Influences/Influencers: California Fibers
California has driven the fiber arts since the mid 20th Century. Countless schools, college programs, workshops, guilds, and artist collectives have led experimentation and development of this artistic medium. The desire to formulate a language for sculpture and expression through fiber has been a core driving force. The artists in this exhibition are part of a historic organization that has been at the forefront of contemporary fiber art in Southern California, across the state, and far beyond. The work in this exhibition represents some of the vast influences that are shaping fiber art today. It is simultaneously a celebration of how fiber has become a beam of influence on the broader contemporary art world in recent years.
Established in 1970, California Fibers started in San Diego as a work study group for the professional advancement of member artists. These years were an exuberant time when internationally, fiber artists were moving beyond historic practices into new realms of dimensionality, scale, and volume. Their unprecedented work embodied a vitality to move into the present and future through an understanding of traditional material and process. Female artists were lead voices in pursuit of this craft. They formed an entirely new field for contemporary art.
Echoing the principles of their medium, California Fibers was, and is, an intermeshed network of artists. They work in a range of fiber disciplines and techniques including weaving, quilting, embroidery, and basketry, which keeps their creative conversation expansive and diverse. This connectedness among artists and the collective spirit, rare among other parts of the art world, has helped push the medium forward. The organization is one of the longest running artist groups in the country. We are pleased to present this exhibition that showcases the breadth of their influential and innovative work.
Participating Artists
Sandy Abrams • Olivia Batchelder • Charlotte Bird • Ashley V. Blalock • Carrie Burckle • Marilyn Mckenzie Chaffee • Ben Cuevas • Doshi • Polly Jacobs Giacchina • Lydia Tjioe Hall • Susan Henry • Annette Heully • Anifaye Korngute • Kathy Nida • Liz Oliver • Marty O • Michael F. Rohde • Aneesa Shami Zizzo • Rebecca Smith • Cameron Taylor-Brown • Elise Vazelakis • Debra Weiss • Peggy Wiedemann
Virtual Gallery
Click and drag, or use your arrow keys, to see a 360º view of the virtual space, including tags with object information and images.
![Craft in America, Kathy Nida](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Nida-Kathy_And-then-there-was-one.jpg)
![Craft in America, Lydia Tjioe Hall](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Hall-Nesting-Houses.jpg)
![Craft in America, Ashley V. Blalock](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Blalock_03a.jpg)
![Craft in America, Annette Heully](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Heully-Anette-Weight-Of-Change-Red.jpg)
![Craft in America, Marilyn McKenzie-Chaffe](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/McKenzie-Chaffe-Marilyn_Rainy-Day-Reflection-1.jpg)
![Craft in America, Charlotte Bird](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Bird-Charlotte_Janus.jpg)
![Craft in America, Olivia Batchelder](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Batchelder-Olivia_Glittering-Detail-of-Our-Cosmos.jpg)
![Craft in America](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Doshi_Can-you-hear-the-wind_.jpg)
![Craft in America, Cameron Taylor-Brown](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Taylor-Brown.jpg)
![Craft in America, Liz Oliver](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Oliver-Flowing-Canyon.jpg)
![Craft in America, Peggy Wiedemann](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Wiedemann-Elements.jpg)
![Craft in America, Debra Weiss](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Weiss-Mae-watches-over-the-homestead.jpg)
![Craft in America, Michael Rohde, Birnalese Sonnet. 2019](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Rohde-Michael-Birnalese-Sonnet.jpg)
![Craft in America, Carrie Burckle](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Burckle-Carrie_en-gendered-vessel.jpg)
![Craft in America, Ben Cuevas](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Cuevas-Reveal-Conceal_Piece.jpg)
![Craft in America, Marty O](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Ornish-Marty_Pill-of-Rights.jpg)
![Craft in America, Rita Zurrell](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Zurrel-Collage.jpg)
![Craft in America, Rita Zurrell](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Zurrell-collage-detail.jpg)
![Craft in America, Rita Zurrell](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Zurrel-Necklace.jpg)
![Craft in America, Aneesa Shami Zizzo](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Shami-Zizzo.jpg)
![Craft in America, Mary Jane Leland](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Leland_edited_IMG_8569.jpg)
![Craft in America, Sandy Abrams,](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Abram-Seeking-Asylum.jpg)
![Jane Dunnewold, Craft in America](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Dunnewold.jpg)
![Craft in America, Zandra Rhodes](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Rhodes.jpg)
![Craft in America, Susan Henry](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Henry.jpg)
![Craft in America, Elise Vazelakis](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Vazelakis.jpg)
![Craft in America, Estelle Carlson](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Carlson-Vest.jpg)
![Craft in America, Estelle Carlson](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Carlson-detail.jpg)
![Craft in America, Anifaye Korngute](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Korngute.jpg)
![Craft in America, Anifaye Korngute](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Korngute-detail.jpg)
![Craft in America, Rebecca Smith](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Smith.jpg)
![Craft in America, Rebecca Smith](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Smith-detail.jpg)
![Craft in America, Joan F. Austin](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Austin-Sea-Flower.jpg)
![Craft in America, Joan F. Austin](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Austin-Starlight-series.jpg)
![Craft in America, Carol Shaw-Sutton](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Shaw-Sutton-Carol-Being-and-Becoming.jpg)
The Craft in America Center is supported, in part, by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Los Angeles County Department of Arts & Culture.
![](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/COUNTYartsandculture_blue-1.png)