Not Dark Yet: Fiber Artist Showcased in Montgomery

ASCA Gallery at the RSA Tower in Montgomery

The Alabama State Council on the Arts announced last week its closing reception “showcasing the work of our six 2018 Fellowship Artists. Sunday, July 29th 2:00-4:00 p.m. Gallery Talk: 3:00-4:00.”

The six artists honored were Scott Fisk, Elaine Farley Kinnaird, Miriam O’Mura, Charity Ponter, Jared Ragland, and Kami Watson.

For those who missed the reception in Montgomery at the RSA Tower, I am showcasing the works of my daughter, Elaine Farley Kinnaird, here today.

As a fiber artist, Ms. Kinnaird works with various media to produce her art. Examples of her work can be seen at her website.

"Pond"

As a recipient of a grant from the Alabama Council on the Arts, her work in Montgomery used fabric as the medium and resembled quilting. Each piece was made of pieces of fabric cut into different shapes and sewn together.

"Broken Sea I"

She stated in her talk that the shapes that came about in her installation were based upon drawings from shadows from her previous installation at Ground Floor Contemporary art gallery in Birmingham. The shadows were cast on the wall by the evening sun. She traced the shadows and saved the patterns which then evolved into her current exhibit.

In describing her work with shadows, the artist spoke of the importance of our being aware of what Carl Jung called our own shadow side.

"Broken Sky"

Ms. Kinnaird had seven pieces on display for the Alabama Council on the Arts. Four of the pieces hung like banners, while the fifth piece was a free standing sculpture. The sculptured piece was also made of fabric.

"Broken Sea II"

Broken Earth I and Broken Earth II

She explained how she took the patterns from her “Broken Earth I and II” pieces and created a 3D fabric sculpture. She had to be innovative in designing a 3D fabric sculpture that would stand on its own. Her efforts paid off in that her fabric sculpture became the center piece for the entire show.

Broken Earth III

Elaine Kinnaird holds an MFA degree from Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan (near Detroit). She is also a graduate of Birmingham Southern College and the Alabama School of Fine Arts.