LIZ ALPERT FAY
Textiles and Mixed Media Sculpture

I grew up in a family who loved the outdoors. We spent most of our free time exploring the wilderness, hiking, canoeing and camping. These outdoor adventures instilled in me a lifelong appreciation of nature, and a deep respect for the environment.

I am formally trained with a degree in Textile Design, and have been a studio artist working in textiles for more than thirty-five years. I have always had a passion for textiles, and embrace the opportunity to revive and experiment with lesser-known  techniques. A number of years ago I also started combining these textiles with objects I collected for inspiration, and began constructing mixed media sculptures. 

Currently most of my textile work is created using the technique of traditional rug hooking. I use this technique in the traditional manner, by cutting narrow strips of fabric that are then hooked by hand into a linen backing. I primarily use recycled wool clothing and new white wool that I hand dye. I like the idea of incorporating discarded clothing and other textiles that already have a history of their own. There is always a story or a message to be found in these works, and I prefer to quietly make my point, by requiring the viewer to come closer and have another look.

Although I work in a traditional medium, I’m always aiming to push the boundaries of the art form, and most of my pieces no longer resemble what we think of as a hooked rug. When I do set out to create a functional rug, I try to challenge conventional ideas of what a rug is and how it functions. I create pieces with unusual shapes, irregular edges, and sometimes cut into the body of the piece to expose the floor beneath. Experimenting with unusual or unexpected materials and incorporating other textile techniques is something I also enjoy. 

Experimentation has led me to challenge myself further, and to create pieces that require more interaction between the viewer and the work. Over time the scale of these pieces has grown, and many have become installations with multiple parts. Where my earlier work tended to be more spontaneous in the design process, I now find myself contemplating an idea for many months before it’s ready to be executed.

This artwork was a response to the shooting that took place down the street from where I live at Sandy Hook Elementary School. At the heart of this piece is the belief that every child should be safe in their home, school, and community. 

To enter my studio is to step into a world bursting with all sorts of unusual objects, an accumulation of treasured items valued for the inspiration they provide. It’s a wonderful mix of brightly-colored wool, salvaged wood, old metal parts, beautiful beach stones, branches, seed pods, buttons and trims. Many of these items are bits of history now long forgotten. 

Creating sculptures from these found objects allows me the freedom to experiment with unusual combinations of materials, textures, and ideas. It’s also a way to preserve these objects and give them a new life, while calling attention to more contemporary issues.

I’ve suffered with Lyme disease so many times over the past few years, that the fear of another tick bite keeps me mostly indoors. I long to wiggle my toes in the grass and set out a blanket for a picnic. Indoor seating and artificial turf seemed like a temporary solution…

Currently I’m focused on completing a series of larger-than-life, hand-hooked portraits of women I know and admire. The series is entitled "Ordinary/ Extraordinary Women" and honors the extraordinary achievements of women in the ordinary context of their lives. 

The series began in 2006 with a portrait I made to honor a very special woman. 

Inspired by my experience creating this portrait, I’ve chosen fifteen other women from all walks of life, that I wish to honor. I've decided not to show most of these pieces in their entirety (although a couple have previously been exhibited) as I’m hoping to exhibit the complete series at the conclusion of this project.

Our society honors celebrities, athletes, politicians, and others deemed important, but it’s not often that “ordinary women” are celebrated for who they are, and their very important contributions to our lives. By exhibiting this series and highlighting these women, I hope to bring recognition not only to these women, but also to the women we interact with every day, and to spark curiosity about those we may pass on the street.  

You can follow this project on Instagram at #ordinaryextraordinarywomen.

www.lizalpertfay.com
instagram: @lizalpertfay

** All photos: Brad Stanton