About wildfibers
"wildfibers" began in 2005 as a collaboration between Jill Fleischner and Barbara Dorfman. At the time, Jill was creating unique handwoven jewelry. Barbara was weaving wall hangings using traditional tapestry methods. Independently, both artists were drawn to embellishment of their weaving, beyond the flat surface. When they met and began sharing ideas, inspirations and materials, the evolution of their art exploded and "wildfibers" was born. Barbara and Jill continue to explore the textures of various fibers, focusing on organic, elemental themes, while adding ornamentation with beads, shells, feathers, wood, stone and primitive artifacts.
About Jill
I would prefer to think about myself as a traveler rather than an artist. For me this process of creating hand woven necklaces evolved more from a love of the materials rather than the desire to complete a finished product. I am drawn to fibers in their rawest form - the unspun wools still smelling of lanolin, the textured shells containing remnants of the sea, the patinaed coins, bells and beads that have traveled here from tribal lands. For me, these materials have a story to tell and by embracing them I am provided with the opportunity to catch a glimpse of the setting they originated from. Weaving these materials together has given me the vehicle to connect not only with an ancient craft, but to celebrate the art, traditions and customs of our valued past.
Gallery Shows:
B.J. Spoke Gallery Inc. 2008
Huntington, New YorkVermont Artisan Designs 2007
Brattleboro, VermontKTWO NOHO 2006
Northampton, Ma.
About Barbara
I bought my first loom, a 4-harness floor loom, in 1975. I loved working with natural fibers: cotton, wool, linen. I wove pillows, shawls, wall-hangings. The rhythmic process of interweaving warp and weft felt like a meditation to me, and the process of creating a solid textile out of separate threads felt almost magical.
In 2004, after retiring from a rewarding career as a Social Worker, I studied tapestry weaving. My teachers, Tamar Shadur and Carol Russell, both highly respected tapestry artists, taught me the basic techniques of traditional tapestry. As I began to create art from fibers, my work has evolved into its own style. I am drawn to design elements from early primitive cultures: Native American, African, Middle Eastern. However, unlike traditional tapestries, which are usually pictorial and 2-dimensional, my tapestries have been embellished with texturally rich fibers, natural objects (shells, wood, stone), beads and found objects. I am drawn to contrasts in texture, and I like using layers to add a 3rd dimension to the tapestry. My goal is art that is organic, primitive, and soulful, while honoring the beauty of handwoven natural fibers.