WRAP YOURSELF IN THE MUSIC. The Fiber Artists Coalition exhibit, titled Got Jazz, features works such as “Avant Jazz” by Jennifer Conrad (above) and “Tickling the Ivories” by Gwyned Trefethen (below).

If the visual representation of jazz through a unique and interesting medium of art is something that piques your interests, then the Janet Carson Gallery’s newest exhibit will be perfect for you. The exhibit is titled Got Jazz and features a group of 13 textile artists called the Fiber Artists Coalition. Textile artists use a wide range of materials including fabric, paint, thread, inks, and buttons to essentially paint with fabric.  

Fabric is something in our daily routine, whether it’s the clothes we’re wearing or the blanket that keeps us cozy. Because of this, the exhibit has a relatable nature and Rose Dolan-Neill, visual arts director at the Eau Claire Regional Arts Center, is very excited about the art featured in Got Jazz. “It’s not your grandmother’s quilt on your bed,” is the way Dolan-Neill put it when she showed me some of the tapestries that will be displayed. Vibrant and smooth colors, layers of material, and incredible patterns are just a few ways this exhibit comes to life and represents jazz.

When the theme Got Jazz was purposed, it was “enthusiastically embraced by the group,” said Linda Henke, a coalition member. Henke is also a musician, so the theme came naturally to her, since many properties of art and music share similarities. She contributed is “Ebony and Ivory,” a three-piece work. “The work was inspired by the interplay of light and shadow in some of my architectural photographs, which seemed reminiscent of musical keyboards,” she said. The piece uses the solid black of flat/sharp keys on a piano for the background and is marked with white stripes similar to the ivory keys on the instrument. Since a keyboard is predominantly white, switching the colors gives the piece a subtlety striking appearance. Henke also adds stripes of color to each of the three parts, adding some vibrant energy to her work.

Color is another important aspect of this exhibit. According to the curatorial statement, “Our work reflects the deep, rich bluesy Mississippi delta or Memphis, the lively heat of New Orleans, the cool intellect of New York, the mellow tones of Chicago, or the laid back flow of the west coast.”

Since jazz is a genre that’s both smooth and lively, the exhibit is exploding with a wonderful variety of color. Laura Wasilowski’s piece, “Blue Note,” is also featured. “Blue Note is a visual representation of what I hear when I listen to jazz,” she said. “It’s colorful and rhythmic, and gives me a peaceful, joyful feeling.”

Since textile art is an emerging form, many members of the Fiber Artists’ Coalition didn’t originally see themselves working with it. Gwyned Trefethen found herself drawn to the style through quilting. “Out of all the needle crafts that I experimented with over the years, quilting is the only one that took over my life,” she said. For others, such as Laura Wasilowski, the style came a bit more naturally since she learned to sew at an early age. As she got older, the artistic possibilities of the craft began to unfold and Wasilowski has been learning those possibilities eversince.

For those involved, art is one of their greatest passions and being part of the Fiber Artists’ Coalition has brought attention to their skills. “It is a very exciting time to be a textile artist because we are at the forefront of a whole new art form,” Marianne Williamson told me. Her work will be featured in the newest exhibit. “I am honored to be included in this prestigious group of well-known artists,” she said.

Fiber Artists Coalition: Got Jazz • Jan. 16-Feb. 27 • opening reception 5-8pm Thursday, Jan. 22 • Janet Carson Gallery, 316 Eau Claire St., Eau Claire • (715) 832-2787 • EauClaireArts.com