The Knox Gallery is exhibiting Seams and Strands, work by Michelle Raszl, from July 31 – September 12. We featured a brief introduction on the exhibit, along with some photos, in the July Monterey News.

Raszl lives and works in the Berkshires, and explores various media. Her commitment to her longtime work as a librarian and language teacher is evidenced, for example, by the work she exhibited recently that was created from old books. (see her website michelleraszlart.com)

Her current emphasis with fiber and fabric was cultivated during her year-long Artist Residency in Urubamba, Peru, to learn about traditional materials and dye methods of the Quechua people, who are direct descendants of the ancient Incan civilization. Indigenous people of South America’s Andes Mountains, the Quechua are spread across the continent, but the largest communities are in Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador.

As the artist realized, fiber-- yarn and textiles – have an innate appeal to humans. Different cultures have developed unique (but often similar) dyeing, stitching, and fabric making techniques. We create fabric for practical purposes, but also to express cultural and religious ceremonies, narratives, and stories. The artist mentions the appeal of the tactile quality of cloth and its richness even in its everyday applications. It is no wonder that she began to explore the techniques she had begun to learn!