Fiber Arts

TEXAS ARTIST JOY O. UDE EXPLORES NIGERIAN-AMERICAN IMMIGRANT EXPERIENCE

Posted March 25, 2021 in Press Releases

(HOUSTON, TX) March 24, 2021 — Houston Center for Contemporary Craft (HCCC) is pleased to present 9ja Vision: The Fiber and Mixed-Media Work of Joy O. Ude, a solo exhibition by the Texas-based artist. For millions of Nigerians worldwide, the mobile-friendly shorthand, 9ja (or naija), evokes a shared identity and culture in constant dialogue with itself–a dialogue which, like Joy Ude’s work, crosses borders and generations. Ude says, “The works included in 9ja Vision represent the interweaving of Western and Nigerian cultures, as experienced from the perspective of an American-born child of Nigerian immigrants. In each series, I combine intergenerational anecdotes, cultural commentary, and altered traditional fiber techniques to construct experimental visual narratives. Through my work, I endeavor to expand understanding of the American immigrant experience beyond a singular characterization.”

Ude’s practice is grounded in the rich traditions of West African textiles and references their material history as a backdrop for the personal, familial, and historical narratives that she weaves into her work. Combining printed wax cloth with photo transfers of family members, Ude contextualizes her personal history within a complicated material legacy of colonialism, creating embellished pieces that are both joyful and haunting. She explores this legacy further in the form of skin-lightening soaps and products, reproducing them in resin and coconut oil and draping them in hand-tatted lace, a nod to oppressive Western beauty standards as well as the presence and burden of female servile labor in historical and familial settings. Her work is also an exciting part of the enormously energetic and internationally influential fashion scene coming out of the Nigerian homeland and diaspora communities. Continue reading.

Eco-printing Workshop

Posted September 1, 2020 in

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KIT PICK-UP & SHIPPING OPTIONS

Kits can be picked up at HCCC on Thursday, October 22, or Friday, October 23 between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM. If you are unable to pick up your kit during that time frame, please email education@crafthouston.org.

Kits can be mailed to you for an additional cost of $15; however, due to increased shipping traffic during COVID-19, delivery times may be longer than normal. If you wish to have your kit mailed, make sure to register no later than October 15th.

Ann Morton: Assembly Process

Posted September 15, 2015 in Blog

Now the long awaited assembly has begun for the What Happened Today? exhibition textiles, we thought we’d share a few photos of the assembly process for you to see.

There are two kinds of textiles that will be formed from the amazing contributions from the citizens of Houston – a delicate, quilt-like textile using the thousand-plus 3″ x 3″ notes submitted over the last six months; and a thick, tufted rug-like textile made from the woven newspaper modules that groups and individuals have spent so much time making during the course of this project. Even at this point, the end product is still formulating, as we await the final collection and count of all the elements that have amassed since February. Continue Reading »

Ann Morton: Community and Process

Posted June 25, 2015 in Blog

When visitors experience the What Happened Today? exhibition that will be on view at Houston Center for Contemporary Craft starting September 18th of this year, they will encounter a physical object – a deeply textural  and, I daresay, unusual textile. Made up of the daily writings of a wide cross-section of Houstonians, and also the hooked-rug-handiwork of a diverse collection of groups city-wide, this sculptural expression will be a rich, and interesting object to experience!

Morton-Workshop-HCCC-2

Artist Ann Morton, and HCCC Exhibitions Intern, Madeleine Sanchez. Photo by Kim Coffman.

Continue Reading »

Ann Morton: What Happened Today?

Posted May 20, 2015 in Blog

Embarking on a project such as the What Happened Today? exhibition leaves the richness of the outcome up to the members of the public who get involved. This can be unnerving, but in the case of the citizens of Houston, the results are every bit as interesting as we’d hoped. With the generous partnership of the Houston Chronicle, we expect thousands of notes to make their way to HCCC through July.
We’d like to share just a few out of hundreds of 3”x 3” notes that have been submitted so far. Enjoy the texture of what has been shared–the character of the handwriting, the thoughts–and most of all, what happened on these days.

022115_enchanted inmate_LR Continue Reading »

Interview with Resident Artist,
Tarina Frank

Posted May 22, 2013 in Blog

Tarina Frank in her studio at Houston Center for Contemporary Craft. Photo by Ron Scubadiver.

Tarina Frank in her studio at Houston Center for Contemporary Craft. Photo by Ron Scubadiver.

Briefly describe what you make.  What projects have you been working on recently?

I make wearable art objects from a variety of materials.  During my residency, I have been experimenting with the idea of wearable art.  My work ranges from the simple, tiny, more traditional idea of jewelry all the way to costumes and masks. My most recent works have been large, lightweight necklaces made from paper. Continue Reading »

Interview with Resident Artist
Rachelle Vasquez

Posted August 14, 2012 in Blog

Fiber artist, Rachelle Vasquez, in her studio at HCCC. Photo by HCCC.

This week we interviewed Rachelle Vasquez, a Houston-based artist and art teacher, who works primarily with fibers. Rachelle graduated from the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts and the University of Houston with a Bachelor of Arts degree and a minor in art history. Prior to becoming a resident artist at HCCC, she had a residency at DiverseWorks in 2007 and a solo show at Lawndale Art Center in 2010.

This is the last artist interview for a while, so be sure to enjoy it!  This month, we’ll say goodbye to all of the current resident artists—Nathan Dube, Jessica Kreutter, Rachelle Vasquez, Melissa Walter and John Zimmerman—we wish them well in their new adventures!  A new crop of residents will be starting in September. Continue Reading »

Alyssa Salomon in Town for Workshop & FotoFest

Posted March 17, 2012 in Blog

Curatorial Assistant, Ashley Powell, shares her thoughts and interview questions with artist Alyssa Salomon.

Continue Reading »

Coming Soon–Bridge 11: Lia Cook

Posted January 31, 2012 in Blog

I am pleased to report that after a relatively smooth installation process this week (there are always some bumps along the way), the curatorial team at HCCC has finished installing Bridge 11: Lia Cook. Continue Reading »

Crafting Live(s): Ten Years of Artists-in-Residence — Spotlight on Fiber Artist, Greg Rubio

Posted August 19, 2011 in Blog

Guest Curator, Keelin Burrows, writes about past artist-in-residence Greg Rubio and his work in Crafting Live(s): Ten Years of Artists-in-Residence. The exhibition is on view at HCCC through September 3, 2011. Burrows is currently the Windgate Charitable Foundation Curatorial Fellow at The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Continue Reading »