September 14, 2024
Program and Workshops
Liz Alpert Fay
The Artist:
Liz Alpert Fay began her studies at Philadelphia College of Art in 1976 and then received a BAA in Textile Design from The Program in Artisanry at Boston University in 1981. For seventeen years she created art quilts, exhibiting nationally and in Japan. She has exhibited in shows such as Quilt National and the American Craft Museum in New York. Liz’s quilts can be found in private and corporate collections and in many publications, including The Art Quilt by Robert Shaw. In 1998, Liz became intrigued with the technique of traditional rug hooking and began creating colorful hand-hooked works of her own design. Always striving to achieve innovation in this medium, her studio practice has expanded to include large-scale, contemporary hooked artworks and. installations. These award-winning works have been selected for many juried shows, invitational museum exhibitions, and are included in many collections. In 2006, Liz began experimenting with found objects gathered in her studio as inspiration. These new works evolved into an interest in working three-dimensionally and a continued exploration of mixed-media sculpture. From 2008-2014, Liz founded and acted as Co-chair and Artistic Director of the Newtown Hooked Art Shows. Here, she actively promoted innovation in contemporary artists’ hooked art by producing an annual juried show and securing additional exhibitions throughout the year. Early in her career, Liz also earned the title of Master Teaching Artist through the State of Connecticut and continues to give classes in the textile arts. Current workshops take students on nature walks to discover inspiration for their own work and provide instruction on designing contemporary textiles. Since 2004, Liz has been working on a series of larger-than-life, hand-hooked portraits of women entitled Ordinary/Extraordinary Women. The series will be completed in 2024, and museum exhibitions are planned beginning in 2026.
Guild Meeting/Program: The Story Behind the Ordinary/Extraordinary Women Series
This presentation will introduce the artist and provide insights into her work and inspiration. Images from the Ordinary/Extraordinary Women series, sixteen larger than life portraits of women (a twenty-year project) will be discussed and shown in progress.
Date/Time: September 14, 2024 10:30 AM (following Guild meeting)
Location: St. James Episcopal Church, 11815 Seven Locks Rd, Potomac, MD 20854
Mini Workshop: A Brief Introduction to Traditional Rug Hooking
Traditional Rug Hooking is a slow and meditative process. Three hours will be just enough time for participants to experience the materials and learn the technique. A small sample will be created during the workshop.
Date/Time: September 14, 2024 1:00 to 4:00 PM
Location: St. James Episcopal Church, 11815 Seven Locks Rd, Potomac, MD 20854
Mini Workshop Fee: Members: $35.00 Non-Members: $50.00
Student’s Materials Fee: $25
Student Supply List:
Black fine point, Sharpie marker, Roll of masking tape
Extended Workshop: Traditional Rug Hooking: Still Life in Blue and White
In this workshop participants will have the choice of creating small functional hooked art pieces or purely decorative works of art. Inspiration will come from blue and white still-life arrangements set up by the instructor. First, using cut papers and paint, we will translate the patterns and shapes we see into textile designs. A large variety of beautiful hand dyed blue and white wools as well as commercial fabrics will be used to hook the designs. This workshop is suitable for those who would like to learn the technique as well as those with experience.
Date/Time: September 15-17, 2024 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Location: PFAG Studio: 11810 Parklawn Dr Suite 204 #11, Rockville, MD 20852
Workshop Fee: Members: $240.00 Non-Members: $330.00
Student’s Materials Fee: $75
Student Supply List:
Small sharp scissors for cutting fabric
Large scissors for cutting fabric
Scissors for cutting paper
Masking tape
Fine point black sharpie marker
Quart size ziplock bags
Pad of mixed media drawing paper suitable for paint and glue (at least 9″ x 12″) Pencil and eraser
Smartphone or digital camera (optional)
Glue stick or Tacky glue
Optional: Blue or white materials or yarn you already own that can be cut into strips with a scissors
Smock or apron to protect clothing
Something you have created to share on last day (show and tell)
Hooking frame, cutter, hook if already own/ otherwise supplied for class use only