.....California Fiber Artists @ Arts Visalia

Friend and fabulous artist and teacher Lura Shwartz Smith....
this is the woman who against all odds,
drew enough helpers to put together the Peace Mandala, or thangka, I blogged about several months ago...
Our portion was of the Buddha sitting under the bohdi tree....
I was a leaf maker...there were a lot of leaves
We had one month to put together 36 - 3' x 4' panels, which when joined together was 18' x 25' and the only way we could really view it was to take it to the local telephone company and hang it from their roof.
It was part of a world wide effort to create the life of Buddha in a thangka....
It was an incredible experience.

The other doll artist in our group is janet Coshow....
I love this wonderful figure!

Me and my Walk on the Wild Side Shaman

Me with Maiden and Mother...
Crone didn't get to come...

......cfa member Sherry Kleinman, Kevin Bowman ~ arts visalia curator and a very nice man, CfA member Benita Dodge, Lura and me... Sherry and Benita both traveled for 3 hours to get to the gallery... one from the north and one from the south. We are standing in front of Benita's gorgeous piece. It was so nice to meet California Fiber Artists members...for the most part we only know each other via our yahoo group. The reception was very well attended and the gallery looked fabulous. I have more photos to post later...

.....Layer Upon Layer

This is where I'll be tonight...the artist reception is from 6 ~ 8 pm.....
I'm honored to be part of this group of fabulous fiber artists...
actually it's a little intimidating.
I'm really looking forward to seeing their work in person.
It's the first show that I've been a part of that is close enough for me to attend.

Arts Visalia is a beautiful gallery
and they really give their artist wonderful receptions...
good food and well attended....so I'm excited!

If any of you are attending please make sure to say hi...I want to meet you!!!

...Fire and Fiber

A couple months ago I was offered an 'open hand' to become part of a group of artist who show as 'California Fiber Artists'

Pretty cool.....I've admired many of these artist for a very long time...including my friend and fellow show buddy Lura Schwarz Smith, fabulous artist and generous teacher.

I first met Lura when she was seeking help in creating a Thangka of Buddha's life....What an amazing experience. I don't know how many people ended up volunteering to complete the section we were working on but our portion was Buddha under the bodhi tree where he received enlightenment.
Now this might not sound like too big of a deal until I tell you our panel was 2 stories high when completed.

I believe the project was called the Peace Mandala, it was shortly after 9/11. People all over the world were working together to tell Buddha's story on these huge panels..Our little group was the only one working on it in America.
When all the pieces were sent to Japan, where the project originated, it covered a football field!!!

I partnered with a couple of other volunteers and our job was to make the leaves for the bodhi tree...tons and tons of leaves. Creating and pinning leaves to the tree...the work combined applique and painting which Lura did.

When the thangka section was completed we took it to our local telephone company and hung it from the roof so we could all see what it looked like...It reached the ground.....it was a wonderful experience.

That's how I met Lura, she was the artist in charge, adding her touches here and there, painting Buddha's face with a long brush that she handle masterfully.

California Fiber Artists show our art at various venues throughout the year....this is the first show I'm participating in....If any of you are in the Woodland area stop by and see the show.
It will be fabulous!