IronwoodInfo News Magazine

SoHo Artist Exhibit Opens

HANCOCK - November 20th, 2008

The opening of SoHo Fiber Artist Desiree Koslin took place tonight at the Finlandia University Gallery, located at the Finnish American Heritage Center in Hancock.

The exhibit which is entitled "InSight: Views of the Finnish Landscape" will be open from Novemebr 20th through January 6th, 2009.

The exhibit opened this evening with a reception for the artist which was followed by a talk and a question and answer session with the audience. There was a large audience presence this evening and many photographers on hand for this opening. Koslin spoke highly of the Finlandia students that she worked with Wednesday and Thursday.

InSight: Views of the Finnish Landscape also includes six sculptural objects and four 7-foot hanging pieces using Finnish traditional double weave and transparency techniques.

Koslin's exhibit features 13 ryiji pieces whose thick textural quality and checkerboard fields of color illuminate their symbolic and cultural underpinnings. "In so many cultures, the subdivided square has important symbolic value, as it is seen to represent a microcosm of the universe in perfect equipoise of contrasting values or colors," states Koslin.

above - Artist discusses piece titled "Endless Columns"

"The interaction of threads and yarns has been a constant in my life, although this involvement has brought me to many different places and occupations. I've worked in women's cottage industries, in noisy weaving mills, in edgy design studios, in classrooms and in museums- producing, handling and caring for fabrics," notes Koslin.

"All of us wear them and have relationships with them throughout our lives. Every mythology has weavers in their pantheons and creation stories, making life and society possible. I am humbled thinking of spinners and weavers past, and those who sing about them and depict them - no fabric is ever trivial."

Koslin recently exhibited her work in several solo exhibits in New York City at the SOHO20 Chelsea Gallery and participated in the Annual Open Studios for SoHo Artist Studios in New York.

Finnish-American artist Desiree Koslin manipulates, transforms, and exaggerates textile traditions. Using Finnish fiber techniques, including ryiji, transparency weave, and double/triple cloth in unexpected ways, Koslin interprets the Finnish landscape in a series of woven and constructed textiles.

The Exhibit

above - Infrared View: Ryiji Eleven, All the Ryiiji pieces are made from linen, cotton wool symmetrical knot plain weave all measure 14"X14"X3"

above - Forest View Tree: Two Summer - All Forest View Trees are made of linen cotton, wool, metallic wire and satin covered wire. they measure 7'X22"X22"