I just spent five days in Montclair, New Jersey, visiting my sister who recently moved there. When we drove to her apartment, we passed the Montclair Art Museum. Outside many of its trees were covered with crochet and fiber art works, my attention was immediately captivated.
She knew what I was thinking.
“Yes, we are going. I knew you would want to go.” And I did. I crochet; I knit; I sew; I have embroidered; I do candlewick embroidery; I needlepoint. In simple terms, I love fiber arts. And this display was calling my name. I wanted to take photos of the trees from her moving car. But she told me to calm down. We could actually easily walk over to the museum
On exhibit at the museum is the 2019 new Jersey Arts Annual – Crafts, “New Directions In Fiber Arts.” It will be at the museum until June 16, 2019.
There was felt art, and crochet art, and quilt art. Each of the 32 artists have their own specialty. Each is special. But I must admit, I have my favorites.
One artist, Jeanne Brasile, does water color and embroidery over braille newspapers. I loved the geometric shapes and the colors of her work. They are delightful. Another, Robert Forman, makes yarn paintings. I liked how the yarn formed another painting over the existing work. You sort of see two different works of art at one time. Geri Hahn sees art in musical sounds. Her work on fabric looked like butterflies dancing to me. So Yoon Lym’s lovely felt painting looked like a water color. I also enjoyed the story quilt by Faith Ringgold.
But every artist’s work had something to intrigue. I enjoyed that each one wrote a statement about their work. I, of course, read every one. But I also purchased the booklet that went along with the exhibit to help me remember. Actually, I should be honest, my sister purchased it for me, as she is a member. Thanks!
I also liked that scattered among the art works were little signs called Family Threads for family activities and questions. This made the the exhibit much more interactive and family/child friendly.
The fiber exhibit was not the only gallery that I enjoyed. Currently, the “Undaunted Spirit: Art of Native North America” is also on display until mid-July. Part of the display, the baskets, I believe, are always on display. The gallery that housed this exhibit, The Rand Gallery, is named for Annie Valentine Rand, and some of the many Indian art baskets and art works that were collected by her and her daughter, Florence Rand Lang, are on display there.
In March, my husband and I spent a week on the Navajo and Hopi Indian Reservations in Arizona, so I was fascinated by the many baskets which reminded me of what I saw in Arizona. But seeing the art work of the Plains Indians also called out to me as I live in Kansas and enjoy seeing Indian Art locally as well.
My sister and I loved walking through the room filled with George Inness paintings. Many showed scenes from Montclair in the late 1890s. My favorite was the Niagara Falls and Winter Moonlight.
Outside of the walled museum, there are art sculptures on display. But for me the fun was walking to each tree and seeing the fiber art that encompassed the trunks and some of the branches of the trees. I love seeing yarn bombing examples. I felt a bit badly as it rained several of the days we were there which was dampening to the art and to the spirit. Luckily, a break in the rain helped our visit to the outside grounds more enjoyable.
The museum is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, and open from 12 – 5 pm on the other days. To find out more about the museum and its programs and events go to www.monthclairartmuseum.org
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