The national 2012 McMahon Fiber Art Symposium will examine trends in contemporary fiber art on Saturday, January 21st.  The symposium, now in its third year, was named in honor of the late SSA Trustee Debbie McMahon, a devoted fiber artist who studied here. Exhibiting artist Sonya Clark will be joined by curator Namita Gupta Wiggers and art historian Dr. Jenni Sorkin.

Namita Gupta Wiggers, curator at the Museum of Contemporary Craft in Portland, and author of a critical essay about Sonya Clark in the exhibition catalog, will present a talk entitled "Tangle, Knot and Threads". She'll focus on the work of contemporary fiber artists, including Clark, and will also hone in on specific trends in contemporary fiber     

Dr. Jenni Sorkin, an educator and respected art and culture commentator, will moderate the afternoon's discussions, and contribute her own original observations on gender and material culture. Sorkin is an Assistant Professor of Contemporary Art and Critical Studies at the University of Houston.  

Following the afternoon's presentations and panel discussion will be an artists' reception from 4:00P - 5:00P for attendees to continue the conversation.  The symposium and reception are free and open to the public; registration is not required. (But see info about parking lot access in the item below...) 

Jan 21, 2012 | 1:30 - 4:00P

Russell Hill Rogers Lecture Hall, Navarro Campus

Southwest School of Art| 300 Augusta | San Antonio, TX 78205

Basic Metal Skills, Ceramics Handbuilding, Introduction to Welding, Photographing Small-Scale, Digital Imaging, and a one-day introduction to Stone Carving are among the classes that launch this week or next, along with more than 100 other classes starting in the next weeks. If you promised yourself to get more creative this year - don't miss the train!