Assemblage Art: The Utah Surface Design Group

The Utah Surface Design Group is a group of artists dedicated to the principles of surface design and fiber art. Their exhibit at the Brigham City Museum included fascinating 3D ssemblage pieces made with fabric, string, beads, and 'found' objects.  

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Mannequin Head (2023) by Quincy Davenport.

 

This is a truly fascinating piece! Quincy Davenport says, "Mannequin Head embodies an intersection of inspiration and materials, sparked by a simple gift - a tiered gold headband.  Placed upon a mannequin, it transformed into a regal symbol, prompting the addition of gold, black, and white beads." 

Rhinestones, mirror tiles, and pearls followed, enhancing its sparkle and allure... Each bead and embellishment reflects not only creativity but also the serendipitous nature of artistic creation."  The embellished Mannequin Head was set on a brass candlestick.  We love the pearl choker necklace placed around the neck.

The Vast Man (2022) by Julie Strong.

We found this piece to be both beautiful and evocative. Julie Strong explains the title of the piece: "Khalil Gibran's Vast Man is a wandering being who is open to the opportunities of each moment, unafraid of the intersections in life that may lead to a new road. He is open to the direction of the winds, travels with the sun and the moon, and moves through outer and inner realms."  

Made with a found wooden head and hands, the armature is hand made. The gown is made from linen and embellished with hand embroidery and hand beading. Passages from Kahlil Gibran's The Farewell were hand lettered on the wooden base.

 Marking Time with a Mud Stone (2024) by Kim Deneris Brown.

This framed piece is minimalist in its conception yet it highlights the beauty of the natural materials, including the stone and the string which has been woven to embrace the rock. The stone comes from a unique and ancient geological formation in north-central Utah. Kim Deneris Brown says, "Over 720 million years ago, mud and clay particles were deposited in shallow waters near the shore of an ancient sea.  The sedimentary layers were compacted and over time and movement along the Wasatch Fault, elevated to the mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon."  

Repeat by Lone' Vilnius. 

This assemblage art piece was made with old books and antique collectibles.  It was fascinating to see the materials take new appearances within the overal design.  Many intriguing details can be seen in the closeup photos.

Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the Brigham City Museum, Brigham City, Utah, August 2024.

Intersections: A Utah Surface Design Group Showcase (3)

Surface Design encompasses the coloring, patterning, and structuring of fiber and fabric. The processes may include dyeing, painting, printing, stitching, embellishing, quilting, weaving, knitting, felting, and papermaking. The Utah Surface Design Group is a group of artists dedicated to this genre. Here are some highlights of their 2024 exhibit — titled Intersections — at the Brigham City Museum.

p.s. Check out our E-Bay shop for great bargains on quilt materials, collectible items, and new and vintage jewelry! We also invite you to follow us on Twitter ! 

she said 'no' by Lone' Vilnius

This lovely framed portrait was made with fabric collage, constructed with machine and hand top stitching and stamping.  The stamped lettering includes many positive words such as 'exceptional', 'glorious', and 'pre-eminent'. The portrait itself was made with several lines of stitching in black thread, creating an elegant profile.

A series of intersections with native species, and engaging conversations  (2024) by Debbi Sigg.  

This lovely piece is a tribute to biodiversity and a plea to preserve native plants and animals. Made with Jacquard silk and supont french silk dye, which was hand painted using the Serti method. Debbi Sigg says, "I cherish childhood memories of wandering through lush grasslands alive with insects, ampibians, and birds.  Sadly such experiences seem elusive now... Through my art, I aspire to ignite conversations and advocate for restoring biodiversity.  The journey ahead is not linear; it's a series of intersections where those who plant native species intersect with the species benefiting from our efforts."

 Haute House Couture (2024) by Kandace Steadman.

Kandace Steadman says, "I enjoy juxtaposing, or intersecting different media in my collages.  For this piece, I used watercolors of Paris in the background, overlaid with fashion sewing pattern pieces to soften the edges. The figures are composed from women in magazine advertisements from the 1950s and watercolors of exotic, hot house flowers from the 1700s.  I titled this Haute House Couture as a playful nod to the haute couture found in Paris and the flowers which clothe the figures."

Sketched and Stitched 2 (2024) by Jen Tarchin. 

 Jen Tarchin says, "My goal is to create a dialogue between myself and the fabric, color, and texture."  This intriguing piece was made with ice dye on linen and cotton.  The top was hand sewn with applique, and hand embellished with custom dyed embroidery floss, creating movement from the curved and intersecting lines.

 Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the Brigham City Museum in August, 2024.