Grovewood Gallery debuts “Susan Lenz: In Stitches” – Feb. 17th
January 10, 2017
Susan Lenz: In Stitches opens at Grovewood Gallery in Grovewood Village on Friday, February 17, 2017. This exhibition will showcase framed textile art and one-of-a-kind fiber vessels by Columbia, South Carolina artist Susan Lenz. The public is invited to meet Susan and to watch her demonstrate her craft on February 17 and 18 from 11am – 4pm. Susan Lenz: In Stitches will remain on view through Friday, March 31, 2017.
Using needle and thread for self-expression, Susan’s artwork reflects her passion for historic buildings, especially stained glass windows and the colors and eco-friendly ideals of Friedensreich Hundertwasser, a visionary painter and architect who was also a forerunner in the field of environmental protection. Her work is the result of hand-guided, free-motion machine embroidery and melting techniques, a unique process that Susan developed herself. Each piece builds on the last in an exploration of design motifs and stitched symbols.
This exhibition will feature works from four of Susan’s most popular fiber series: Artifacts, In Box, Stained Glass, and Seasonal Leaves, and will also showcase fiber vessels made entirely from yarn and thread. Susan says, “The yarn comes from auctions, estate sales, yard sales, and donations from people who are downsizing. All this yarn was originally purchased by someone else…with the intention of making something. It is up to me to actually do it. It’s a nice feeling to turn all this unwanted material into a functional and pretty piece.”
Susan’s work has been widely exhibited throughout the United States. In 2016, she was awarded a solo show at the Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum in Arizona, was juried into the prestigious Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show, and had a piece selected for a group exhibition at The Textile Museum in Washington, D.C.
This past year, Susan has taught workshops at the Southeast Fiber Arts Alliance, Art Quilters Unlimited, Workhouse Arts Center, and the Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts. She was also profiled in the December 2016/January 2017 issue of Quilting Arts Magazine.