As we start a year of New Traditions we are pleased to share the work and practice of Tokyo-based textile Artist Terumi Saito in our community spotlight. Terumi recently graduated from the Parson’s MFA Textile Program where her thesis project “BIRDS DIETY” grew from her experiences studying with master dyers, basket makers, and weavers from Peru and Guatemala. In addition to utilizing historical techniques, Terumi’s work draws from her own spiritualism and references the symbolism of the phoenix and the peacock. Terumi’s evocative work proposes a “contemporary hybrid craft” created with the intention to preserve, honor, and revive interest in these classic techniques through a different perspective. We hope you enjoy the following video interviews.

 

 

 

Photos and interview by Caleb Sayan

Victoria Wanjuhi received her B.F.A. in fashion design from SCAD Atlanta in 2013. After graduating, Victoria worked in the garment industry as an assistant designer for a few years before deciding to go back and pursue an MFA in Fibers. Growing up in Kenya, Victoria saw low-income communities recycle materials and make innovative pieces from waste. During her graduate studies, Victoria reevaluated her relationship with making by carefully thinking about the process within the material; by using discarded and up-cycled textiles. Victoria creates unique pieces by exploring abstraction, distortion, reimagining the material in various 2D and 3D forms, and design applications. This process tries to extend the material’s life-cycle instead of adding to the overburdened environment. This interview was conducted by Caleb Sayan as part of Portland Textile Month 2020.

Integrating, repairing, and transforming found objects into social commentary has been a major part of Bonnie Meltzer’s fiberart sculptures throughout her career. Her crocheted wire sculptures used objects as diverse as computer parts, globes, garments, and un-named doohickies. Many of the 1970s crochet books included images of her sculpture. More recently, they are on the covers of Fine Art of Crochet (2013) and Artistry in Fiber: Vol II Sculpture (2017). Her very mixed media artworks have been in exhibitions (Maryhill Museum, Hallie Ford Museum, Columbia Center for the Arts); collections (University of Washington, National Science Foundation, City of Portland); and TV (OPB produced a video about Meltzer for their 2013 “Voices of Coal” series and was in an early episode of Oregon Art Beat). In fall 2021 a large textile installation will be exhibited at the Oregon Jewish Museum. This interview was recorded by Caleb Sayan as part of Portland Textile Month 2020.

Brittany Vega was born in Bradenton, Florida, but was raised throughout various cities in the south. Her current work is centered on the life of politically charged objects while focusing on process exploration through materials, primarily construction through textiles and sewing, painting, and print. She draws inspiration from personal collections of such objects and historical documentation to investigate how these things act as symbols for American-ness, and furthermore how they can be misconstrued. This interview was recorded by Caleb Sayan as part of Portland Textile Month 2020.

The Ghost Net Landscape collaborative installations are organized by Emily Miller, a multi-media artist whose work centers on uplifting our human relationship with our ocean planet. In the following interview. Emily discusses how Ghost Net Landscape started, the role of community in her work, and what makes her optimistic about the future. We hope you enjoy learning from Emily’s unique perspective as much as we have. This interview was conducted by Caleb Sayan as part of Portland Textile Month 2020.

Originally from Torreon Coahuila, Mexico, Lilia Berenice Hernandez Galusha (born 1988) approaches each work focused on an experience. Lilia received her Bachelors of Fine Art from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock where she developed a love for craft. Furthering that love, she received her MFA from the MFA Applied Craft + Design program in Portland, OR in May 2019.

Hernandez Galusha considers herself a multidisciplinary artist and allows the concept to dictate the medium. She believes our lived experiences teach our bodies how to navigate our surroundings and people around us. Thus, it is important to exchange our stories so we can better understand the stories our bodies never experienced. Lilia’s focus on community and stewardship in her studio practice offer an inspiring example of how we can repair the future.This interview was recorded by Caleb Sayan as part of Portland Textile Month 2020.

 

Matt Perez is a Mexican American figurative sculptor who deals with issues concerning the hyper-visibilty minorities experience in places that lack diversity. His sculptures range from textile creatures six inches tall to towering 11 foot figures Perez calls his companions. Perez is a recent graduate of Pacific Northwest College of Art, and was a panelist during the 2019 International Sculpture Conference discussion on Sculpture in the Classroom. In the following video interview by Caleb Sayan, Matthew discuses his upbringing, formative influences and experiences, that form his art practice.This interview was recorded by Caleb Sayan as part of Portland Textile Month 2020.

 

 

A series of short videos by Caleb Sayan, in which emerging artists Matt Perez, Brittany Vega, Emily Miller, and  Lilia Berenice Hernandez Galusha discuss how we repair the future.