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For over 35 years, the work of textile artist Juanita Girardin has been honored and collected for its distinctive style and singular interpretation of techniques. Her quilted work has become known for its elegant minimalism , textured surface and fine garment finishing. Her hand-woven fabrics are distinguished by their unique patterning and color. Juanita received her foundation in weaving at RIT and in apparel design at RISD. She grew up in New England. For over 20 years she has lived in Northern New Mexico with her husband, artist Larry Fielder, in their hand built adobe home with a bevy of cats, a dog and birds.
After 30 years as a weaver, in 2003 Juanita began to experiment with quilting fabrics. In 2006 she ended her hand-woven line temporarily and began to focus exclusively on quilted garments. Now, Juanita has her quilted garment line and an occassional limited production in the hand-woven scarves.
Juanita has exhibited in and been a juror for America's most recognized craft events. She has been honored with awards at the Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show, the Smithsonian Craft Show, the Evanston American Craft Exposition, the St. Louis Art Fair, the Cherry Creek Arts Festival, and many other national events. Her work has been published in several national art & craft magazines.
In her quilted textiles over the last nine years she has explored the disparate qualities of cloth and stitch to create surface texture and pattern. Various techniques were experimented with to create cloths with folds, puckers, puffs, tears and textured & patterned surfaces.
Of her new work Juanita says: "When I began the quilted garments, I had a lot to say and used a lot of abstract patterning to cover the entire garment and experimented extensively with various techniques to create texture. Later I began to progressively pare away color and pattern to get to the essence of minimalism and single pointedness. I try to express my vision as quietly as possible. Often people don't realize the garments are quilted or the complex process involved in creating the subtlety of line & texture I'm trying to achieve. Recently I've been adding some color back to the work and experimenting with piecing to create blocks and lines within the garment. I'm also now mixing in my own studio hand-woven fabrics with the Japanese cottons for a very earthy and textural look. I aim for a modern shape with historical references that will compliment a contemporary wardrobe with ease and withstand trends. I want my garments to accent a wardrobe, not be the focal point."
Each fabric is made by the artist individually in a labor intensive process. Construction of the garment is done by her expert garment sewer. Each fabric is made exclusively for an individual garment. All garments are limited edition or one of a kind.
Awards
2012: American Craft Council, Baltimore Show :Excellence Award for Booth Design
2010: American Craft Exposition, Evanston,IL: Show Directors Award
2009: American Craft Exposition, Evanston, IL: Honorable Mention
2007: American Craft Exposition, Evanston, IL: Award for Excellence
2004: Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show: Ornament Magazine Award for Wearable Art
2004: Smithsonian Craft Show, Washington, D.C.: Bronze Award for Excellence
2003: St. Louis Art Fair, St. Louis, MO: First Place Fiber
2003: Lakefront Festival of the Arts, Milwaukee, WI, Fiber Award
2003: Scottsdale Art Festival, Scottsdale AZ, First Place, Fiber
2002: St.Louis Art Fair, St. Louis, MO: First Place Award
2001: Cherry Creek Arts Festival, Denver, CO: Fiber Merit Award
1999: Cherry Creek Craft Show, Denver, CO : Fiber 1st Place
1999: Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, Ann Arbor, MI: 1 of 10 Awards
1998: Cherry Creek Arts Festival, Denver, CO: Fiber 2nd Place
1995: Cherry Creek Arts Festival, Denver ,CO : Fiber 1st Place
1994: Cherry Creek Arts Festival, Denver, CO : Fiber 2nd Place
1993: Cherry Creek Arts Festival, Denver, CO : Fiber 1st Place
1992: Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show, Fiber Award
Publications (Selected)
2013: Ornament Magazine, Spring Issue,"Smithsonian Craft Show“
2012: Ornament Magazine, Spring Issue, Featured Artist, "New Directions"
2002: Ornament Magazine, Autumn Issue , Featured Artist, “A Paradise of Color”
2001: Ornament Magazine, summer issue, “American Craft Expo”
1998: Southwest Art Magazine: Dec. issue Artist Statement
1998: Ornament Magazine summer edition: Artist Statement
1996: “The Kimono Inspiration: Art& Art to Wear in America”, by Yoshiko Wada with Julie Schaffer Dale, Published by the Textile Museum, Washington D.C. pg. 103
1992: June 5: The Santa Fe New Mexican, Pasatiempo:”The Weavers of Rio Arriba”
1992: June 10-16 the Santa Fe Reporter “Weaving A Lifeline”
1992: May Catalog : “Fiber Art: New Directions for the Ninetes”
Manchester Institute of Arts and Sciences, Manchester, NH publication.
1993: Nov 26: The Santa Fe New Mexican: Santa Fe Weaving Gallery Artists
1991: April: TWA Ambassador Magazine: “A Well Crafted Collection”
1987: Feb-Mar: Threads Magazine: Images Pg. 59, 61
1988: Nov-Dec: Handwoven Magazine: Cover and Images Pg. 40
1985: Sept 25: Webster Times, Webster,MA: “Weaver Creates Art to Wear”
1981: Mar 8: Boston Globe Magazine: “Friends of High Quality” pg. 50
1980: Nov 26: Norwich Bulletin, Norwich,CT: “Weaver Employs Ancient Techniques in Pursuing Her Craft”
Here's a priceless photo of Juanita (skinny, long hair, on left) at her first craft show (mid'70's) with her sister Terry!
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