Member's Gallery  > Jay Rich

Contact Info

11623 Douglas Street
Omaha,
Nebraska 68154
Phone: 402-333-3841

Email: jaromaha@aol.com


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ARTIST STATEMENT

I've been a lifelong hand knitter and clearly find knitting more relaxing than meditation. I was strongly influenced by Yoshiko Wada’s early research documenting the “inventive” aspects of traditional shibori masters.

I immediately began translating shaped resist dyeing to knit structures. The precision and perfection of knitting collided with the accident and chance of shibori. A new part of my personality emerged. I became more accepting of what is without need for high control of the process. I then proceeded to break down the components of shibori on knits to deepen my understanding of how to finesse the outcomes.

New questioning pushed me to experiment with fiber processing, yarn construction, felt making, non-traditional resists and integrating pulling threads with the knitting process. Partial resist fulling was an easy study, as quick as one cycle through the washing machine. Finessing dyes on dense structures was a completely different challenge.

Current research interests include shibori with natural dyes, indigo dyeing from plants to blues, replication of a vintage indigo collection, safety and health of textile workers.

My deepest satisfaction comes when I’m able to figure out an old, traditional dye process, uncover a variation and use it in a new way. Accidents and surprises are common and are celebrated, not a typical hand knitters perspective.



Resume

Teaching

August 2002
 Surrender your Handmade Fabrics at Convergence with Yoshiko Wada,
Vancouver, BC
November 2002
Shibori for Knitters, at International Shibori Symposium, Harrogate, UK
October 2003
 Indigo Grows in Nebraska for Robert Hillestad Textile Gallery Friends, Lincoln,Nebraska
January 2004
 Indigo Dye Demonstration in conjunction with International Quilt Study Center
Show Indigo Gives America the Blues
January 2004
 Shibori in Omaha with Yoshiko Wada using indigo and safflower
September 2004
 Woad from the Road, Colorado



Shows

  • September 2000 Cicada Gallery, San Francisco, CA, group wearables
  • October 2001, Anderson O’Brien Gallery, Omaha, NE, group wearables
  • November 2002, Joss Graham Gallery, group show, London, UK
  • August 2004, Art in Bloom, Lauritzen Gardens, Omaha, NE, group show
  • November 2004 Non-Conformist Holiday Art Show, Omaha, NE
  • November-December 2004, Textile Center Holiday Show, Minneapolis, MN


Positions/Publications

  • Friends Board of the Robert Hillestad Textile Gallery, member 2002-present; President 2004-5, University of Nebraska at Lincoln, East Campus
  • From Alchemy to Polka Dots, Journal of the Surface Design Association, Discharge issue, Spring 2004, page 6-7.
  • Contributed to Shibori Knitting, Interweave Knits, Fall 2005, page 48-51




Schedule

Show
August 12-14, 2005, Art in Bloom, Lauritzen Gardens, Omaha, Nebraska


Workshops

Jay Rich: Natural Dyes and Shibori Resists
September 30-October 2, 2005,
Lelia Guilbert Studio, Mitchell, South Dakota.
Contact Jay Rich for more information: jaromaha@aol.com

Jay Rich: Natural Dyes
June 17-23, 2007
Midwest Weaver’s Conference, Lincoln, Nebraska
Contact Jay Rich for more information: jaromaha@aol.com




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