We are lucky in Vermont to have such a strong and active membership of the Surface Design Association — a vibrant, international organization whose stated mission is to promote awareness and appreciation of textile-inspired art.

This week, eight SDA members from Vermont, as well as several from New Hampshire and Massachusetts, made our way to the bottom of the state in order to meet Jackie Abrams and Deidre Scherer, and to see their collaborative exhibit Jackie Abrams and Deidre Scherer: Connections at the Brattleboro Museum. Both artists greeted us at the museum and generously shared their insights during a personal tour, answering our myriad questions.

Jackie, left & Deidre, right

Rather than attempting to reinterpret this wonderful show, I’m going to let the artists’ words and beautiful work speak for themselves. Enjoy.

Age, wisdom, the accumulation of experience, and their imprints on the vessel we call the human body have interested each of us for decades. The fabric-and-thread portraits of elders and the sculptural baskets representing aspects of women’s lives made it seem natural for us to collaborate on a series of three-dimensional objects that reflect the human form.

To create each object, we agree on the general shape and size of the vessel. An image of the original fabric portrait by Scherer is printed onto heavy cotton paper. The printed image is cut into strips and carefully woven back together by Abrams as a three-dimensional vessel. Sometimes other materials, such as copper wire or transparent plastic film, are incorporated into the weaving. The resulting vessels’ strong forms and subtle textures reflect the character that the human body acquires with experience and time.

                                                                                      — Deidre Scherer and Jackie Abrams

Please note all work is ©Jackie Abrams and Deidre Scherer

“Couples”, collaboration Abrams and Scherer, 2018, print on cotton paper, plastic film, waxed linen thread, 9 x 11 x 11”

“Faces: Woven Vessel II”, collaboration Abrams and Scherer, 2017, print on cotton paper, wire, 12 x 8 x 8″

“Staggered Gold”, collaboration Abrams and Scherer, 2018, print on cotton paper, wire, 12 x 8 x 8″

“Connecting #1 and #2” (diptych), collaboration Abrams and Scherer, 2019, print on cotton paper, wire, waxed linen thread

“Garlic”, collaboration Abrams and Scherer, 2018, print on cotton paper, plastic film, waxed linen thread

“Hands of Light”, collaboration Abrams and Scherer, 2018, print on cotton paper, wire

As is to be expected, there’s no way my images do justice to these beautiful pieces. Please see the work in person if there is any way you can swing it. And note that the artists will be giving a talk at the Brattleboro Museum on Wednesday, April 24th at 7pm.