A Tradition of Strings

I had a solo exhibition at the Southwest School of Art in San Antonio. May 9-July 7, 2013

Here are some photos from the exhibition opening night.

Photo credits: Maya Alejandro

Wongai-A San Antonio African drum and dance group performed on the opening night.

A superb performance

I had to shake a leg to the rhythm!!

this is surreal......the art work in the background is by Michael James.  The best of fiber artists/quilters in the world. His solo exhibition ran concurrent with mine in adjacent galleries.  Imagine somewhere in San Antonio, dancing to African drumming withAmerican drummers and dancers; surrounded by the art work of Michael James!!

It has been a very creative year for me.  The last few weeks leading to the end of the year I have been preparing for various shows.  I have also been converting some of my home/studio space into a "gallery" .  I will be hosting viewings through the end of the holiday season.  

Getting the track lights just right...................................This is the untold story of being an artist.  The creative is the obvious; preparing for showing, photography, shipping, negotiating with vendors and galleries etc. are all part of the unseen part of being an artist.

Every artist cherishes a great photographer.  One who records the work not only with great technical expertise, but with an artistic eye.   Over the last few weeks I have had Lee, a wonderful photographer, record my latest work.

Reviewing the shots with Lee before uploading onto the computer.............

Some of the shots call for a step-up on the ladder.................

The experience of directing a photo shoot with a superb photographer is close to that an artist experiences in creating the work.  In the digital age we live in, the work of the photographer is priceless, and represents the artist in the cyberspace.

14 International Triennial of Tapestry

I have been invited to the 14th International Triennial of Tapestry in Lodz, Poland. The exhibition will be at the Central Museum of Tapestry in Lodz. I am honored  by this opportunity, and I look forward to the event. The International Triennial of Tapestry was first held in Lodz in 1972. It is the oldest and largest specialized exhibition in the world – a competition of contemporary textile art. The event promotes contemporary Textile Art.

http://www.muzeumwlokiennictwa.pl/aktualna-edycja/?lang=en

Exhibition: May 6th 2013 – November 3rd 2013

London International Quilt Festival Show

                               I will participate in the "Out of Africa 2013"
                                London International Quilt Festival

                               June 12 - 15 2013, at the Grand Ballroom 
                               Hilton Hotel, London Ontario, Canada

                               I will also be teaching a workshop
                               on Contemporary African Fiber Arts"   
                              on each of the days of the festival.

                              http://londoninternationalquiltfestival.com/

Sokoni- At the Market
73"x 64"



Sokoni- At the Market  (Detail)

Rainbow
50" x 33"

Moon Dance
35" x 30"

Midday Sun
64" x 30"

Crossings
56" x 35"

Brazil

I was the invited presenter at the 2012 Brazil’s Patchwork Design Exhibition in Rio de Janeiro (May 30-June 2) and Sao Paolo (June 14-16).

    Zeca welcomes me to the show

Zeca Medeiros, the organizer visited my studio in San Antonio, Texas in October 2011 and selected the 17 pieces of work that he wanted for the show. There was a large attendance, especially on Saturday. The people take the show seriously and they engaged me on technique, meaning, origins etc. I met many Brazilian quilt artists. Although they mostly spoke Portuguese, and I spoke English, the common language was the artwork, and we enjoyed sharing our passion for the craft.

The show also featured quilts from Brazilians, as well as from the Contemporary Quilt Art Association, a Seattle based group that has promoted the appreciation of art quilts for about 30 years.

While in Sao Paolo I was fortunate to see a review of the works of Alberto Giacometti at the Pinacoteca do Estado. At the Museum of Art, Sao Paolo (MASP) I got to see the Modigliani show.

Overall the trip was a wonderful experience, and my work was well received.

Want to samba!!!!

