Guild Challenge 2012, fiber art exhibit

Have you ever played, "Animal, Vegetable or Mineral?" The 2012 Guild Challenge for members of the Riverbend Fiber Arts Guild was a take-off on this much-loved guessing game, and the exhibit of Challenge entries was held at the November 3 guild meeting.

Ann Buggey describes the process
and materials used in her entry.

The requirements of the Challenge were to create a free standing, three-dimensional representation of something from nature. Materials used in the piece had to include something from each category—animal, vegetable and mineral—and a photo of the object that inspired the piece was to accompany the entry.

Guild members met the challenge with creative representations of their subjects. At the exhibit, the fiber artists discussed the construction processes and fiber art techniques they employed, and the materials used in their entry that fulfilled the Challenge requirements.

Here are the artists' statements:

Storm Tree by Ann Buggey

"Storm Tree" is made of wool roving, silk ribbon, and copper wire. It sits on a wooden base. The piece was inspired by a gnarled tree growing through a sidewalk in Memphis. No matter how often the tree was trimmed, it grew back more resilient. Its imperfections and the ravages of time and storms, became integral to its beauty.

Storm Tree: wool roving, silk ribbon, copper wire, wooden base.

"Farmer Joe" is a caricature of my older son, Joseph, who has a farm outside of Sewanee, Tennessee. The clothing, hair, etc. is in the style of his dress. He has eggs in one hand and a flower in the other. The armature is wire, he is seated on a piece of wood and the rest is needle felted roving.

Farmer Joe by Peggy Solomon

I like the idea of felting wool, but my hands no longer tolerate wet felting, so I have begun some work with needle felting.

Farmer Joe: needle felting with wool, wire armature, wood base.

"Lady Box Turtle" was inspired by my love for turtles and learning that my Cherokee ancestors were members of the Turtle Tribe. I have been wanting to learn how to sculpt paper clay, so I took this opportunity to try it. This was a fun challenge. 

Lady Box Turtle by Judy Anderson

A covered plastic egg was lined with antique silk. Hand dyed wool was felted for the turtle belly; hand made and dyed silk paper was embroidered with hand dyed silk thread (plates on back). Sculpted paper hands, feet and face; beaded ruffle, necklace and bracelet; crocheted hat.

Lady Box Turtle: plastic egg base, sculpted paper clay, wool, silk paper, beads.
Hand embroidered, felted, beaded and crocheted.

Lady Box Turtle: detail of beaded ruffle, paper sculpted feet and hands.

A ribbon for First Place, two Second Places and Viewers' Choice were awarded. Congratulations to the Challenge participants on their entries.

First Place: Judy Anderson

Second Place: Peggy Solomon

Second Place and Viewers' Choice: Ann Buggey

In appreciation for coordinating this year's Challenge, Pat Keran was presented with the book, "Knit Your Own Dog."

Left: Pat Keran shows the poodle page from the "Knit Your Own Dog" book.
Right: gift wrapping of the Thank You book.