Show is ‘technically-crafty’

     (AAPNW-KY) – On view through July 23 at the Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft in Louisville, works by more than 20 international artists who used technology in their creating process, the exhibition, “Craft Meets Technology” is about works that involve the use of computers to make both functional and decorative objects, ranging from glass to clay, fiber to furniture as well as clothing and accessories.

     “This exhibition reinforces the notion that art and craft evolve as societies and technologies evolve,” says KMAC Curator Brion Clinkingbeard.

     Highlights of the exhibition are garments made by the Voice Knitting Machine, developed by the German arts collective Trikoton. The group used an old mechanical knitting machine of the 1970’s that was hacked to become interactive using voice signals. They used a microcontroller and 24 small engines in order to imitate a pattern card that could be directly controlled by user input which was processed via a connected computer. Spoken words are captured by the recorded and translated into patterns which are cut into pattern cards which are used to weave patterns in fabric.

     Also works by English-based artist Melanie Bowles, who creates pieces that focus on the creative interaction between traditional textile design and new digital technology. Artists Barbara Layne and Christy Matson incorporate electronics with traditional weaving to create fabric that has an interface which allows for an interactive experience for the viewer.

     Fashion designers Mary Huang and Grace Kim create garments using traditional felting, crocheting and sewing techniques and embellish them with light emitting diodes (LED’s). The use of the LEDs is designed to enhance the experience of wearing the clothing for both the wearer and viewer.

     Other works of interest are those of ceramic artist Warren Mather, who has developed a way to fire photographic, video, and computer-drawn images by silk-screening and firing ceramic glazes onto clay. Similarly, both Linda Gates and Justin Rothchank embellish their ceramics works with decals that have been designed with the use of computer programs and transferred in the firing process to ceramic vessels.

     Nathalie Miebach is known for creating sculptural representations of meteorological data through woven sculpture, using basket weaving as her main method of translation. Her latest work incorporates the translation of weather data into musical scores, which are further translated into woven sculpture.

     The show also features “windmill knitted” scarves from England and a solar powered birdhouse from the Netherlands, which incorporate green technology with craft techniques.

     For more information, see www.kentuckyarts.org  or call 502.589.0102.