 

Quilt Nihon 11th Biennial Exhibition, Japan

Voices of Africa                  

My quilt, Voices of Africa, has been selected for exhibition at  the 11th Biennial Quilt Nihon Exhibition in Japan. This quilt depicts abstract  images of  women from Africa. Their strength and resiliency is symbolized by their structures that are stitched in metal. It takes a backbone of metal to walk with courage and strength; and to raise the voices of African women.

http://www.jhia.org/english/

                               Voices of Africa 173cm x 165cm

                               Voices of Africa   (Detail)

Exhibition:

Tokyo Metropolitan Museum 

 April 1-6, 2012

Quilt Challenge on Women, Peace and Security

Quilt Challenge on Women, Peace and Security

“Kamuingi Koyaga Ndiri” – Together, We Can

February 21, 2011

This quilt depicts images of five women carrying a heavy load on their heads. Their mental and physical strength and resiliency are symbolized by their heads made of metal. The heavy weight of their load is symbolized by the basket made of steel. The hopes and success of this heavy lifting is symbolized by the fruits (of their labor) sprouting from the basket. It takes courage and strength to put a heavy load on the head and still walk tall.

The heads of the five women on the quilt represent the five continents; the universality of the mission of the women of the world in search of peace and security. As we redefine our concepts of the boundaries of our communities, and share responsibility for one another, we will discover that working together towards peace and security is one of the foundations for both our individual and collective response.

“Kamuingi Koyaga Ndiri” is a proverb from the Kikuyu people of Kenya which means together we can.

Global Intrigue - Riga 2010

Museum of Decorative Arts and Design, Latvia

Triennial GLOBAL INTRIGUE II

Museum of Decorative Arts and Design,

Riga, Latvia

My work, Flowing Through was accepted for display at  the 4th Riga International Triennial of Textile and Fiber Art. It is thrilling to be selected among this group of international contemporary textile artists.

I always seek to intrigue my audience with  both creativity and the process. In this project, I have made a significant shift in my work. I am exploring and developing a new language of artistic expression with totally different materials. I create quilts and sculptures using recycled metal, stainless steel wire, and galvanized metal wire, while maintaining the traditional fiber techniques.

                               Flowing Through                                  Flowing Through (Detail)

Photos from the UTSA Show- Click link below

Naomi's Show at University of Texas San Antonio

UTSA Show

UTSA Show
EXHIBITION: The Art of Transformation

ARTIST: Naomi Wanjiku

EXHIBITION DATES: September 30 – October 24, 2010

OPENING RECEPTION: Thursday, September 30, 6-9pm (also First Friday, October 1, 6-9pm)

LOCATION: UTSA Satellite Space

115 Blue Star

San Antonio, TX 78204

(Located in the Blue Star Arts Complex at S. Alamo and Probandt St.)

210.212.7146

GALLERY HOURS: Friday - Sunday 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm and by appointment

CONTACT: Clay McClure, Gallery Coordinator 512.558.2676

UTSA Department of Art and Art History 210.458.4391


The Art of Transformation is Naomi Wanjiku’s new body of work that embraces alternative materials as a means to create structures symbolic of her relationships. Using techniques learned from her grandmother as a child, Wanjiku has transformed traditional Kenyan concepts with contemporary industrial materials. Her structures are made of strong yet different materials; she weaves stainless steel “string,” and metal together. In spite of their different qualities, they co-exist in harmony. Wanjiku’s structures are a reminder of the power of relationships, and how we can connect and relate, even when we are made of different materials.

About the UTSA Satellite Space:

Located in the Blue Star Arts Complex, the UTSA Satellite Space is the off-campus gallery of the Department of Art and Art History at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Monthly exhibitions feature works by UTSA graduate students, as well as nationally recognized professional artists. Since its first exhibition in 1993, the UTSA Satellite Space has become one of San Antonio’s most respected venues for challenging contemporary art.

Naomi Wanjiku, Each Other’s Shadow (detail),

Recycled cans, stainless steel wire, galvanized wire, 50" x 36" x 5", 2010