Pacific Palisades Exhibit Features Four Decades of Fiber Art

To celebrate the group’s 40th anniversary, Seaside Weavers—a small West LA weaving guild—is offering the public a look at four decades of fiber art created by current and former members.

The exhibit, “That’s Sooo Seaside!,” is on display through Aug. 30 in the Gallery. Members gathered Saturday for an opening reception to kick off the event.

“We have different weavings from our whole history on display--pieces from the 70s, 80s, 90s and also some contemporary pieces,” said Nicki Bair, one of the exhibit curators. “They were made by members over the years and there’s a whole variety.”

Fiber hats and puppets were displayed on tables while woven tapestries and garments adorned the walls.

“A garment from the 80s hangs next to a garment made in 2010, so you can see the similarities and the differences, not only in style, but in texture as well as how they are constructed,” Bair said.

A variety of colorful scarves were also on display throughout the exhibit, and many of the Seaside Weavers present wore scarves that they had made.

“Weavers love to weave scarves because they’re small, so they’re kind of like little experiments, but sometimes they just come out beautifully,” Bair said. “So throughout this exhibit we have lots of different scarves from different eras, in different colors, made with different techniques.”

Depending on what is being created, weaving can be classified as either an art or a craft, Bair said.

“I look at it as painting with yarn,” she said. “ We have a number of pieces in museums, and several of our members have had their work exhibited in different places.”

Merna Strauch joined the Seaside Weavers in 1980 in order to meet and network with other weavers.

“Weaving is pretty solitary, so it’s nice to have a group to weave with and to be around people who don’t think what you’re doing is odd,” Stauch said. “We all support each other and learn new ways of doing things from each other.”

Strauch enjoys weaving because she likes creating something.

“I guess I like making small tapestries the most. I like to play with color and explore different techniques,” she said.

Seaside Weavers member Lisa Check traveled all the way from her current home in Maryland for the event.

“Well, it’s the 40th anniversary, so I came to be among my peers and to see the show and to be a part of this great celebration,” Check said. “Once you’re a member of Seaside, you’re always a member, even if you live across the country.”

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