Forbes Library hosts wide-ranging fiber arts exhibit by The Fiberistas

Quilts by Margaret Stancer, part of The Fiberistas’ “Bits and Pieces” exhibit at Forbes Library.
Reminder Publishing photos by Peter Tuohy

NORTHAMPTON — The Hosmer Gallery on the second floor of Northampton’s Forbes Library is awash in colors and textures. Nine women have put their heart and soul — and thread — into a fiber art exhibit, “Bits and Pieces.”

Sally Dillion, Rebecca Fricke, Barbara Kline, Martha May, Martha Robinson, Florence “Flo” Rosenstock, Margaret Stancer, Eileen Travis and Nancy Young are The Fiberistas. They range in age from mid-50s to mid-80s, but the one thing they have in common is a love of fiber art.

“There’s nine of us and we work in a variety of different mediums,” Rosenstock said. The “Bits and Pieces” exhibit includes art created by quilting, sewing, felting, crochet, soft sculpture, collage, fabric discharge and printing, cyanotype and photo silk screen and mixed media.

Rosenstock said, “I like making things with my hands. I’m fascinated by color.” Her medium of choice is quilting, but she also likes to dye her own fabrics. Occasionally, she will create fiber sculptures with felt and paper

In 2001, the Fiber Arts Center opened in Amherst. When it closed seven years later, a handful of the people who enjoyed the center decided they would carry on in the form of The Fiberistas. Over the years, some members have moved away, and others have joined the group.

The goal of the “Bits and Pieces” exhibit was to use materials the artist already had, scraps from other projects that would otherwise go to waste. The exhibit consists of about 50 pieces of art. Many of them were created for the exhibit, but some pieces are older and simply have not been on display before.

Since the group’s founding, they have staged an array of exhibits in Northampton and Amherst, including at Art in the Orchard, an outdoor art show that is on display for three months of the year. Rosenstock said making fiber art that will stand up to the weather is particularly challenging.

Nonetheless, Rosenstock loves having her work on display. She said, “It’s wonderful to get people’s feedback — and maybe sell a piece — but it’s mostly having people see and appreciate the pieces.”

“Bits and Pieces” will be on display until April 29.