First Friday - Carla Wilson

Join us for First Friday and check out Carla Wilson's work!

Artis Bio:
A longtime resident of Lindsborg, Carla J Wilson, studio artist, works in a myriad of mediums including, but not limited to; fiber, paint, beading and wood. Wilson is best known for her Swedish Kurbit painting influenced by life in the borg and working as a tour guide in Sweden. Working in multiple mediums using found domestic objects, allows her to push the limits of “what if”, crossing category boundaries between upcycling art, utilitarian art, folk art and fine art.

Show Description:
BLUE COAT UPCYCLED by Carla J Wilson

Upcycled art made primarily using a blue wool coat, that combine these concepts, “utilitarian, fine, and folk art" in the following ways:

· A folk tradition with an upcycled process: The object's creation draws upon a community's traditional craft techniques but applies them to scavenged or recycled materials. Historically, folk art was often utilitarian and created from available materials, making upcycling a modern extension of that tradition.

· A fine art object with a practical purpose: It blurs the traditional line between fine art (created for aesthetics) and craft (created for function). An artist makes a functional item but elevates it with a high level of craftsmanship and unique aesthetic choices.

· Fine and folk art converge: It brings together the traditional, skill-based practices of folk art with the aesthetic and expressive goals of fine art. Contemporary art increasingly embraces forms that were once considered lesser "craft," creating a broader appreciation for these historically separate fields.

Art based on its process (upcycled), purpose (utilitarian), and heritage (fine and folk), rather than being a single genre itself

Utilitarian Defines the art by its practical function, such as a chair, pot, or table.

Fine Art Defines the art by its aesthetic qualities and intellectual stimulation, distinguishing it from purely functional craft. Fine art is not required to have an everyday function.

Folk Art Defines the art by its connection to folk culture and traditional communities, rather than being created by formally trained artists for the academic mainstream.

Upcycled A modern technique that is the process of reusing discarded objects or materials in a way that creates a product of a higher perceived quality of value.

In addition to the blue wool coat: curtains, jeans, tapestries, lace, trim, buttons, jewelry, zippers, and scrap fabrics were upcycled.