Adrienne Sloane pushes the boundaries of fiber art, expanding the concept of knitting and what it can create. She lets us peek into her studio, shares insight into how she makes her work, and ponders what’s next.
Knitting is so versatile that I sometimes get lost in exploring and experimenting with the possibilities. I am currently working on several pieces that use knit in distinctively different ways, continuing my thematically political work while also starting a series of landscapes both figurative and imaginative, which use a form of painting with knit. Having recently started to teach knit wire jewelry, I’ve also become distracted with how to use color and shape incorporating transparency which provides me a respite from the emotional intensity of current events.
With my dog as companion, I usually listen to NPR during my studio time, turning the radio off only when there is a design problem that requires my full attention. My political imagery emerged largely from the constant barrage of news about the war and America’s place on the world stage. Now, post election, I am wondering how my imagery will change.
I plan to work on larger pieces this year as well as finding a medium that will allow me to use fiber techniques to withstand presentation in a public space on an ongoing basis.
I am also looking forward to an active upcoming teaching schedule. I will be teaching sculptural knitting at a variety of venues locally and nationally including in RISD’s continuing education program, at OFF THE GRID, the Surface Design Association national conference in Kansas City in May, Peter’s Valley Craft Center in June. I have been invited to teach in Australia in fall ’09.
Further, my work is included in the recently released book: Knitting Art: 150 Innovative Works from 18 Contemporary Artists by Karen Searle from Voyageur Press.
Images (top to bottom): Knitting machines; jewelry table; fiber art in progress; fiber art in progress; all images courtesy of Adrienne Sloane.
Munya Avigail Upin says
It’s wonderful to see your space and the images of works-in-progress on the table. It will, indeed, be interesting to see what happens when our political climate changes. Sadly, there will always be wars, famines and genocides to address, but hopefully the American landscape will reflect the positive change that we all yearn for.