The library is using a grant from the Idaho Humanities Council (IHC) for a month-long program called “Fiber & Fabric: Art Born of Necessity.”
“The idea is to examine and celebrate how such skills as spinning, weaving, knitting, and quilt making have evolved from household necessities to art forms,” said David Townsend, Communications Coordinator and program organizer. “This form of creativity is enjoying a resurgence of popularity and we have many people in our area – women and men – who are involved.”
Since the IHC grant was announced a community committee made up
of business owners and individuals involved in the fiber and fabric arts has been meeting to organize the programs and exhibits.Nov. 1-28 the library will exhibit examples of local creations throughout the library – the glass cases on the lower level, in the stairwell and overhead on the upper level.
“We have to be fairly creative about how these pieces are displayed,” Townsend said. “We want everything to be visible, but at the same time everything needs to be placed so that it protected. Mainly that means out of reach.”
Exhibit items are being organized in cooperation with North Idaho Quilters, CDA Yarn and Fiber and Harmony Yarn.
On Thursday, Nov. 12, at 7 p.m., the library will host a free program in the Community Room with Rudolph Kovacs, professor and chairman of the Art and Pre-Architecture Department at Idaho State University. Among other classes, Kovacs teaches beginning, intermediate and advanced weaving classes at ISU and has been involved in national exhibits of his work.
Kovacs received his Bachelor of Arts at Ohio University, Athens, and his Master of Fine Arts at the University of Kansas, Lawrence.
On Saturday, Nov. 14, 1-3 p.m., the library will host “Beginners Day” with several individuals and groups involved in the fiber and fabric arts represented for the benefit of people interested in learning how to get started with these skills. Groups involved in such activities spinning, knitting, and quilting are also invited to share information about their organizations.
Refreshments and activities for children will also be available.
Anyone interested in participating as a presenter at “Beginners Day” is asked to contact Townsend at (208) 769-2315 Ext. 426 or by e-mail at dtownsend@cdalibrary.org.
“Fiber & Fabric: Art Born of Necessity” is supported in part by a grant from the Idaho Humanities Council, a state-based program of the National Endowment for the Humanities, as part of the NEH We the People Initiative.
More news and information about the Coeur d’Alene Public Library is available online at www.cdalibrary.org.
