Award-Winning Fiber Art at County Museum

An exhibit of award-winning fiber art will open at the San Bernardino County Museum in Redlands on Saturday, July 3. The exhibit, free with museum general admission, will run through August 29. The public is invited to “Meet the Fiber Artists” at the museum on Saturday, July 17 between 1:00 and 3:00 p.m.

“The San Bernardino County Museum is the home of the Western Textile Center Collection,” said Dr. Ann Deegan, museum curator of history. “The friends’ group for this collection, which includes fiber-based materials from wedding gowns to Navajo rugs, is the Western Textile Center Association. To honor their assistance, the Museum is highlighting modern fiber art created by its members in this special exhibit.”

The WTCA is composed of fiber artists from four different guilds: the Bedazzled Beaders Society; the Inland Empire Handweavers Guild; the Inland Empire Chapter of the Embroiderer’s Guild of America; and the San Bernardino Chapter, American Needlepoint Guild. These groups support preservation, exhibition, publication, and education related to the Western Textile Center Collection. Each guild selected representative award winners for this exhibit.

Many of the handwoven articles chosen by the Inland Empire Handweavers Guild have been juried into a fiber art show, meaning that a judge awarded them entry into the show based on the quality of the work. Others have won prizes, in some cases after being juried into a show. All show exceptional weaving skill.

The Bedazzled Beaders Society members selected several categories of beading to represent their award-winning categories. The “cow challenge,” the “round robin,” and others have been chosen by the guild to show a cross-section of the types of beadwork done by its members.

The “cow challenge” required participants to use the same type of beads, plus some additional material, on a muslin cow form. The “challenge” was to see what each person could create from the same materials. The “Friendship Bag” round robin produced an amulet-type bag. The person who started the process set some guidelines, such as the type of beads to use. Each month one person added to the bag and then passed it along to the next artist from the guild who wished to participate.

Needle art pieces submitted for the exhibit by the Inland Empire Chapter of the Embroiderer’s Guild of America and the San Bernardino Chapter, American Needlepoint Guild Needle art pieces were selected based on their workmanship and aesthetics.

The San Bernardino County Museum is at the California Street exit from Interstate 10 in Redlands. It is open Tuesdays through Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $6 (adult), $5 (student or senior), and $4 (child aged 5 to 12). Children under five and Museum Association members are admitted free. Parking is free, and the facility is handicapped-accessible. The museum’s Garden Café is open for lunch, beverages, and snacks from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, visit www.sbcountymuseum.org or call (909) 307-2669 / TDD/TTY: (909) 792-1462.