Kirsten Hassenfeld, (American, born 1971) Millefleur (detail), 2019, salvaged textiles with mixed media, 78 inches diameter, (c) Kirsten Hassenfeld — Kirsten Hassenfeld, (American, born 1971), *Millefleur* (detail), 2019.
Salvaged textiles with mixed media. 78 inches diameter. (c) Kirsten Hassenfeld

Kirsten Hassenfeld, (American, born 1971) Millefleur, 2019, salvaged textiles with mixed media, 78 inches diameter, (c) Kirsten Hassenfeld — Kirsten Hassenfeld (American, born 1971), *Millefleur*, 2019.
Salvaged textiles with mixed media. 78 inches diameter. (c) Kirsten Hassenfeld

Windy Chien (American, born 1967), Circuit Board, 2021. Rope, vintage 24k gold Japanese thread, synthetic Chainette yarn, 58 x 96 x 2.5 in. © Windy Chien. — Windy Chien (American, born 1967), *Circuit Board*, 2021.
Rope, vintage 24k gold Japanese thread, synthetic Chainette yarn, 58 x 96 x 2.5 in. © Windy Chien.

Liz Robb (American, born 1985), Passage II, 2021. Cotton, grout, 84 x 45 x 19 in. © Liz Robb. — Liz Robb (American, born 1985), *Passage II*, 2021.
Cotton, grout, 84 x 45 x 19 in. © Liz Robb.

Lisa Solomon (American, born 1973), Senninbari [1000 stitch knot belt] (detail), 2016. Hand-dyed & tied cotton rope, 122 x 299 x 4 in. Courtesy of Walter Maciel Gallery, Los Angeles, CA. © Lisa Solomon. — Lisa Solomon (American, born 1973), *Senninbari [1000 stitch knot belt]* (detail), 2016.
Hand-dyed & tied cotton rope, 122 x 299 x 4 in. Courtesy of Walter Maciel Gallery, Los Angeles, CA. © Lisa Solomon.

Kira Dominguez Hultgren (American, born 1980), At Least Both Your Parents are Brown, 2020. Brown yarn, silk, leather, fleece, felt, belts, fabric, wood, 82 x 77 x 3 in. Courtesy of Eleanor Harwood Gallery, San Francisco, CA. © Kira Dominguez Hultgren. — Kira Dominguez Hultgren (American, born 1980), *At Least Both Your Parents are Brown*, 2020.
Brown yarn, silk, leather, fleece, felt, belts, fabric, wood, 82 x 77 x 3 in. Courtesy of Eleanor Harwood Gallery, San Francisco, CA. © Kira Dominguez Hultgren.

Jacqueline Surdell (American, born 1993), Orange 2, 2018. Braided cotton cord, steel curl bar. 104 x 59 x 15 in. Courtesy of Patricia Sweetow Gallery, San Francisco, CA. © Jacqueline Surdell. — Jacqueline Surdell (American, born 1993), *Orange 2*, 2018.
Braided cotton cord, steel curl bar. 104 x 59 x 15 in. Courtesy of Patricia Sweetow Gallery, San Francisco, CA. © Jacqueline Surdell.

Dana Hemenway (American, born 1982), Untitled (extension cords – four blue), 2021. Extension cords, light bulbs, wood, mixed media, 81 x 24 x 14 in. Courtesy of Eleanor Harwood Gallery, San Francisco, CA. © Dana Hemenway. — Dana Hemenway (American, born 1982), *Untitled (extension cords – four blue)*, 2021.
Extension cords, light bulbs, wood, mixed media, 81 x 24 x 14 in. Courtesy of Eleanor Harwood Gallery, San Francisco, CA. © Dana Hemenway.

A Beautiful Mess: Weavers & Knotters of the Vanguard

February 25 - June 25, 2023

From micro artworks the size of your hand to mammoth room-sized installations, the national roster of women artists in A Beautiful Mess push the boundaries of their textile-based medium. Using rope, yarn, clay and wire, this group of conceptual artists knot and twist their media into sculptures that range from minimal and hyper-organized to utter pandemonium. They explore personal and political ideals — order and chaos to the extreme — and freely break the rules to create their beautiful artworks. Serious about making a strong cultural and intellectual impact, this group deftly weaves their message into works that demonstrate extraordinary technical skill.

Artists include: Windy Chien, Kira Dominguez Hultgren, Kirsten Hassenfeld, Dana Hemenway, dani lopez, Hannah Perrine Mode, Liz Robb, Katrina Sánchez Standfield, Meghan Shimek, Lisa Solomon, and Jacqueline Surdell.

A Beautiful Mess: Weavers & Knotters of the Vanguard was organized by Bedford Gallery at the Lesher Center for the Arts, Walnut Creek, CA.

This exhibition is made possible, in part, with generous support from:

Platinum Sponsors
Shari and John Hicks

Silver Sponsors
Isabel Becker
Gerald and Sondra Biller
Keith Monda and Veronica Brady

A Beautiful Mess: Weavers & Knotters of the Vanguard

February 25 - June 25, 2023

Programs