Ayako Otsuka

I recently discovered the work of Japanese embroidery designer Ayako Otsuka. Her work covers a lot of ground (that's an embroidery joke) from the very traditional, to extremely contemporary. The english version of her site wouldn't come up for me, so I wasn't able to gather much information. My favorite pieces are these extremely delicate, embroidered UPC bar-codes-as-embroidery samplers.

Link

From The Tongue - Group Show

"From the Tongue" an exhibition exploring the use of text and language curated by Joetta Maue opens tonight at Lotus Salon / 34 North Moore Exhibition Space, Tribeca.

Link

Sherri Wood's Prayer Banners

Several years ago, I blogged about Sherri Wood's Tattoo Baby Doll project over on Sublime Stitching. I was thrilled to get an email from her just the other day, letting me know what she's been up to since then. She's launched a new blog, DaintyTime, and also let me know about this ongoing project called "Prayer Banner". About this work:

Prayer Banner: REPENT/MERCY/GLORY is a communal mourning project concerning the war in Iraq.


The names of American and Allied soldiers and Iraqi civilians who have died in the war are hand stitched on coffin shaped fragments of red clothing and appliquéd onto a blue blanket to spell the word REPENT. There are two more banners currently in progress, MERCY and GLORY.

Made by members of faith and social justice communities at churches, in homes, art galleries, schools and sites of protest. The banner serves as a civic vehicle for communal mourning. Each stitch is made as an act of prayer and petition for personal and social change.

Link

Jim Woodring Collaboration

It has been nearly impossible for me to find the time to do any of my embroidery artwork. I have numerous unfinished pieces lingering around. The demands of Sublime Stitching have been huge this past year. But I'm so inspired and ready to return to works like this, my collaboration with Jim Woodring (who's newest book, Weathercraft, just came out).

Link

Gallery Talk at Domy Books - Study Hall Drawings

Please come!

Jenny Hart Gallery Talk: "Study Hall Drawings"
Wednesday June 9th, 6pm @ Domy Books Austin, TX
(show closes on June 10th)

Link to Facebook event page