Opening Reception
Thursday, June 1, 5:00 – 7:00 PM
The evening will feature a talk by juror Mary Ruth Smith, open studios by HCCC’s current resident artists, and beverages sponsored by Buffalo Bayou Brewing.
Houston Center for Contemporary Craft (HCCC) is delighted to host Small Expressions 2017, the Handweavers Guild of America’s annual juried exhibition of small-scale fiber works. Featuring the work of 24 artists using a wide range of fiber techniques, the show requires that each piece is no greater than 15 inches in any direction. Despite their small size, the works on view reflect a strong conceptual component, as well as emotive narrative content, a variety of materials and textures, and, of course, skilled craftsmanship. Mary Ruth Smith, an esteemed fiber artist and professor at Baylor University, juried this year’s applicants. The exhibition will be on view during the Contemporary Handweavers of Texas’ biennial conference, Crossing Threads/Connecting Cultures, in the Houston area.
Now in its 34th year, the Small Expressions annual exhibition series was conceived in 1983 by the board of directors of the Handweavers Guild of America to mark the 15th anniversary of the organization. The format was initially inspired by small-scale fiber shows in England and Hungary. With thousands of pieces submitted since its inception, the show has included works by artists from each of the 50 states and more than 20 foreign countries and has traveled to art institutions across the U.S. and internationally. The series not only provides a platform for artists working in fiber but also a format that encourages innovation.
Small Expressions 2017 Featured Artists
Jennifer Angelo
Kate Barber
Linda Barlow
Julie Marks Blackstone
Beth Blankenship
Nicole Bunting
Al Canner
Andrea Cook
Sandra DeLozier
Emily Dvorin
Molly Koehn
Jean Koon
Jane Marie
Rebecca McEntee
Elizabeth Michel
Erin Miller
Joh Ricci
Michael Rohde
Kathie Roig
Ellen Schiffman
Amy Sloboda
Ruth Tabancay
Lillian Whipple
Peggy Wiedemann
About Mary Ruth Smith
The juror of Small Expressions 2017, Mary Ruth Smith, PhD, is a professor of art at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. She teaches courses in fiber arts, fabric surface design, and weaving. Aside from her longstanding career in academia, Smith’s own work in fiber has been widely exhibited across the United States as well as in Europe, South America, and Asia. She holds a PhD in art education from Florida State University and an MFA in fabric design from the University of Georgia.
(1) Kate Barber, “Bind,” 2016. Polyester, linen, cotton. 9 x 11 inches. Photo by Karen Philippi. (2) Julie Marks Blackstone, “Knotty Girl VIII: The Krasner Fan,” 2016. Cotton embroidery floss. 9 x 9 x 1 inches. Photo by the artist. (3) Beth Blankenship, “Oiled Elder,” 2016. Glass beads, thread. 6 x 10 x 13 inches. Photo by the artist.(4) Nicole Bunting, “Who, When, Where,” 2016. Cotton fabric and yarn. 8 x 13 inches. Photo by the artist. (5) Al Canner, “Mid-Century Modern Pictograph,” 2017. Cotton and hemp cords. 13 x 8 x 8 inches. Photo by Ken Sanville. (6) Andrea Cook, “Garden of Roses #87 Natural,” 2017. Raw natural canvas. 10 x 10 x 3 inches. Photo by the artist. (7) Emily Dvorin, “Eye Tunes,” 2014. Lampshade, music paper, silk thread, paper rush, cable ties. 12 x 13 x 12 inches. Photo by Kate Cameron. (8) Jean Koon, “Steam Punk Pine 2,” 2016. Pine needles, waxed linen, copper foil, stainless-steel pins. 4 x 4 x 4 inches. Photo by the artist. (9) Jane Marie, “A Song of Swift Syncopated Syllables,” 2016. Gourds, devil’s claw pins, hematite square beads, copper wire, metal spring. 12 x 11 x 4 inches. Photo by the artist. (10) Erin Miller, “Wool Packing Peanuts,” 2016. Undyed merino wool. 10 x 3 x 10 inches. Photo by the artist. (11) Joh Ricci, “Chameleon,” 2016. Nylon cord. 4 x 5 x 5 inches. Photo by the artist. (12) Michael Rohde, “Radiant,” 2016. Silk, natural dyes. 11 x 14 x 2 inches. Photo by Andrew Neuhart. (13) Ruth Tabancay, “Micro-organism Lab Series,” 2016. Fabric, embroidery floss, petri dish. 14 x 1 x 14 inches. Photo by Dana Davis. (14) Lillian Whipple, “Weaver’s Knot,” 2016. Silk. 15 x 12 x 1 inches. Photo by A + Image. (15) Peggy Wiedemann, “Secrets,” 2015. Pakistani grass, India rag cordage, Irish waxed linen, escutcheon, keys. 7 x 11 x 2 inches. Photo by Jan Seeger.
