Help make FI16 the best Fiberart International ever!

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve heard about Fiberart International (FI), the amazing show our guild produces every three years. The exhibition is so big, it takes up two simultaneous venues: the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts and Society for Contemporary Craft. But what you may not know is that we are famous (yes we are!) for hosting a great opening week-end where FI artists from all over the world gather to meet and talk about our beloved medium – fiber art.  And the best part is our members are deep in the thick of it all. We all have the awesome opportunity to shmooze, help out, and participate as much as we want. On Sunday January 10th volunteer guild members old and new gathered together to learn all about FI2016.

So what’s happening?  For the artists the week-end starts the evening of Thursday May 5th with a welcome and private reception.  FGP member Atticus Adams graciously offered his beautiful home for this artist-only event, funded in part with a generous donation by Loretta Stanish. A huge thank you to both of you! Participating FI artists from our own guild will host.

Opening night is Friday May 6th, time to show the work and party!  All are welcome!  Did you know that we provide free shuttle service between Pittsburgh Center for the Arts and Society for Contemporary Craft?  It is super easy to get back and forth between venues or catch a ride with a friend.  Volunteers from FGP will be on hand to sell our merchandise: the spectacular FI 2016 catalogs and our fund raiser the In Bloom journal.

Saturday May 7th is the Forum!  The day begins with coffee and pastries on the patio at PCA with a keynote address from juror Tali Weinberg.  After the lecture, exhibiting artists at PCA will divide into two groups. The artists will give informal presentations of their work and engage in dialogues with attendees. This is your chance to get up close and personal with artists’ inspirations, methods, and materials.  After the second group is done, lunch will be served on the patio and then we’ll motor on down to Society for Contemporary Craft to chat with the SCC artists as they discuss their work.  Plus we will have a slide presentation of FI artists other work on view.

The Forum is your opportunity to talk with artists about their process, understand techniques and share ideas, to really dive into the art and make connections with others from around the world.  All you need to do is register in advance (registration will be available soon).