Salley Mavor: Sewn Stories
In the Activity Gallery we display art that supports BMAC’s education program and connects to elementary curricula. Many of the artists who have exhibited here have illustrated books for young children. These illustrations are made with a wide range of media, techniques, and styles — from Chris Van Allsburg’s original drawings to Faith Ringgold’s story quilts to Marco Abarca’s painted wood sculptures. Each artist has a unique way of telling a story.
Salley Mavor’s way of bringing a story, poem, or idea to life starts with a fertile imagination and a sketch. She translates her preliminary drawings into what she calls “fabric reliefs,” using hand-dyed wool felt, natural and manufactured found objects, needle and thread. These dimensional, miniature worlds are then photographed and reproduced as illustrations in children’s books. Mavor’s most recent title, Pocketful of Posies: A Treasury of Nursery Rhymes, won the 2011 Boston Globe–Horn Book Award and the 2011 Golden Kite Award.
This exhibit represents the arc of Mavor’s career, which began in 1977 when she graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design. We have selected work from Pocketful of Posies, some of Mavor’s other titles, and pieces from her personal collection. In addition to her twelve illustrated books, Mavor is the author of Felt Wee Folk: Enchanting Projects, in which she shares many of her creative secrets. Mavor lives in Falmouth, Massachusetts.
— Susan Calabria, Curator
IMAGES:
Click here to view selected images from this exhibit.
RELATED EVENTS:
Opening Reception (7/15/11)
Artist Talk & Book Signing: Salley Mavor (10/15/11)
SEE ALSO:
Salley Mavor website
