Rosy Petri
Asase Yaa, 2020
Cotton and dyed cotton thread
48 x 36 x 3/4 inches
Racine Art Museum, Courtesy of the Artist
Photography: Courtesy of the Artist

In Stitches: Contemporary Approaches to Needlework

September 23, 2020 – May 8, 2021

For some, needlework and other fiber-related techniques are pastimes, while for others, they are used for professions. For still more, these practices are employed to depict ideas. The contemporary artists whose works are included in this exhibition prioritize these processes and use handcraft techniques like embroidery, sewing, crocheting, and quilting to explore a wide range of subjects. They investigate labor, gender, memory, and history, and popular culture as well as personal or social issues.

Primarily drawn from RAM’s collection, the works featured in this exhibition demonstrate contemporary methods of working with materials such as fabric, thread, yarn, and embroidery floss through the use of needles, hooks, or hands. Works on loan from Milwaukee area artists Sharon Kerry-Harlan, Rosemary Ollison, and Rosy Petri expand this conversation even further. Incorporating African influences, Kerry-Harlan uses textiles, as well as other media, to explore the potential metaphors and meanings of the human face and figure. Ollison collects glass, leather, bracelets, beads, bones, and jewelry that she then incorporates into all manner of works, including quilts. Interested in personal and cultural heritage, and often linking her work to her African roots, Petri uses traditional quilting techniques to create contemporary portraits.

Diverse examples shown next to one another offer opportunities for comparison and contrast. Large-scale quilts using found linens are shown alongside small-scale photo-realistic embroideries, crocheted earrings, and stitched baskets. In whatever form, these works reflect how handcraft traditions can be incorporated—and expanded upon—to make creative, aesthetic, thoughtful, symbolic and practical statements.

Artists in the Exhibition

James Acord, Jackie Abrams, Renie Breskin Adams, Mary Beth Baloga, Diane Banks, Linda Behar, Mary Bero, Michael Brennand-Wood, Sally Broadwell, Joyce Marquess Carey, Marcia Docter, Theodora Elston, Arline Fisch, Teri Greeves, Janet Haigh, David R. Harper, Marilyn Henrion, Cindy Hickok, Jan Hopkins, Diane Itter, Michael James, Cherry Barr Jerry, Rosita Johanson, Sharon Kerry-Harlan, Kay Khan, Ai Kijima, Anne Kingsbury, Lilla Kulka, Amy Lipshie, Dona Look, Tom Lundberg, Patricia Malarcher, Therese May, Norma Minkowitz, Ellen Moon, Diana Mott-Thornton, Charlene Nemec-Kessel, Mark Newport, Rosemary Ollison, Judith H. Perry, Rosy Petri, Lily Poran, Andrzej Rajch, Tom Rauschke, Gretchen Romey-Tanzer, Joan Schulze, Susan Shie, Carol Shinn, Barbara Lee Smith, Blanka Sperková, Missy Stevens, Barbara Stutman, Feileke van der Leest, Carol Warner, Katherine Westphal, Kaaren Wiken, Anne Wilson, and Claire Zeisler

In Stitches: Contemporary Approaches to Needlework

September 23, 2020 – May 8, 2021
Rosy Petri
Asase Yaa, 2020
Cotton and dyed cotton thread
48 x 36 x 3/4 inches
Racine Art Museum, Courtesy of the Artist
Photography: Courtesy of the Artist

For some, needlework and other fiber-related techniques are pastimes, while for others, they are used for professions. For still more, these practices are employed to depict ideas. The contemporary artists whose works are included in this exhibition prioritize these processes and use handcraft techniques like embroidery, sewing, crocheting, and quilting to explore a wide range of subjects. They investigate labor, gender, memory, and history, and popular culture as well as personal or social issues.

Primarily drawn from RAM’s collection, the works featured in this exhibition demonstrate contemporary methods of working with materials such as fabric, thread, yarn, and embroidery floss through the use of needles, hooks, or hands. Works on loan from Milwaukee area artists Sharon Kerry-Harlan, Rosemary Ollison, and Rosy Petri expand this conversation even further. Incorporating African influences, Kerry-Harlan uses textiles, as well as other media, to explore the potential metaphors and meanings of the human face and figure. Ollison collects glass, leather, bracelets, beads, bones, and jewelry that she then incorporates into all manner of works, including quilts. Interested in personal and cultural heritage, and often linking her work to her African roots, Petri uses traditional quilting techniques to create contemporary portraits.

Diverse examples shown next to one another offer opportunities for comparison and contrast. Large-scale quilts using found linens are shown alongside small-scale photo-realistic embroideries, crocheted earrings, and stitched baskets. In whatever form, these works reflect how handcraft traditions can be incorporated—and expanded upon—to make creative, aesthetic, thoughtful, symbolic and practical statements.

Artists in the Exhibition

James Acord, Jackie Abrams, Renie Breskin Adams, Mary Beth Baloga, Diane Banks, Linda Behar, Mary Bero, Michael Brennand-Wood, Sally Broadwell, Joyce Marquess Carey, Marcia Docter, Theodora Elston, Arline Fisch, Teri Greeves, Janet Haigh, David R. Harper, Marilyn Henrion, Cindy Hickok, Jan Hopkins, Diane Itter, Michael James, Cherry Barr Jerry, Rosita Johanson, Sharon Kerry-Harlan, Kay Khan, Ai Kijima, Anne Kingsbury, Lilla Kulka, Amy Lipshie, Dona Look, Tom Lundberg, Patricia Malarcher, Therese May, Norma Minkowitz, Ellen Moon, Diana Mott-Thornton, Charlene Nemec-Kessel, Mark Newport, Rosemary Ollison, Judith H. Perry, Rosy Petri, Lily Poran, Andrzej Rajch, Tom Rauschke, Gretchen Romey-Tanzer, Joan Schulze, Susan Shie, Carol Shinn, Barbara Lee Smith, Blanka Sperková, Missy Stevens, Barbara Stutman, Feileke van der Leest, Carol Warner, Katherine Westphal, Kaaren Wiken, Anne Wilson, and Claire Zeisler

Gallery of Work

Exhibitions at RAM are made possible by:

Platinum Sponsors

The Estate of Karen Johnson Boyd
David Charak
Judith and David Flegel Fund
Ron and Judith Isaacs
Nicholas and Nancy Kurten
Racine Community Foundation logo
Barbara Waldman
Windgate Foundation

Diamond Sponsors

City of Racine’s Grow Racine Grant
Ruffo Family Foundation
Ruth Arts Foundation

Gold Sponsors

Anonymous
Tom and Irene Creecy
Richard and Patricia Ehlert
Osborne and Scekic Family Foundation
Reliance Controls Community Fund
Trio Foundation of St. Louis
W.T. Walker Group, Inc.

Wisconsin Arts Board 50th Anniversary Logo

Silver Sponsors

Anonymous
Baird
Beta Diagnostic Labs
A.C. Buhler Family
Lucy G. Feller
Ben and Dawn Flegel
Jim Harris
Sharon and Tom Harty
Horizon Retail Construction, Inc.
Johnson Financial Group
Dorothy MacVicar
Jan Serr and John Shannon

Bronze Sponsors

Ellen and Joseph Albrecht
Susan Boland
Dave’s Wine Garage
Educators Credit Union
Express Employment Professionals
Bill and Debbie Keland
Susan Manalli
Jean and Alex Mandli, Jr.
Norbell Foundation
Cathy Stanghellini
Twin Disc

Media Sponsor

Radio Milwaukee logo

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