Fiber Arts as a M.E.E.C. Precursor

Wetlands Sunsest by Erin Murphey

Peace in the Woods by Christine Raber

 Usually the Marianist Environmental Education Center (MEEC) holds a series of programs to get people thinking about the theme of the yearly exhibition long before the entry deadline.  



I was tickled that that year Janet Olney Lasley, an art teacher at Dayton's Chaminade-Julienne High School used collages with fiber in her 90-minute workshop held during the Winter Wisdom Retreat (February, 2011).  In a world where fiber artists have to work hard to present and have their work accepted as "art" rather than "craft", I find this to be absolutely wonderful.

According to the information at M.E.E.C. (I didn't attend the retreat)  the "participants discussed the values of  restored natural  areas, places of personal and spiritual restoration and living in harmony with the land.  Prairie elements of fire, soil, water, tall grass and God's kingdom on earth were also discussed , and participants reflected on their personal experiences of the land and expressed them while constructing their collage.

Tree by Siobhan Finnen

The First by Pamela Dorsten

I'm afraid my shots of "The Tree" and "The First" don't really do them justice...they were over my head and hard to shoot! Ah, to be about 6" taller! 

I really love the textural qualities and the spontaneity of the pieces.  

More MEEC part 3

Janet Olney Lasley made this lovely mixed media  work called "Purple Sky, Purple Pond."  She used fabric as well as paint in order to make it come alive. 
The portion at lower right is very dimensional and sticks out from the face of the canvas.

This is Chris Bohmer Stewart's "Winter Solstice."  While another piece of fiber art, she also composed a poem to go with it.

Winter Solstice

Candles processing through the snow
    up slopes of dark woods
    to the bonfire
    at the edge of the prairie

                                                                            A   pale solstice dawn
                                                                             Point of balance 
                                                                                  between the cold sleep of winter
                                                                                  and the colors of Light 
                                                                           Restore us, we pray.
                                                                           Renew and rejoice.

                                                                           (copyright Chris Bohmer Stewart, 2011 used by permission of the author).   

Restoration...not just of the pairies, but of ourselves.  What fullness of restoration comes when we work to restore what man has destroyed?  In all things.  Lisa.