Four times a year, we welcome a new visiting guest local artist into Riverside Collective. Our Fall guest artist (in residence October-December) is local felt artist, Kristi of Fidelis Fields Farm. You're invited to Kristi's Guest Artist Reception on Saturday, November 7th from 12-4 at Riverside Collective.
We caught up with Kristi to ask a few questions about her process and her art:
What inspires your art?
I really like functional art. I raise sheep, so I have quite a lot of wool that I get from them, and
wool is SUCH a marvelous material. I’m always looking for ways to use it as a sustainable
replacement for synthetic household items. I also love beautiful things, so if I can reach for a
beautiful trivet instead of a commonplace one, if I can feel that smile in my everyday tasks, that
makes life better. Lastly, I love benefitting the world by giving back: supporting other wool
producers and turning waste wool into wool pellets that regenerate soil.
How does Saxapahaw influence your art?
I live in a rural area on a farm, so I know I’m influenced by farm images – particularly of animals
and nature. I am also acutely in tune with the change of the seasons and like to shift my focus
to reflect the season we are in.
If you were to speak for your art how would you fill in these prompts?
I feel…practical and touchable.
I need…handwashing.
I am…sturdy and durable. Please USE me.
What’s your favorite tool and why?
My favorite tool is hard to pinpoint because I use several important tools in my processing. I
really like my drum carder that I can make a wool batt. From a batt, I can do pretty much
anything with the wool. I also really like my felting tools. It’s fascinating to me that one can
literally sculpt with wool. And I’m really excited about my pellet machine! This allows me to turn
waste wool – mine and more than I collect – into something that regenerates the land.
What’s one thing that someone who isn’t a felt artist wouldn’t know about what you do?
I do my own manual processing and there are many MANY hours between wool that has just
been sheared and wool items I’m selling. I make decisions along the way about what a fleece is
best for (dyer balls v. yarn for example) and that determines whether that wool is carded or
combed. One of my favorite things about wool is the overall transformation of dirty and
oily fleece into soft, lovely goods…of finding the beauty that’s there.
I also spend quite a lot of time in the public schools. I’m a former classroom teacher,
now substitute teacher, and I find that students really enjoy felting! I’ve been amazed at the
number of times a student who isn’t particularly strong or well-behaved in the classroom can get
right in the zone when felting. I think art, particularly when there is a physical element, can
be very therapeutic, and I think that anyone is capable of creating art.
What idea or concept are you chewing on as an artist right now?
I’m leaning in to making wool rugs on a small peg loom.
Has it shown up in your work yet?
Yes, my grandson made the first rug with me, and I’ve made some small versions for cat mats.
Are you a rebel with your art in any way? How does that make it better?
Hmmmmm…not sure I’m a rebel but I love putting my tension and frustrations into production
rather than ranting. I’d rather make something than criticize something. I also like useable
things that are not sacred or special but can still be beautiful. It makes me happy for something
common I reach for every day to also be lovely.
