Textile Techniques with Metal

Fibers as 3-D

Pioneers of Working With Metal Using Fiber Techniques

Mary Lee Hu Arline Fisch Stuart Golder Donna Kaplan

My Influences

Mary Lee Hu In 1966 while earning her graduate degree in Metalsmithing

from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois, Hu studied under renowned metalsmith L. Brent Kington. It was during this time that Hu started to work with fiber inspired techniques after taking a fiber arts course.[3] This led to the development of her signature style of wire wrapped jewelry. Since the late 1960s Hu has developed new techniques in coiling, wrapping, weaving, knitting, and twining wire. Her work consists mostly woven wire earrings, rings, bracelets, brooches, and neckpieces that emulate natural forms, movements and symmetry.[

American Craft Council article

Professional Jeweler Magazine article: Innovators 8: Mary Lee Hu

(from Wikipedia)3

Arline Fisch In 1956-57 she studied silversmithing at the School of Arts and

Crafts in Copenhagen and in 1966-67 returned to Denmark for further training in metalsmithing. Since 1961, she taught full time at San Diego State University for 40 years. Fisch has played a central role in the revitalization of jewelry as a contemporary art form. Her outstanding contribution has been the introduction of weaving techniques into the field of jewelry making. Employing flattened gold and silver wire, she knits, braids, plaits, and crochets lightweight, flexible forms with dense, light-reflective patterns, subtle textures, and glowing color. (Smithsonian American Art Museum)

Oral history interview with Arline M. Fisch, 2001 July 29-30

Stuart Golder Since 1967 Stuart Golder

has been redefining the art of goldsmithing. Basically self-taught, he is known for his attention to detail and exquisite craftsmanship. In 1977 he added the woven element to his work for which he has become famous.

Donna Kaplan Donna Kaplan creates vessels

by weaving with wire to create a woven metal fabric. She often will use beads as her weft to create a beaded fabric. Donna studied with Mary Lee Hu, reknowned for her work with metals using fiber techniques. She was a major influence on me as I attended a workshop she gave to our local weaving guild. Learning to weave with wire that weekend changed my life! I’ve been weaving with wire ever since!

Donna Kaplan

Donna Kaplan

Donna Kaplan

Donna Kaplan

Donna Kaplan

Donna Kaplan

Donna Kaplan

Contemporary artists working with metal using fiber techniques

Karen Searle

I think of my wire sculptures as 3-dimensional line drawings in space. The line and movement of the object and its shadow suggest the energy of a human presence.

Ruth Asawa She wrote, “A woven

mesh is not unlike medieval mail. A continuous piece of wire, forms envelop inner forms, yet all forms are visible (transparent). The shadow will reveal an exact image of the object.”

Susan Wood-Onstad

Susan uses shakudo in her jewelry work. This is a Japanese technique creating gold and copper alloyed metal which produces patinas of brown, grey & black.

Jeanie Pratt

The textile patterns and textures fixed into the metal evoke memories of the traditional textiles and basketry encountered while living abroad.

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Marilyn Moore Working in fibers is a

natural medium for Marilyn. As a child she learned to embroider, knit, crochet, and sew. Her love of fiber work continued into adulthood adding spinning, weaving, basketry, and now wire work, to her fiber vocabulary. 

Susan McGehee

Incorporating traditional weaving techniques, tools and patterns she creates lightweight contemporary wall hangings that seem to float on the wall using a computerized 16 harness dobby loom.

Barbara Berk

I learned that metal can be worked like fiber, that sheet and wire can be woven. Most exciting was the realization that sculpture -- both smaller and larger scale, wearable and installation -- can be fashioned from the precious metal “fabric”.

Anastasia Azure

Anastasia Azure combines ancient weaving, traditional metalsmithing and contemporary materials to create sculpture and jewelry. Her work is hand-woven on a floor loom with metals and plastics. Her forms are inspired by the elegance of geometry and complexity of science.

Weaving with Wire

This basket is twined with telephone wire. Wire is a perfect material to use with fiber techniques. It is flexible and comes in lots of different colors!

Basketry as Sculpture

Fun with Sculpture

Beads Create Great Texture

Basketry – 3-D Textiles

Jewelry as Sculpture

Metal with Woven Metal

Patina and Yarn Color

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My University Studies

Salsa Dancer44

Copper Temple

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Homage to James

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Bronze Box

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Past and Present48

Party Girl

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Explore Fiber!Want to see more fabulous fiber? Check out this

site that promotes fiber as a fine art material!www.explorefiber.com