Judi Jetson had a vision to build an economic future from fabric and dyes, linking farmers to spinners and makers to markets. Her brainchild, Local Cloth is one of those organizations that has evolved over ten years to teach and train artists and to bring fiber enthusiasts together as a working community. It began when Judi, a fiber artist herself, searched for local fiber to make yarn in Western North Carolina and couldn’t find it. Then, once she found herd owners and spinners, they said they couldn’t find artists to sell to. Thus, Judi was determined to develop a solution—Local Cloth—to bolster a thriving local fiber movement in WNC through education, inclusive programming, events, and services.
Learn more about this phenomena at Art a la Carte: “Sheep to Shop,” on Friday, November 18, with a lunchtime discussion live at Local Cloth and on Zoom (12:30-1:30pm) that delves deeply into textile art with Judi and two Local Cloth artists—Eileen Searcy and Joan Berner. The Meet and Greet precedes the presentation from 12-12:30pm.
This conversation will highlight the events, classes and camaraderie offered by Local Cloth as well as a demo on spinning yarn. Eileen and Joan, long time volunteers and devotees of Local Cloth, will speak about their art as well as their experience partnering with Local Cloth and Artsville Collective by exhibiting at Marquee through the holidays. For more information on how to attend this event, head to Artsville’s event calendar and https://www.artsvilleusa.com/november-stories-news/.
Listen to Judi Jetson on the Artsville Podcast
Judi joined Artsville podcast host Scott “Sourdough” Power and Artsville founder Louise Glickman to discuss fiber activism, running a nonprofit, her passion for textiles, and much more. Listen to this episode on any podcast platform or here on the Artsville website.
Local Cloth’s Artists Show in Artsville’s Holiday Exhibition “IMPRESSED: Print, Paint, Dye, Repeat”
Four Local Cloth artists—Eileen Searcy, Joan Berner, Joanna White, and Pam Granger Gale—are showing their beautiful fiber work in Artsville Collective’s “IMPRESSED: Print, Paint, Dye, Repeat” exhibition, which transformed the gallery into a holiday shop packed with one-of-a-kind treasures at reasonable prices. These four artists are showing pieces from the heart—scarves, lamps, books, bags, clothes and neckties. Using natural dyes and fibers, these artists show the range of work and training provided through Local Cloth’s studio and classes.
Local Cloth’s “IMPRESSED” Artists
Eileen Searcy
Eileen Searcy uses textiles, fiber, pigment and wax to create mixed-media work in an array of imaginative colors. “Tsunami,” one of her pieces in the exhibition, beautifully captures the movement and power of water.
Joan Berner
Joan Berner is in love with the tactile quality of fiber, saying that wool fiber in particular “gives her peace” and “feeds her soul.” She creates fiber work with sustainability and community in mind.
Joanna White
Joanna White’s art-to-wear is based on nature’s marvelous display of color and light. She carefully dyes and paints the silk with her own “unpredictable process,” often layering the cloth to design many pieces in a shared color range. Her pieces are even washable and are perfect to show off at holiday parties.
Pam Granger Gale
Pam Granger Gale’s handmade bow ties, neck ties, scarves and lamps would make beautiful gifts for art lovers anywhere. Pam is a nationally recognized artist and a juried member of the Southern Highland Craft Guild.
Support Local Cloth
Local Cloth diligently works towards its vision to have a regional fiber system that is healthy, abundant, and sustainable, where farmers, designers and artists make a living wage. Support their mission, vision, and artists by attending Art a la Carte: “Sheep to Shop” on November 18, or by shopping at Artsville Collective’s holiday shop and exhibition “IMPRESSED: Print, Paint, Dye, Repeat” which is up through January 22.
