Up-and-coming Seattle fiber artist Suzanne Tidwell will create an installation of Artificial Light in Redmond’s Anderson Park at 7802 168th Ave. N.E., beginning Saturday.
Artificial Light is a fiber art exhibition in which Tidwell knits coverings for the trunks of trees. She will be working at the park for two weeks following Saturday, sewing the artwork on at least 50 trees. The exhibition will open March 8.
Tidwell installed a similar exhibition in Occidental Park in Seattle last summer.
“When I see a ball of yarn, I instantly know what it should be,” Tidwell said. “For me, art is the realization of the many ideas I see in my head, manipulating these pictures over and over in my mind until my idea is clear enough to become something real.”
The community is also invited to contribute to the installation by joining the free community Knit-in March 10 and 17 from 2-7 p.m. at Anderson Park, sponsored by Venues for Artists in the Local Area (VALA), a nonprofit for artists on the Eastside.
On March 10, experts from Ben Franklin Arts and Crafts will be on hand to show participants how to knit a stripe for the community tree sock. Artist and art historian Sandra Baker will also be in attendance to talk about the history of fiber arts. In addition, there will be a scavenger hunt and other fun activities for the children.
On March 17, the participants are invited back with their knitted projects to learn how to piece together the stripes and sew them onto the trees.
“VALA is excited to be a part of this exhibition and organize the community knit-in,” said VALA Executive Director Jessica Lambert. “We are looking for volunteers interested in helping to organize this and other events.”
Artificial Light is part of the “Take Root, Branch Out” Redmond Arts Season. It is presented by the Redmond Arts Commission and VALA, which works to find and create venues for artists to show their work.
To volunteer or find out more about VALA, contact Lambert at jfklamber@volaeastside.org. For more information about the exhibit, visit www.redmond.gov/ArtsSeason or www.experienceredmond.com. For more information on Tidwell’s work, visit http://suzannetidwell.com.
