What is LAFTA?
Founded in 1995, Louisville Area Fiber and Textile Artists (LAFTA) is an organization of visual artists whose work encompasses a variety of surface design and construction techniques, focusing on fibers, textiles and beads.
Our mission is to provide support to our members and to increase community awareness of fiber and textile art. Click HERE to see how our mission unfolded over this past year.
LAFTA CALENDAR SCHEDULE
Thursday, May 16, Monthly Meeting. In Person and Virtual Meeting at St Mark’s Church, 2822 Frankfort Ave Louisville, KY 40206. Doors open at 6pm. Meeting begins at 6:30. Beverly Y. Smith will be joining us over Zoom to share her creative process, works in progress, and special fabrics from her collection. Beverly has exhibited and held solo shows across the U.S. and internationally. We will also have Show and Tell and Grab Bag. Guests are welcome.
“I choose to express myself through quilts because of its personal connection to my ancestors and Southern roots. I find there are qualities inherent in art made of fabric and thread: the depth of the colors, the layers, and the texture of the stitches, that can’t be duplicated in another medium. I construct collage-like art quilts using fabrics which I pattern with a variety of surface design processes. The surface is layered with machine stitching, hand embroidery, paint, transferred images, found objects and graphite drawings….. It is characteristic of my work to focus on themes from the Antebellum South that address past taboos and controversial issues. Conversations with my mother, grandmother, and aunts have always inspired me to base my artworks on Southern expressions and idioms. I may start with a particular vision based on a southern expression or childhood memory, only to encounter some unexpected epiphany, or the discovery of a unique or rare fabric leading me into a completely new direction.”
You can see more of her work on her website: https://www.beverlyysmithart.com/
The meeting will be held in-person, with a virtual presentation and conversation with Ms. Smith. We’ll stream the presentation live over Zoom for those who cannot attend in person. Grab Bag & Show & Tell will follow at the end of the meeting.
Thursday, May 23, 12:30pm Weaving Group Meeting at the Little Loomhouse. Contact: Amy Sloboda @ amy.sloboda2018@gmail.com
Thursday, June 20, Monthly Meeting. In Person and Virtual Meeting at St Mark’s Church 2822 Frankfort Ave Louisville, KY 40206. Doors open at 6pm. Meeting begins at 6:30. Member Kit Tossman will be presenting in person and on Zoom. We will also have Show and Tell and Grab Bag. Guests are welcome. LAFTA member Kit Tossman will be sharing her current works and creative process at the June 20 meeting. Kit is a fiber artist focused on creating liturgical and spiritual art quilts, banners, stoles, and other vestments. You can view more of Kit’s work at: Home | inspiritdesigns (inspiritcreations.org)
LAFTA Summer Exhibition Announcement
LAFTA Portraiture Exhibition
July 12 – August 30, 2024
March 15 (Friday) is the deadline to be added to list of participants.
LAFTA members interested in participating, please send an email to Jessica Beels (Exhibitions Co-Chair) at jbeelsdesign@gmail.com.
LAFTA’s summer 2024 exhibition will focus on portraits rendered in fiber and textile techniques and materials, with a wide interpretation of the theme including traditional representational portraits and self-portraits, as well as more metaphorical and abstract approaches to the subject.
- Contributors must be current members of LAFTA.
- One piece per participant (preferably no wider than 24” if wall-hung).
- Participants will include a statement (c 100 words) reflecting on the choices of materials, composition, and/or perspectives they use to reveal the character portrayed.
Upcoming dates and deadlines:
- Work sessions (dates TBA) in April and May
- Thursday, April 25, 6:30pm feedback session for Portraiture Show participants at St. Mark’s Church (optional)
- June 10 – submit label copy and photo (work in progress or final)
- July 10 – artwork complete
- July 11, 10 am to noon – drop off, followed by installation
- July 14 – opening reception after Sunday service
- August 31, 10 am to noon – pick up artwork
Location: The exhibition will be in the Roberta Marx Gallery, All Peoples Unitarian Universalist Congregation (4936 Brownsboro Rd, Louisville, KY).
LAFTA members interested in contributing to this exhibition, please see attached document for additional information