
River Ever Flowing
Mary Buskirk

Ikat Knitting
Lydia Van Gelder

Rocks and Rills
Mary Walker Phillips
Image rights reserved: Estate of Mary Walker Phillips

Crazy Quilt
Katherine Westphal
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November 15 – February 5, 2012
Invisible Lineage showcases the work of four influential mid 20th century fiber
artists — Mary Buskirk, Lydia Van Gelder, Mary Walker Phillips, Katherine
Westphal— alongside works of four late century artists, Pat Abrahamian, Pam
Moore, Karen Hampton, and Janice Sullivan. The juxtaposition highlights the
profound influences the earlier artists had on a second generation of artists
working in the fiber medium. A wide array of objects and textiles drawn from
each artists’ collective bodies of work illuminate the invisible lineage between the
first generation of ground breaking artists and the later artists they inspired.
From the late 1950’s through the 1980’s these textile pioneers — Mary Buskirk,
Lydia Van Gelder, Mary Walker Phillips, Katherine Westphal—each created a
large body of work that focused on a specific technique or combined multiple
processes to create their innovative works. Weavers Buskirk and Van Gelder
both pushed the possibilities of the loom by creating tapestries and sculptural
works or exploring ikat dyed traditions. Although Phillips began as a weaver,
she is best known for her intricate and large scaled macramé and knitting that
pushed these mediums from craft to art. Westphal explored surface design
techniques like printing and dyeing, and incorporated paper into her hangings
and sculptures. This is the first time these artists have exhibited together and
collectively they provide a unique view into the textile roots of the San Francisco
Bay Area and the important legacy that these women have left.
Like Buskirk and Van Gelder, weavers Hampton and Sullivan explore texture,
techniques and personal identity, but use a wide variety of techniques and
surface embellishments. Just as Phillips elevated the status of knitting and
knotting, contemporary artists like Pat Abrahamian and Pam Moore continue
to push art knitting with their complex and abstract knitted works, creating very
different work than their predecessor. In addition to their creative link to Phillips,
both have a personal link to the earlier artist, who was a friend and teacher.
Invisible Lineage is supported in part by a grant from Friends of Fiber Art International and co-presented by Lacy Knitters Guild.


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