Exhibitions
and Displays
The Library
welcomes the opportunity
to provide local artists the opportunity to exhibit their works to the
general public. Exhibits include a wide range of media and
content thus reflecting the diversity and the vibrancy of the artistic
community in Southbridge and Central Massachusetts.
August's Exhibit
Textile Portraits
by Sylvia Bicki
 The
Jacob Edwards Library is pleased to host the work of local textile
artist Sylvia Bicki during the month of August. Originally from
Southbridge, Ms. Bicki now works out of her Connecticut-based "sewing
haven" Needle Nivana Studio. Her work can be found on Etsy
at https://www.etsy.com/shop/NeedleNirvanaStudioA
reception will be held on Thursday, August 1, 2019 at 6:30 pm, with
light refreshments available, courtesy of the Friends of the Jacob
Edwards Library. All welcome! Artist Statement:Hello,
my name is Sylvia Bicki. Creating has always been a driving force in my
life. I started quilting at fourteen years old and have sewn many
traditional quilts since then. I eventually ventured out of my comfort
zone. After studying many art quilt books, I embarked into the world of
textile art. I found my niche! I am not sure if the process of creating
is more satisfying, or the finished piece. I always say that using
thread, needle and fabric is likened to the artists who use paint and
brush to convey their images onto canvas. Their brush is my needle,
their paint is my fabric. Each portrait is an intricate study of the
subject. The finished portraits, entirely of fabric, are placed over
stretched canvas frames ready to be hung. You can find portraits at NeedleNirvanaStudio on Etsy.com.
If you would like to learn more about the process of creation, go to my YouTube channel Needle Nirvana Studio and watch portraits (in the making) "come alive!" Biography:My
name is Sylvia Bicki and I'm from Clinton CT, originally from
Southbridge, MA. There were many moves in-between. My favorite place
anywhere we moved was the fabric store, which my children will attest.
I started sewing at nine years old. I actually still have my little
singer sewing machine from that time. First I was interested in sewing
my clothes, which lasted through high school. Eventually I became
interested in various sewing projects. At the age of fourteen I sewed
my first traditional quilt, just squares cut from clothing I had
already sewn. To this day I can remember (surprisingly!) what clothes I
made from looking at those patches. Time went on and I became busy with
raising my family but still sewed here and there and would bring my
items in to stores for consignment. Many years passed, we moved
to Southbridge again and I became even busier with my growing family.
We moved to Connecticut and that's when I started to make traditional
quilts. I made many of these throughout the years; however, the quilt
machine took up a lot of space. The quilts I didn't make for my family
were given as gifts. One day a friend of mine told me about a landscape
art quilt she saw. After she told me about this, I bought a book about
landscape art quilts. I read through it but it did not excite me to the
point I wanted to use my time making one. I then investigated the
internet for other books on art quilt Ideas. I found two about portrait
quilts. That interested me very much. I found two and studied them and
took a bit of knowledge from both and incorporated that into my own way
of making textile portraits, which is what I call them now. I started
out with making soft portrait "quilts" but eventually took away the
"quilt" (three layers) aspect. I wanted something more manageable to
hang. I only have one thin layer underneath the fabric (which I glue my
fabric onto before sewing in place) and then stretch the portrait over
the stretched canvas. All my textile portraits are created in my
"sewing haven" called Needle Nirvana Studio. .
- Saul Ramos and ALNE (Arte Latino New England) (September)
- Group Show Curated by Piyali Samant (October)
- Suzanne Staubach (November)
- Gingerbread Houses (December)
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