Arts and Culture | Local

Open studios tour brings fiber artists, sculptor to Tucson J

“Patagonia Moebius” by Merlin Cohen

Tucson Handweavers & Spinners Guild will present more than 60 juried fiber artists for its show, “A Palette of Fiber Arts” on Saturday, Oct. 29, from 1-6 p.m. at the Tucson Jewish Community Center. The event will be a stop on the Heart of Tucson Arts Open Studios Tour.

“My World is Purple” by Connie Lopez
“My World is Purple” by Connie Lopez

The J’s Fine Art Gallery will preview THSG member artworks in an exhibition from Oct. 14 to Nov. 20. The event on Oct. 29th will include live demonstrations, a boutique and raffle baskets, as well as the gallery show. At 3 p.m. on Oct. 29, “A Parade of Fiber Fashion” will be held in the JCC ballroom, spotlighting wearable art. The fashion parade will include light refreshments and a no-host bar.

Guests can expect a profusion of unique wearables, household textiles, gift items, rugs, bags and totes, wall pieces, handspun yarns, jewelry, felted art, weavings, tapestries and knitwear on display and available for purchase. Demonstrations will explore spinning, weaving, felting and other aspects of ancient and contemporary fiber arts.

The gallery, demonstration and boutique are free.   Tickets for the parade are $25; reserve at thsg.org.

The same weekend, also in conjunction with the Heart of Tucson Arts Open Studios  Tour, local stone sculptor Merlin Cohen will have work on display in the J’s sculpture garden. Cohen retired from his dental practice in 1992 to pursue sculpture full-time. He studied under sculptor Ralph Hurst at the University of Tennessee-Martin and at the Montoya/MAS Famous Sculptors Seminar and annually attends the Marble Institute of Colorado to carve marble and study. Cohen’s work is part of the J’s permanent collection and he is immediate past chair of the sculpture garden steering committee.

For more information, visit tucsonjcc.org.