Freeform crochet artist, Karen Ballard shares that a sampling of her freeform crochet, beading and weaving will be featured at the ARTFactory exhibit, Wild Webs, in Manassas starting October 15 and running through December 4, 2021. Also featured is the U.S. premiere of 50 Years of Flower Power Prudence Mapstone's Freeform collaborative crochet and knit art.
"Freeform art is unrestrained by patterns, techniques, materials, shapes or colors. Over 200 artists representing 24 countries collaborated on the 35 x 5 foot piece that commemorates 50 years since the term flower power was coined in Berkeley, California, and used as a passive resistance slogan for non-violent protest against the Vietnam war.
Fifty Years of Flower Power
Ballard is an author, textile and bead artist who has lived in Northern Virginia most of her life. She is the 2020 Crochet Guild of America Hall of Fame recipient. Mapstone was born in Sydney Australia and currently lives in Brisbane.
Coincidentally, an article in the Wall Street Journal (8/28/21) by Jacob Gallagher is titled Crochet: No Longer Quite So Square. "Crochet epitomizes down-home comfort; and at the same time conjures the 60s when young people traipsed around in shawls and tops fabricated from multi-colored yarns, This past summer showed fashions with flowy fabric in vibrant oranges, purples and greens that wouldn't have looked out of place in the Haight in 1969!
'Customers are definitely always seeking an element of nostalgia said Madeline Sensible at Lisa Says Gah. It's the idea of getting something that's vintage, but also re-worked for now.'
'Some fans have even take to crocheting themselves,' says Ellen Dixon, 23. She referred to crochet as slow fashion, a painstaking process that represents a deliberate alternative to faddish, low-quality fast fashion.'"
The gallery is located at 9419 Battle St. Manassas and is open Mon.-Sat. from 10-5.
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