tallon Havlan, Plainfield, IL
Janet Shipley Hawks, Tulsa, OK
Nino Hecht, Eureka, MO
Marjorie Hoeltzel, St. Louis, MO
Janice Hoffman, Clayton, MO
Leslie Hume, Chesterfield, MO
Installation view: "Fiber Focus 2009." Photograph by Robin Hirsch.
Nikkole Huss, Orland Park, IL
Elizabeth Inngraham, Lincoln, NE
David L. Johnson, Chicago, IL Merit Award in Three-Dimensional
Jess Jones, Smithville, TN
Donna June Katz, Chicago, IL
Ruth Kolker & M.J. Goerke, St. Louis, MO
Lyn Magee, St. Louis, MO
Linda J. Metrick, Skokie, IL
Luci Mistratov, Louisville, KY Merit Award in Creative Innovations
V’Lou Oliveira, Norman, OK
Nicole Ottwell, Columbia, MO Merit Award in Structural Fabric
Pat Owoc, St. Louis, MO
Jennifer Reis, Morehead, KY
Betsy Knabe Roe, Olathe, KS
Iwona Rypesc-Kostovic, Springfield, MO
Arturo Alonzo Sandoval, Lexington, KY Best of Show
Rowen Schussheim-Anderson Davenport, IA
Shawn Sheehy, Chicago, IL
Betty Shew, St. Louis, MO
Barbara Simon, St. Louis, MO Merit Award in Surface Design
Melinda Snyder, Louisville, KY Merit Award in Quilting
Leandra Spangler, Columbia, MO Merit Award in Paper/Book Arts
Kay L. Tomlinson, St. Louis, MO
Djuana Tucker, Granite City, MO
Laura Wasilowski, Elgin, IL
Kathy Weaver, Highland Park, IL
Joanne Woll, Florissant, MO
Suza Wooldridge, Hartsburg, MO & Ruth E.W. Walker, Columbia, MO
Sharon Wright, Barrington, IL
Carol Zeman, Osage Beach, MO
Mary Zicafoose, Omaha, NE Merit Award in Woven Excellence
Highlights from Fiber Focus 2009
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Mary Zicafoose, Omaha, NE. Ancient Text: Indigo and Ochre. 2007. Weft Face Ikat Tapestry, 62”x58”. $8,500. Merit Award in Woven Excellence.
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Laurie Appleby-Williams, Lexington, KY. Mandalas. 2009. Industrial Felt, Dyed Wool, 32”x22”. Not for Sale.
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Kathy Weaver, Highland Park, IL. Correlated Pathways. 2009. Canvas, Airbrushed, Hand Quilted, 50”x50”. $5,000.
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Jess Jones, Smithville, TN. Melody. 2008, Digitally Printed Cottons, Silks & Synthetics; Pastel, Acrylic, Found Material, Machine Embroidered, 4”x4”. Not for Sale.
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David L. Johnso, Chicago, IL. Edge No. 7. 2008. Tapestry, Mixed Media, 22.5”x24”x6.5”. $2,700. Merit Award in Three-Dimensional. |
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Marjorie Hoeltzel, St. Louis, MO. Petals. 2009. Pieced Neckties, Machine Stitched, Hand Stitched. 20”. $850.
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Sharon L. Wright, South Barrington, IL. Ruffled Feathers. 2008. Hand Embroidery, Beads, Colored Pencil, Acrylic on Fabric. 15”x13”. Not for Sale. |
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Shannah Burton, Belleville, IL. Shaman Rabbit. 2008. Wool Felt, Wooden Buttons, 9”. This work was purchased through the exhibition.
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Areturo Alonzo Sandoval, Lexington, KY. Pattern Fusion No. 9. 2008. Machine Stitched, Interlaced, Recycled Auto Industry Mylar, Recycled Library 35mm Microfilm, Netting, Multi-Colored Threads, Plaited Braid, Pellon, Polymer Medium, Fabric Backed, 84.75”x84.5”. $20,000. Best of Show.
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Mindy Goodman, Kansas City, MO. Heart. 2008 Canvas, Silk Scraps, Basket Reed, Staples, Machine Stitching, Plain Weave, 12”x12”x10.5”. $1,200.
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Odette Brabec, Highland Park, IL. Variations. 2007. Woven Tapestry, 20”x42.5”. $1,200. |
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Joy Deeann Carson,Brentwood, TN. Holding it Together. 2008. Machine Embroidery, Acrylic on Panel, 36”x36”. $600. |
Fiber Focus 2009
2009 Committee
Carlene Fullerton
Marie Oberkirsch
Dawn Ottensmeier
Pat Owoc
Zoe Perkins
Deann Rubin
Babara Simon
Sun Smith-Fôret
Jerri Stroud
Dion Dion, Executive Director, Art Saint Louis
exhibition host
Art Saint Louis
co-presenters
Art Saint Louis
Missouri Fiber Artists
Saint Louis Art Museum
Surface Design Association
Weaver’s Guild of Saint Louis
gold sponsors
Regional Arts Commission
Saint Louis Art Museum
The Trio Foundation of Saint Louis
sponsors
Cathy Barancik & Steve Novik
Missouri Arts Council
Ruth & Alvin Siteman
Weaver’s Guild of Saint Louis
Wulfenkammer Memorial Trust
contributors
Missouri Fiber Artists
Pat & Paul Owoc
Surface Design Association
supporters
Marilyn & Sam Fox
Sun Smith-Fôret
graphic design
Karen Pauls
merit awards & sponsors
Best of Show sponsored by Cathy Barancik & Steve Novik
Merit Award in Needlework sponsored by Marilyn & Sam Fox
Merit Award in Quilting sponsored by Pat & Paul Owoc
Merit Award in Paper/Book Arts sponsored by Ruth & Alvin Siteman
Merit Award in Creative Innovations sponsored by Sun Smith-Fôret
Merit Award in Three-Dimensional sponsored by Missouri Fiber Artists
Merit Award in Surface Design sponsored by Surface Design Association
Merit Award in Woven Excellence sponsored by Weaver's Guild of Saint Louis
Merit Award in Structural Fabric sponsored by Weaver's Guild of Saint Louis
View highlights from our Fiber Focus 2007 exhibition by clicking here.

Fiber Focus 2009 is part of Innovations in Texitles 8, a biennial collaborative event in St. Louis, MO, that investigates the state of contemporary textile arts. Nineteen nonprofit & private arts organizations join forces to present exhibitions related to fiber art created by national and international artists. Activities include workshops, lectures, gallery tours, and community programs. Innovations in Textiles 8 serves to enlighten the community with a unique aesthetic prospective on fiber art featuring various materials and techniques. The broad range of programming offered mirrors the symposium’s dedication to the investigation of innovative ideas.
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