Textile Center

TODAY! Trunk Show with Fresh Eye Arts Fresh Eye Arts

Saturday, September 19, 10 am – 4 pm

Fresh Eye Arts, a progressive art studio that provides support for artists with disabilities, is showcasing work by their studio fiber artists and offering a free demonstration!

If you are a fiber artist who experiences barriers to your creative practice due to a physical disability or chronic pain, stop by to try out some of Fresh Eye Arts’ recommended adaptive tools for fiber artists.

Fresh Eye Arts studio artists will also have work for sale, including wall-hanging tapestries, wearable art and jewelry, functional objects, patches, and more!

Featured artists: Angel Lamson, Marissa Wegner, Joah Bingert, Kimberly Laudert, Kevin Conklin, Kelly Pals, Peggy Ramey

Today, as a part of our 𝘼 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙤𝙣 𝙏𝙝𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙎𝙥𝙤𝙩𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙎𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨, we hear from member artist Susan E. Brown.

𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗶𝗲𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗔 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘁.

This piece, 𝙎𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝘾𝙝𝙚𝙘𝙠, is derived from numerous good sized scraps I have been saving for the last four decades. They originate from pieces I wasn't thrilled with, so I started dividing them up. When I started looking at them, I realized I had two similar sizes from each previously disregarded piece, so 4 pairs. As I started grouping them together, I realized how much they complimented and contrasted with each other, yet together were unified in activity.

I'm a maximalist vs a minimalist, and I love how this piece truly embodies that personal element while showing so much history of my work.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴?

The love of discovery, play, and the incredible medium of making paper with abaca pulp. It's so durable and flexible, easy to change, bend, wash, sand, etc. that I feel very open in my exploration.

___
𝘼 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙤𝙣 𝙏𝙝𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙, Textile Center’s biennial member exhibition, is on view through October 10, 2026! Stop by and see 136 works of fiber art by our member artists.

Today, as a part of our 𝘼 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙤𝙣 𝙏𝙝𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙎𝙥𝙤𝙩𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙎𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨, we hear from member artist Julie Steller.

𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗶𝗲𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗔 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘁.

I have worked with repurposed wool sweaters for many years, and therefore have many beautiful bits and bobs of past projects. Two years ago my husband was very ill. I needed to be home a great deal during that year. These landscape projects involved hours of handwork that could be done at home (as opposed to working in my studio) which gave me quiet, creative work as I walked through this cancer journey with my husband. Inspired by photographs of England's Lake District & Yorkshire Mores that I had collected, I layered beautiful wool sweater scrap and then needle felted wool roving and embroidering details with yarn and cotton floss. The result was multi-textured landscapes that have been a wonderful new creative outlet: something beautiful that came out of a very difficult season. (I am grateful to report my husband is doing well!)

𝗜𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗹𝘀𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗶𝗲𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗶𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹?

My tapestries are inspired by beautiful photographs and therefore I am able to do custom projects (I have made one of my friend's beautiful cabin sunset, and another being planned looking out over Lakewood Cemetery.) I am honored to do this work.
___

𝘼 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙤𝙣 𝙏𝙝𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙, Textile Center’s biennial member exhibition, is on view through October 10, 2026! Stop by and see 136 works of fiber art by our member artists.

Today, as a part of our 𝘼 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙤𝙣 𝙏𝙝𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙎𝙥𝙤𝙩𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙎𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨, we hear from member artist Laura Euller.

𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗶𝗲𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗔 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘁.
This piece was inspired by a trip to New Orleans right before festival season in February. The houses in the city are vibrantly painted and lit up at night and feel like they are part of the nightlife. I loved the neon signs, including for the Blue Nile, a music bar on Frenchman street, and how every person on the street has their own sense of style.

This tapestry was made with Norwegian Frid yarn, which has a very nice stiffness for tapestry and comes in a wide range of warm and cools within a color family, which is why I've been drawn to it.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴?
I can't stop, it's all I think about. Colors and beautiful moments are what inspires me.

___

𝘼 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙤𝙣 𝙏𝙝𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙, Textile Center’s biennial member exhibition, is on view through October 10, 2026! Stop by and see 136 works of fiber art by our member artists.

Textile Center is excited to join the Monarch Festival tomorrow, Saturday, September 12, 10 am - 4 pm, for a free needle felting activity! Teaching Artists Alla + Shannon will lead participants in creating a butterfly with bright colors and bold shapes. 🦋

The Minneapolis Monarch Festival celebrates the amazing 2,300 mile migration to central Mexico with music, arts, dance, food, and monarchs!

Minneapolis Monarch Festival
at Lake Nokomis Community Center
49th St and Woodland Blvd

See you there!

Today, as a part of our 𝘼 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙤𝙣 𝙏𝙝𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙎𝙥𝙤𝙩𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙎𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨, we hear from member artist and staff member Vicky Eidelsztein.

𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗶𝗲𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗔 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘁.
𝙋𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙝𝙤 𝘼𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙤 is a hand printed and hand sewn fabric poncho inspired by an Argentinian traditional weaving design called Guarda Pampa. The origin of the poncho dates back to the ancestors of the indigenous peoples of Argentina, before the Spanish colonization. Ponchos are traditionally woven, but I wanted to make one myself using the techniques I know. So this is a modern take on the classic garment, instead of woven, this poncho is made with screen printed and quilted fabric.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗶𝗲𝗰𝗲?
I would like people to be drawn in by the contrast between the formality of this traditional garment and the contemporaneity of the materials and colors chosen. I would also like people to pause and look closely at the designs printed on the fabrics; while from a distance they may appear to be merely a pattern, they are actually rich in detail.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴?
Art is a bridge between me and people. I love being able to connect with others in this way. It motivates me to express my feelings and ideas with the hope of moving and impacting viewers.
___
𝘼 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙤𝙣 𝙏𝙝𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙, Textile Center’s biennial member exhibition, is on view through October 10, 2026! Stop by and see 136 works of fiber art by our member artists.

Heading to the final Fair day today? Join Textile Center in the Creative Activities building for a hands-on, communal needle felting activity: Felting the Mississippi River! 🛶

We’re stationed next to HmongMuseum in the demo area 🧵

Special youth + family opportunity! 🧵📚 Join us in welcoming local author Monica Rojas to Textile Center for a special reading and signing of her newly published children’s book, “Patchwork Memories.”

This bilingual picture book tells a story about how quilts can hold and carry family memories, and the love and shared experiences that bring families together, even in the hardest of times. This event is free and open to the public!

Event schedule:
4 pm: Meet + Greet, Make a “quilted” bookmark activity for kids
4:30 – 5 pm: Book reading
5 – 6 pm: Book signing, Make a “quilted” bookmark activity for kids

Books will be available for purchase during the event. Want to preorder a copy for pickup? Visit textilecentermn.org/shop, or visit the link in our bio.