Cooper-Hewitt: "Fashioning Felt"

Now through September 7! The prestigious Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum has a new show in New York City. “Fashioning Felt” features 70 hand and machine-felted objects, ranging from clothing and furniture to home decoration and contemporary design. One of my teachers, Jorie Johnson has felt vessels and wall hangings works on display.

This show has the Big Apple buzzing. The New York Times review says "Humble Fabric Takes Center Stage". In a separate New York Times story, Cooper-Hewitt Curator and media personality Susan Brown adds: "The Fabric's Moment Has Arrived".

As for me, I'm very pleased that the art world has caught on to this important medium. Felting dates back some 8,000 years and in modern times, started to emerge again in England in the 1970's. Ever since then, artists from around the world have been creating new pieces that attract the attention of interior and fashion designers. Having worked in fiber all my life, it is really exciting to be a part of the felting renaissance -PJ