JOHN HEINTZMAN
Quilt making has its roots from most cultures and societies throughout the world, but when one studies a specific time-focused group of quilts, e.g., pre-Civil War slave culture, it reveals the deeply dynamic ways that quilts have been used historically to tell stories. Faith Ringgold currently has a retrospective exhibition in Chicago at the Museum of Contemporary Art. This pioneer of Fiber Arts, introduced and raised the level of appreciation of quilting to new heights in the 20th century. Through her exploration of craft and history, contemporary quilts’ storytelling leads the viewers to new information — a narrative of confrontation, survival and ruggedness, and oddly, respect. A respect for craftsmanship, restricted design, and reference.
AEREON BOYD
Aareon Boyd adds irreverence and audacity to the historic medium of quilting; he deconstructs and reinterprets traditional patterns with his abstract, improvisational style. Indisputably, his quilts have energy. Compressed and fractured, his surfaces engage the viewer’s eye with textures that are heavily laden with faceted colors and loose threads. They are “finished” when there is resolve for the creative process, not when the components are interlocked and sewn together as in traditional quilting.
His work draws on domestic and artistic traditions of quilt- making; it’s existence pays homage to the past through the use of repurposed fabrics and historical iconography. The bold, atheistic imagery is informed by the future. His art reminds us of the importance of renewal and rebuilding, not only through the artistic process, but also through the possibility of transformative change. All materials have a voice and place in his pieces. From a factory worker’s steel toed shoe to discarded scraps from a contemporary concept of natural fibers welded together — they become expressive and document society’s broad acceptance of art in this century.
Boyd’s process is informed by taking things apart, removing, replacing, cutting, pasting, sewing, and building in order to discover the space where transitions occur and where stories of impermanence unfold. Interspersing threads of African-American experiences and his own AB monogram with broader ideas of identity, and collective history, he investigates the fragile interconnectivity among all inanimate things. Some may see chaos within a frame, and they wouldn’t be wrong. But in that chaos there resides control and an inner spirit whose expression is found in a new life and a new appearance to his materials.
Boyd’s artistic journey started from a gift from his great grandmother who left her sewing machine to him in her will. From one life’s purpose, this one sewing machine created an opportunity for a new creative path into Fiber Arts. With this purpose, Boyd explored the possibilities of sewing and pressed forward with his skills to go beyond tradition.
In conjunction with Boyd’s exhibition, the Peoria Art Guild is hosting a fiber event at the end of February. Join the Fiber Arts Community at “Mend and Remake: A Fashion Upcycle Event” where participants will unleash their creative impulses at this one-day thrifting extravaganza.
Well known Fiber Artists from throughout central Illinois will be conducting workshops which include, but are not limited to sewing, embroidery, fabric painting, printing and stamping, distressing and more. These workshops will foster creativity and sustainability through eco-conscious construction and revival. Aareon Boyd: “Pieces” is at the Peoria Art Guild through the end of February. Admission is always free. The Art Guild is open
9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday.