The Member’s Show at Say Si Gallery is a gem. It is a non-juried show of over 130 pieces from all over the world and provides a terrific snapshot of what is happening right now in surface design. Felt, embroidery, dyeing techniques, slashing, burning, quilting, weaving, knitting, crochet, and even Elmer’s Glue were all well represented.

As interesting as the work was, reading the labels was another kind of education. Prices ranged from $1000 as the highest to the ridiculous lows of $100-$150. Most were in the range of $300 to $500. Other interesting reading was the way pieces were described. Some were labelled as “mixed media,” “mixed media textile,” or simply “fibers”. Others labelled every material and technique used, down to the adhesive. Labeling is something I’ve struggled with myself. How much information is enough? How much is too much? This is the kind of nuts and bolts information that would be good to talk about within SDA. Although it’s not nearly as exciting as talking about pretty things, how do we know how to value and represent ourselves within the art world, especially if there is no unified representation among ourselves? Food for thought, anyway.

The following are photos of work that caught my eye at the show, some of them prize winners, many of them not. Please excuse the photography here, it was difficult to shoot, and some pieces in dark corners didn’t make the cut.