Ruth Marshall, Textile Artist
I'm happy to feature Ruth Marshall's work in our new Gallery. Ms. Marshall uses knitting to explore human relationships with the natural world, especially animals. Her work was recently part of “Knitted, Knotted, Netted," a fiber show at the Hunterdon Art Museum in New Jersey. The show featured her large-scale knitted animal pelts.
The knitting of animal pelts boldly confronts the practice of taking skins from animals. It is a constructive answer to a destructive act. As any fiber worker knows, knitting a finished piece requires attention, commitment, and love, much like raising a child or growing a relationship. The viewer of these knitted pelts cannot help contrasting this careful activity with the harvesting of skins, which usually follows a violent assault. Thus the creative act makes a strong statement, quietly, about human violence against the natural world.
Please visit the Gallery to see photos of Ms. Marshall's work.
To the left is a detail of Ruth Marshall's Ivy, 2006, 87 1/2" x 66."
Green Fibers Enter the Mainstream
For those of us who spent the ‘90s and ‘0s scouring shops for sustainably produced yarns, cloth, and chic clothing, this is good news indeed. Eco-fashion need no longer be confined to sack-shaped hemp dresses and beanie caps. And instead of encountering uncomprehending or irritated stares when we advocate for sustainability in the cloth that covers us, we can now look forward to neutral facial expressions--if not nods of approval.
But not right away. According to Marshal Cohen, a market analyst with the research firm NPD Group, green fashion still represents less than 1 percent of industry sales. And among buyers, only 18 percent even realize that green fashion exists. The good news is that four years ago that number stood at 6 percent. We are making progress.
Sources used in writing this blog:
"From Hippie to Hip," by Gretel H. Schueller, in Audubon Magazine, Nov/Dec 2009 issue.
http://gliving.com/futurefashions-top-designers-tackle-sustainability/
A Message for our NYC area site visitors
Don't miss the One of a Kind Show & Sale in New York City, from December 10-December 13. It will feature entirely hand-made work by artists, designers, and high-end craftspeople from across North America. Yes, it's just in time for the holiday shopping season, but that's not the only reason to go -- it's a chance to visit a huge gallery of beautiful work by dedicated handworkers, and a great way to gather inspiration for one's own creative work. And if you go, look for Booth # H 59 in the Etsy Pavilion, which will be hosted by Paloma friend Elena Rosenberg of Tickled Pink Knits. She will be displaying her fine handmade knitwear. For more information about this show, including directions, go to http://www.oneofakindshowny.com/showoverview/.