#thenewmancollection

[108contemporarygallery-blog]

Ed Rossbach Lost Japan Splint, bark, rags, paint, heat transfer 5.75 x 8.5 x 5.75 inches Photo credit Bob Hawks

Ed Rossbach, an American fiber artist from Chicago, is thought to be one of the most influential artists during the crossover of textiles from functional to modern art. After receiving his third college degree, an MFA from Cranbrook Academy of Art, Bloomfield, Michigan in ceramics and weaving, Rossback launched his career. In the early 1950s, he found his way to a teaching job at the Universtiy of California, Berkeley. It was here that he began to experiment with nontraditional methods and materials, including newspapers and plastics. For the next 20 years, this is where he molded fresh minds of generations of future artists. 

In 1950 Rossbach married fellow artist and textile designer Katherine Westphal. He showed his work in notable institutions such as the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston and the Museum of Arts and Design in New York. 

He died in 2002 in Berkeley at the age of 88 from a prolonged illness, but his legend lives on through the collections of his art and the artists he influenced. 

[108contemporarygallery-blog]

Joanne Schiavone Handmade Book, 1994 4 x 10 x 7 inches Photo credit Bob Hawks

Joanne Schiavone is an American sculptor now living in Pennsylvania. She uses 15th century English and German bookbinding techniques to create unique letter containers. She constructs the containers from decorative paper called paste paper, made from a mixture of cooked paste and water-based colored paints. She then brushes the mixture onto wet paper with a variety of instruments to develop designs. 

Although Schiavone’s techniques are rooted in traditional bookmaking and printmaking, she has recently expanded her training by returning to school to receive an MFA in Sculpture. From childhood, Schiavone has found inspiration from nature, and especially bodies of water. After moving to Pennsylvania, her source of inspiration and intrigue became the Susquehanna River. Because of this devotion to the natural world, she often uses recycled material. 

[108contemporarygallery-blog]

Susan Lavicky Dance of Tides, 2001 Black ash and yarn 20.5 x 20.5 x 12 inches Photo credit Bob Hawks

American basket maker Susan Kavicky began working with brown and black ash in 1987 after taking a basketry class. She was drawn to using black ash for its satin-like finish, and she chose basketry as a medium because it allowed her the mobility to accompany her husband on fly fishing trips. Using traditional basket weaving techniques, she constructs dynamic organic forms.

Kavicky has received many awards for her craftsmanship and contribution to the field. She currently resides in Island Lake, Illinois and occasionally teaches workshops throughout the country