Are you eager to explore the world of fiber art in Alameda County? From juried exhibitions to renowned museums, there are plenty of chances to discover the traditional and innovative techniques of fabrics and fibers. Whether you're interested in viewing works of art or creating your own, this guide will help you find the resources you need to get started. The Caldwell Gallery of the San Mateo County Government Center hosts a juried exhibition that displays a variety of textile and fiber art. This exhibition invites viewers to experience the many aspects of this art form, featuring pieces that hang on walls in two and three dimensions, as well as works of art to wear.
If you're looking for inspiration, be sure to check out the costume and textile arts collections at the San Francisco Fine Arts Museums. This expansive collection spans several continents, mediums, and time periods, from ancient to contemporary. The Bay Area has long been established as a major center for fiber art, and museums have become an integral part of this vibrant community. In the 1940s, Manuel's work reflected both the counterculture of the 1960s and the burgeoning garment art movement, which was centered in the Bay Area. For more than twenty years, Akers taught at the Tyler School of Art at Temple University in Philadelphia.
Born in 1933 in Santiago de Compostela (Spain) and raised in Havana (Cuba), Akers graduated in Pharmacy from the University of Havana before moving to the United States to study at the Art Institute of Chicago and the Cranbrook Academy of Art. Lee Manuel (1936—2000) obtained a degree in Fine Arts from the San Francisco Institute of Art in painting. It was upon his retirement in 1995, when he moved to Sonoma County, California, that he began a particularly productive period in his career. Manuel was an emerging artist in the mid-1960s, and his first work consisted of hand-painted cotton tunics with organic motifs inspired by art nouveau. In 1966, he graduated from the Maryland Institute of Art School and earned his master's degree in Fine Arts from the Rinehart School of Sculpture. Adela Akers is another prominent American fiber artist known for her large sculptural tapestries.
Born in 1929 in Philadelphia, she attended the School of Architectural Design and Drawing at the Maryland Institute, and studied color field painting with renowned artist Morris Louis in 1958. Quisgard emerged in his studio during the era of Abstract Expressionism in the 1950s and 1960s and, since then, he has worked in painting, sculpture, and fiber art. If you're looking for a way to connect with local artists working with fiber art techniques in Alameda County, be sure to check out Fabric, Thread & Woven. This organization celebrates the strong community of local artists working with textile and fiber art media. Through their exhibitions and events, they provide an opportunity for artists to showcase their work while connecting with other members of this creative community.
