“Cindy Sturdevant: Threads of Creativity and Connection” is an exhibit at the University of Chicago Lab School, Gordon Parks Arts Hall,Corvus Gallery.
Sept 18 – Nov20, 2026
The fiber artist will be in Chicago October 16 to meet in Q & A sessions with students and faculty to discuss her artistic processand explore her work.
The 19 pieces in the exhibit reference mandalas, portraits, soundstick sculptures, and collages that incorporate, weaving, crochet, punchneedle, beading, and drawing.
Finally, my newest punch needle embroidery mandala using cotton embroidery floss, commercial fabrics, and beads is complete!
All my mandala works are of my own design, several of which celebrate women by combining a portrait of an imaginary woman with a mandala-like crown. Since 2015 I have completed five such works in what I call my “Resplendence Series”, each piece measuring 20” x 20”.
In 2014 after discovering the artist Yayoi Kusama through reading an article in Art Forum, I knew I would eventually create a tribute mandala to her inspirational life of shear fortitude and incredible artistic vision. This fiber artwork is the result of that intention. Measuring 49” x 44” it is the largest punch needle I have completed to date.
The central mandala, which includes a portrait of the artist, is my interpretation of how artistic inspiration, unconventional thought processes, and creative imaginings can envelope and reach beyond the conventional. Many of the elements of this piece have been inspired by the works of Yayoi Kusama including, but not limited to the yellow with black dot “frame” surrounding her portrait.
Additional elements of the piece are made of commercial fabrics in black with white polka dots, black and white stripes, red with gold swirls, and random white specks on a black background. The striped fabric and red punch needle dots that surround the outer edges of the portrait’s black dot “frame” are covered with commercially made netting to create a special visual effect. The red and gold swirl plus white speckled on black concentric circles backing the portrait mandala add further visual interest while also helping to focus attention on the face of the artist.
Every individual colorful dimensional dot, and central portrait mandala are punch needle embroidery, edged and/or embellished with sparkling silvered and reflective glass beads. All elements of the work are beaded and stitched together by hand.
The piece took the better part of two years to complete, allowing for extensive every-day life-based circumstances and unusual lengthy interruptions.
As a Juror for the CCAC “Fiber is Art Too” exhibit I was encouraged to show a couple of my latest works. “Fiber is Art Too” opened Friday, July 22 and will run through Friday, August 19, 2022. Drop by to enjoy some fabulous fiber works by incredibly talented Cincinnati artists!
Clifton Cultural Arts Center, 2728 Short Vine Street, Cincinnati, OH
Tuesdays & Thursdays 12 – 8pm, Saturdays 10am-12pm and by appointment
Below are the two works currently on exhibit:
“MAGMA (Molten Amalgamation of Geologic Mass Ascending)” and “Her Fierce Nature” Both pieces are original designs created using punchneedle embroidery, hand beaded, and embellished with multiple commercial quilt fabrics used as backgrounds.
Guests are welcome to stay for the meeting and program including a presentation by nationally renowned expert hand weaver and fiber artist Robyn Spady.
Her topic: “Couture Passementerie” (garment embellishments)
I have just learned that it is official, Resplendence #4 – Carnival has been awarded a Purchase Award from the Xavier University Art at the X – Celebrating Women exhibit. My piece will go on to it’s new home at Xavier following the end of this show.
First of four mandalas promised to an upcoming exhibit at the Weavers Guild of Greater Cincinnati. When finished I thought it looked like the glowing, spinning white hot center of the earth. Title? MAGMA
Second of four mandalas promised to an upcoming exhibit at the Weavers Guild of Greater Cincinnati. Inspired by elements of several garments in a recent exhibit at the Cincinnati Art Museum. Title? Kimono
Finally completed after several false starts, a weaverbird composition made by special request for the outgoing President of the Weavers Guild of Greater Cincinnati – 2018!
Incorporated into the overall design is the weaverbird symbol of the guild along with additional nests, birds, leaves and grasses. The design is intended to look as if someone is viewing the birds’ unique nest weaving activities through binoculars.
Four works from my Resplendence Series were juried into the CCAC Golden Ticket Exhibit! I was flabbergasted. Then I went to the opening and learned that one of those pieces, Resplendence #4, Carnival had received 3rd Place AND the Host’s Choice Award. What can I say? While accepting my award I turned bright red in front of a crowd of people and almost broke into tears! Then, to add to the unbelievable course of events that evening, two of my pieces sold! Guess you’re never too old to take a chance when making art!
When I arrived at the Fitton Center Season Launch I was amazed to find that my piece “Resplendence #3, Liberty Determined had received the Handweavers Guild of America, Inc. (HGA) Award in recognition of a work demonstrating outstanding creativity and craftsmanship in the fiber arts. Overwhelming!
The Weavers Guild of Greater Cincinnati will have a group exhibit of juried works as part of the Fitton Center for Creative Arts 2017-2018 Season Launch!
As a member of the WGGC, I was thrilled to learn that six of my entries were chosen for this exhibit. The “soft” opening will occur on August 5, the Season Launch Event, free and open to the public, will occur on August 18. For more details keep an eye on the Fitton Center website at https://fittoncenter.org/
I completed the punch needle last week and then began fiddling with beads and fabrics. So far this is what the piece looks like after two work days of false starts with many different bead designs, colors, spacings, etc., etc. My deadline is fast approaching. Hopefully I’ll have things under control by Saturday or Sunday! Wish me luck………………
Great news! Just received my letter from the Fitton Center for Creative Arts. Both of my entries, “Random Colors, Random Thoughts #2” and “Random Colors, Random Thoughts #3” were juried into the upcoming exhibit, Hamilton Current.
Being juried into this show is quite an honor!
Join me at the opening reception. It is free and open to the public and will celebrate the 48th Hamilton Current and Miami University Regionals Art Students on Saturday, April 29th, 5:00 – 7:00pm.
For a sneak peek “Random Colors, Random Thoughts #2” is one of the pieces that cycles through on my Home Page. It’s the abstract in many shades of green. The colors were chosen at random from my green floss stash. The shapes were punched randomly without a drawing or color plan. Not the way I usually work!
Another woman (this one resembling lady liberty), another crown. How could I not react to the current political situation?
Late February, creating the sketch and selecting floss colors
Completed sketch with color notation and 13 stars
Reverse of sketch (the side I’ll be working from) with floss and punch needle
Two weeks later, punching almost completed (seen from the front) with graduated intensity visual fatigue coloration of the American Flag
Early April, punching complete, concentric background circles beaded and final backing fabric selected. Not quite finished – only 41 stars – more to come
Last Thursday I delivered two works to the Fitton Center for Creative Arts in Hamilton, Ohio. Hopefully they will be juried into the exhibit, Hamilton Current. It’s kind-of like playing the lottery. We all know you can’t win if you don’t buy a ticket. In this case, work can’t be selected if it isn’t there!
Second of four mandalas promised to an upcoming exhibit at the Weavers Guild of Greater Cincinnati. Inspired by elements of several garments in a recent exhibit at the Cincinnati Art Museum. Title? Kimono
