Pepe Hall felt alive and well at the Fibers Open Studio. From wallpapers to swatches and sculptures, there was something for everybody. Honestly, it took immense restraint to hold myself back from running up and touching everything. It felt like being a kid in a yarn-filled candy store; there was a smile on every face in the building.
I spent a few nights doing work at Pepe earlier in the week watching the walls slowly transform—cases getting filled, swatches becoming finalized—but nothing prepared me for the explosion of art that covered every single space in the building. It felt like a museum by artists and for artists, a place that would inspire SCAD students from every major to take a fibers class. Demos of screen printing and felting alongside many interactive installations from students allowed every guest the chance to also take part in the fibers playground.
The common thread (pun partially intended) throughout the work was that it was significantly emotional. From issues with self-image, vulnerability and struggles with identity through the lenses of race, gender identity, class, sexuality and love, I felt that the work being shown was a deep dive into each artist’s personal life. After leaving Open Studio, I better understood not only the artists’ emotions, but I had a better perception of how I could relate to the shared experiences of others through their art.
These powerful and heavy themes were translated through knits, prints and patterns, showing off the fibers student’s talent of conveying their messages in a way that’s fantastical, exuberant and encapsulating. The products of fibers are things we surround ourselves with every single day, from wallpapers in our homes to the clothing we wear. These artists on display want your everyday surroundings to envelop you in a meaningful way.
The fibers students have made it clear that they are passionate about sharing their human experiences in an art form that continues to expand with their growth as artists. In a world where it’s more important now than ever to speak our minds, the fibers students are exploring innovative ways to make their voices heard over the white-noise.
Words: Nicholson Baird
Photo: Anna Vescovi
Design: “Indonesia Collection” by Emily Ann Rozar