Fiber Forum in city’s arts district Saturday
Free event runs 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Textile Studio
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. >> A Fiber Forum event featuring fiber art demonstrations and live sheep shearing is scheduled for Saturday in the Spa City’s Beekman Street Arts District.
This free, interactive Fiber Forum will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, July 13 at Textile Studio, a weaving shop located at 143 Grand Ave. in Saratoga Springs.
A group of eight regional fiber artists will be set up outdoors at the corner of Beekman Street and Grand Avenue. Fiber Forum contributors include sheep shearer Joe Hamilton of Foster Sheep Farm, spinner Carole Foster, art quilter Susan Rivers, knitter Lioubov Ermalova, silk painter Kathy Klompas, felter Joy MullerMcCoola, paper maker Nanette Miranda and weavers Tegan and Eric Frisino.
Each artist will be demonstrating their craft and displaying finished items along with work in progress. Visitors can try out the equipment and craft materials with the artists’ guidance.
“I am excited to be part of this celebration of fiber and thank the Textile Studio and Saratoga Bridges for creating this unique event and providing a venue to share my craft,” participating artist Susan Rivers said in a news release. “I embrace any opportunity to educate the public on the quintessential folk art of quilting and its evolution into an art form. Keeping with the fiber theme, I will be demonstrating how to use silk fibers to create unique art quilts.”
Along with the live demos and displays of all the different fiber arts, there will be a “Sheep to Shawl” contest with two teams of spinners and weavers competing to complete a shawl from scratch - beginning with spinning fleece to winding bobbins, then to weaving the shawl warp on handlooms.
Starting at 11 a.m. the forum’s feature presentation will be Joe Hamilton, who will be shearing sheep and discussing the process during the live demo.
“Come and get all your questions answered about the fiber arts and try your hand on a loom, knitting machine or spinning wheel,” the news release from the organizers said. “Or just come to pet the beautiful sheep!”
The one-day Fiber Forum is for all ages and abilities. The educational event, presented by Textile Studio in collaboration with
with Saratoga Bridges Day Hab programs, is familyfriendly and ADA accessible.
Saratoga Bridges, which provides programs for adults with developmental disabilities, will be on-site with students who participate in their Day Hab program weaving classes.
Saratoga Arts made this program possible with a Community Arts Grant funded by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature. Those with questions about the event may call Textile Studio at 518-5832129.