Wk 12 — Artist OTW — Heather Anacker & Krista Feld
Artist: Heather Anacker & Krista Feld
Media: Building, Dyeing, Weaving/Sewing
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QD1O6jUMXlY
Cal State Long Beach is home to many different artist, two being Heather Anacker and Krista Feld. Heather Anacker is a very skilled artist in weaving/creating clothing, while Krista Feld is very skilled in construction and building. Sharing the same interest of natural dye, the two were using different types of foods to create a dye to change the color of the materials/fibers they use. The two artist combined their different talents to create something that is simple yet expresses their daily uses/needs.
In 2013, for their BFA Thesis, Feld and Anacker collaborated and created the exhibit Dwelling, which is a room full of simple things that they uses/needs inter daily lives. Each having their own space, Feld’s work was introduced in the beginning while Anackers work was the end. Having to take your shoes off to enter the exhibit, Feld introduced her works. On her side of the room, Feld had a shelf of different materials she use such as sawdust and herbs. Towards the middle of the room, Feld has built a space for her called “Transportable Room”. Building it specific to her dimensions, she fills the shelves with all the things she always wants to take with her and objects that make her feel at home. Enhancing the collaboration of this exhibit is a wall on Feld’s side of the room which consist of tools that both Anacker and Feld use daily. Naming it the “Tool Wall”, both artists display all their tools and aprons. On Anacker’s side of the exhibit, she has her own art work. The first piece is called “Pod” which she woven herself. It is a gray colored pod that collapses very easily and is convenient to take anywhere. Behind the pod is her “Wall of Inspiration” and her handmade clothing. The wall is full of photos of things/people while the clothing consist of handmade shoes, woven shirts, and sewn belts.
With such specific creations comes a specific inspiration/meaning. As one walks into the exhibit, they have to take their shoes off as a form of committing to the space and being vulnerable. In Feld’s artwork, she tried to show the viewers the material she uses and how even the weirdest of things can be used to create color. In her main piece, “Transportable Room”, she tried to grab all the necessities in her life and put it in a very compact space. She wanted it to be able to resemble what she needed/wanted however at the same time to be versatile. In the collaboration of the “Tool Wall”, both artists wanted to show the stuff they use to create their art works and to give credit to them. They also wanted to express their use of natural material and how anything can be used to create art. In Anacker’s piece, “The Pod”, she created this during a time where she didn’t have access to chairs and it made her understand the need of it. She also created this pod to represent a safe and contained place. The “Wall of Inspiration” is filled with random images, people, and objects that inspire her to continue creating new work and give her meaning. She calls it her lifestyle corner because it is made up of everything that she loves and gives her inspiration.
Overall, the Dwelling exhibit was very inspirational and made me realize the value for smaller things. I enjoyed the idea of taking shoes off to committing to the art exhibit because I believe it shows a sign of respect and reminds me of the Japanese tradition of taking shoes off before entering in someones home. When Anacker was explaining why she created “The Pod”, I was very inspired and understood the complete necessity for chairs. I was also inspired by Feld’s “Transportable Room” because she gathered all the things she needed in life and put them in her piece. During her description of the artwork, she simplified her life so much that she felt like she didn’t need a bed which surprised me. It made me very grateful for the small things in life, including my bed.
