FANfare Blog

Their special feature, published in the spring issue, highlights influential craft magazines around the world—each selected for their dedication to innovation, artistic excellence, and community building. We’re proud to be included alongside titles like Metalsmith, Embroidery, and American Woodturner.
In recent years, the fibers program has blossomed, especially around weaving. What started with just two looms and a shared dream quickly became a full-blown weaving program. When artist and weaver Jamie Boyle returned to Pittsburgh from New York City and joined Contemporary Craft as an artist-in-residence, she found a budding community and space to grow. She and program director Allison Jones imagined offering classes and within four months, with an outpouring of donated looms and tools, that vision became a reality.
Submitting your work to a juried exhibition is an exciting opportunity— but the photo you send is the most important part of the entry. Yes, thoughtful writing and attention to detail are important, but it’s the photo that grabs the attention of the jury.
What truly makes SEFAA special, though, is the strong sense of belonging. Members connect regularly through events like the Weekly Lunchtime Fiber gatherings—relaxed, judgment-free meetups for stitching and chatting, in person or online—and a Monthly Book Club that sparks conversation and creativity.
“Ahead of her time.” This was one of the first things that Nancy Hemenway Barton’s son, Bill Barton, said about his mother during a lecture last month withJill D’Alessandro, curator of the Denver ArtMuseum’s Avenir Institute of Textile Arts & Fashion.
Through fiber, metal, and process, Beatrice Atencah transforms history into form, weaving together stories of resilience, migration, and cultural continuity. Her sculptures invite us to see textiles not just as fabric, but as vessels of memory and transformation—where tradition and identity shift and evolve.
“At its core, this initiative is about taking action—if we want change, we must create the opportunities to make it happen.”
The Craft Emergency Relief Fund has dedicated itself to supporting artists by providing critical assistance for both preparing for and recovering from disasters and emergencies.
California-based artist Andrée Carter invites us to see cities through the eyes of an artist, where texture, color, and needlepoint come together to tell layered and evocative stories.
As the founder of the Fiber Art Network, former publisher, editor-in-chief of Fiber Art Now magazine, and author, Marcia Young has tirelessly championed the visibility and value of fiber arts. Now, as the executive director of the Society of Arts and Crafts, she brings her passion and vision to a broader creative community.
As we look ahead to 2025, we know you will continue to express yourself in myriad ways, and we hope you will share your amazing artwork with Fiber Art Now. It’s the perfect time to think about entering your work and we encourage you to do so. Plan ahead and get ready to shine!
In the creative journeys of Alice Fox, Leslie Rottner, and Bonni Brooks, tools are far more than functional items; they’re as expressive and essential as the art itself. Each artist repurposes or crafts their tools from everyday and natural materials, transforming them into something personal and powerful.

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