Claudy Jongstra, a world-famous and earth-loving Dutch textile artist, cultivates a garden as a source of dye for her fibers. Onion skins, St. John's wort, indigo and other historical plant- and flower-sourced pigments color her acclaimed tapestries: to dye for!
Jongstra's earthy artistic process also involves keeping bees to keep her dye plants happy. And near her studio in the Northern region of the Netherlands, the artist also keeps sheep as a source of fiber.
Jongstra's naturally beautiful fiber works will be on exhibit in metro Denver at the Museum of Outdoor Arts in Englewood, Colorado.
Attend the free lecture and artist's reception.
MOA will host an artist reception for Claudy Jongstra on April 13th from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Free of charge and open to the public, the reception will include light fare, drinks and entertainment. Additionally, a lecture with Claudy and the members of her atelier will be held just prior to the opening at 4 p.m. in Hampden Hall, the lecture hall adjacent to MOA’s indoor gallery in Englewood Civic Center. The exhibition will be on display at MOA through July 13, 2013.
Art rooted in high fashion, collected and exhibited in high places
The environmentally aware art of Jongtra, who launched her professional career in the fashion industry working with the likes of Donna Karan and Christian Lacroix, is collected by the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and has been exhibited in the United Nations headquarters in New York.
MOA founder and CEO Cynthia Madden Leitner said that Claudy Jongstra’s atelier, which she visited in the Northern region of the Netherlands, controls all aspects of the creation of their artistic processes, from raw materials to tapestries.
Plants provide natural dyes.
Using plants, the dyes are created in a painstaking process that begins in the studio's laboratory garden and neighboring fields.
For more about Jongstra's process, the plants she uses, and the history of her natural dyes, click this link to her website.
For more photos and information on Claudy Jongstra's works, click on this link to Interiors Monologue. http://interiorsmonologue.com/studio-claudy-jongstra/
The artistic process takes into account nature's resources and interconnections rooted in the landscape.
Committed to nature's creations
"Committed to the value chain of creation, they raise their own sheep, keep bees, cultivate a botanical garden and grow their own plants for dyes," said Leitner. "They leave no waste, respect nature and exemplify their philosophical values of utilizing local resources and traditional skills."
She added that the artist used her unique technique of felting wool and silk fibers to create large-scale wall tapestries displayed in city halls, libraries and hospitals. Jongtra has collaborated with architects such as Jo Coenen, Claus en Kaan, and Rem Koolhaas, Leitner noted.
Jongstra's felts used for Star Wars' Jedi
"She and her team designed the tapestries and installations for the Dutch presidential residence, the Dutch Embassy in Berlin and recently for the Lincoln Center of Performing Arts in New York and the new building of the Barnes Collection in Philadelphia," Leitner said. "Jongtra’s felts were also used in Star Wars: Episode 1 to create coats for the Jedi warriors."
According to their website at www.moaonline.org, the Museum of Outdoor Arts, founded in 1981, makes art part of everyday life. Visit indoor galleries of the Museum of Outdoor Arts, located on the second floor of the Englewood Civic Center, 1000 Englewood Parkway. Or check out the outdoor collection, also detailed on the website.
••• "Cultivate your corner of the world.
You grow your garden; your garden grows you." •••
• Colleen Smith's gift book "Laid-Back Skier" makes a sweet Easter gift! This whimsical, inspirational book includes lots of ski bunnies and encouragement for life's ups and downs. Watch "Laid-Back Skier's" brief YouTube video here.
• Colleen Smith’s first novel, “Glass Halo”—a finalist for the 2010 Santa Fe Literary Prize — is available in hardcover or e—book.
To learn more:
• "Like" Friday Jones Publishing on Facebook for frequent posts on gardening and other fresh topics.
• Follow FridayPublisher on Twitter.
• Follow FridayJonesWags on Pinterest.
Comments