"Common Threads - Different Visions" Cindy Grisdela at the Ratner Museum 2013

“Common Threads – Different Visions”
Cindy Grisdela at the Ratner Museum 2013

I spent the day today hanging our show, “Common Threads – Different Visions,” with seven other fiber artists at the Dennis and Phillip Ratner Museum. I have eight pieces in the show, shown at left–two larger wall hangings, Intuition and Aztec Autumn, and six smaller pieces mounted on stretcher bars, String of Marbles, Townhouses, Central Park, The Road Home and Walk in the Park. The names are from left to right in the photo.

The show is open from April 3-28 and there will be an artists’ reception this Sunday, April 7 from 1:30-3:30 at the museum. The address is 10001 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, MD. Museum hours are Sunday 10 – 4:30 and Monday-Thursday 10 – 4. Closed Friday and Saturday.

It’s a bright, open space and there’s quite a diverse group of artists in the group, which makes for

"Common Threads - Different Visions" at the Ratner Museum 2013

“Common Threads – Different Visions”
Ratner Museum 2013

a very interesting exhibit–from modern interpretations of traditional quilts by Carole Nicholas to large assemblages made of fiber by Smadar Livne and stripes made of paper and sewn together in

"Common Threads - Different Visions" at the Ratner Museum 2013

“Common Threads – Different Visions”
Ratner Museum 2013

abstract compositions by Ann Liddle. Barb Hollinger creates pieces that showcase her beautiful stitching and quick wit, Donna Radner uses fabric like paint to design abstract canyon landscapes, Marina Baudoin uses color and shape to put together pieces reminiscent of abstract paintings, and Linda Syverson Guild’s work is informed by her training as an architect.

I knew only about half of the artists in the show to start with–three from other groups that I’ve belonged to and Donna Radner, because she was one of my first teachers and very influential in helping me to understand how to use color effectively in my work. It’s an honor to be in this exhibit with her and with these other talented artists!

It’s always interesting to hang an exhibit with other artists, especially with other artists that you don’t know well. In this case, everyone has worked together to put together a show that is intriguing and different–well worth a trip to Bethesda to see!

Later this month I’ll be at the Craftboston Spring Show in Boston, MA April 19-21 at the Seaport World Convention Center. I’m in Booth 236 and I’d love to see you if you’re in the Boston area then. Next month I’m at the Northern Virginia Fine Art Festival in Reston, VA May 18-19–mark your calendars! I hope to see you soon.