November 20 – December 27, 2014 • Studio Gallery

This exhibition, coinciding with a memorial for fiber artist Nancy MacKenzie, features 11 pieces from her series of intertwining switches and prunings of driftwood, applewood,  and weeping willow.

 Artist’s Statement

I am drawing lines in space with sticks (prunings). Sometimes I fill in spaces with bark or paper. I assess the qualities of the media. How strong? How flexible? I tie two sticks together. Then I add a third. I like the added texture of the waxed linen thread. My mind is in a wordless state. I begin to develop a form, which may deviate from the original concept, but which continues to reflect the organic qualities of nature along with the complexities of life.

Some constructions come together quickly, others slowly, until I feel the piece is resolved. Sometimes I can’t find resolution and just give up. I get some distance and do a self-critique. I think about the meaning of the work. I may add, subtract or alter lines and spaces until I am satisfied.

Nancy MacKenzie Bio

Beginning in 1994, Nancy MacKenzie was a self-employed artist, creating, and exhibiting various forms of fiber art that incorporate recycled materials. Her work has been exhibited nationally in galleries in Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, California, and New York and internationally in Japan, Chile, and New Zealand. She has pieces in major collections, including the University of Minnesota, the Minnesota Historical Society, and the University of Saint Catherine.

“Fiber artist Nancy MacKenzie is known for her wall-mounted sculptures and wearable art (coats, collars, and capes) made from such unconventional materials as pyro metric cones, plastic netting (as in onion and potato bags), baling twine, abacus beads, and Japanese silkworm nets. Often in vivid colors, these pieces are outspoken yet disciplined. More recently, the Stillwater artist has engineered quieter, wall-mounted pieces from found, organic materials such as attenuated branches of apple, willow and red dogwood, joined with waxed linen thread. Elegant, even poetic in their neutral palette, they are formal explorations of materials, texture, and positive and negative space, the latter of which is sometimes filled with precisely cut pieces of Japanese paper. Viewed collectively, the pieces suggest the choreographical notation for a lyrical dance in which we’d all like to participate”
–Mason Riddle

Textile Center Remembers Nancy MacKenzie

Nancy MacKenzie was a longtime textile artist and founder and supporter of Textile Center. She served on the Textile Center Board of Directors, as well as the chair of the Exhibition and Events Committee. She also received Textile Center’s Spun Gold Award for a lifetime commitment to textile art.

Nancy MacKenzie was a strong and stellar force in the field of fiber art. She offered her vast knowledge and connections to promote textile artists and advance the field. Her impact was enormous, bringing fiber art into the light and into every gallery and museum in our community. Nancy’s own art work was unique and innovative, using recycled materials long before anyone else considered the possibility. –Margaret Miller, Textile Center Founder

From an early Textile Center newsletter:

“Nancy grew up on Buckeye Ranch in the Yakima Valley of Washington state, where everything that was grown was eaten and practically everything that was needed was made by her family. The household included two sewing machines: her grandmother’s treadle and her mother’s electric. Her dedication to the fiber arts began as a preschooler when she fashioned doll clothes from the “rag bag.” By eighth grade she was making her own clothes that fit because nothing commercial did. She bought her first sewing machine with $20 down and $5 a month.

With a bachelors degree in art, she taught junior and senior high school art. A masters in communications helped her secure a position as Administrative Assistant in the University of Minnesota Art Department in 1977. In 1980, she became the Assistant to the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts.

Her first exhibition in 1986 featured hand dyed silk scarves. Then in 1994 she retired from the University to devote full time to her fiber art and served on the MIA Textile Council Board from 1994 – 1998. She served on the Textile Center Board beginning in 1999 and rotated off the board April 2006. While she was on the board, she was the Gallery and Shop chair and served on the Artwear in Motion committee. A strong advocate of the gallery, Nancy worked on fundraising for its operations.”

Nancy created wall-mounted sculptures and wearable art (coats, collars, and capes) made from such unconventional materials as pyrometric cones, plastic netting (as in onion and potato bags), baling twine, abacus beads and Japanese silkworm nets. A 2012 Minneapolis Star Tribune article described them thusly: “Often in vivid colors, these pieces are outspoken yet disciplined. More recently, the Stillwater artist has engineered quieter, wall-mounted pieces from found, organic materials such as attenuated branches of apple, willow and red dogwood, joined with waxed linen thread. Elegant, even poetic in their neutral palette, they are formal explorations of materials, texture and positive and negative space, the latter of which is sometimes filled with precisely cut pieces of Japanese paper. Viewed collectively, the pieces suggest the choreographical notation for a lyrical dance in which we’d all like to participate.” With Textile Center, Nancy most recently exhibited a piece in our annual members show, A Common Thread, as well as in the storefront of Block E on Hennepin Ave. as part of the Made Here installation. Her wearable art was worn at Textile Center in the Sol Inspirations eco fashion show, characterized by the Star Tribune as “a melange of colorful, sculptural, over-the-top pieces that wouldn’t be out of place in Lady Gaga’s wardrobe.”

The impact Nancy MacKenzie has had on Textile Center is vast, incalculable. She will be greatly missed.