A:LIST A Project of the Hyde Park Art Center

Aviva Alter

Artist Information

Born: Chicago, IL
Currently Resides: Chicago, IL

Contact Information

Email: avivastitch (at) gmail (dot) com
Website: www.4fdesign.net
Phone: (773)474-8067

Medium(s) Worked in:

Printmaking
Textile
Mixed-media

Artist CV:
Download file

Available for Commission: Yes

Representation: Lasso Gallery, Chicago, IL

HPAC Exhibition

2008, Soft Life

Artist Statement

My work is about posing questions and statements that define human nature and experience, questions that have no certain answer.

Each of us navigates through life both physically and mentally looking for meaning on our journey and towards our eventual end.

The materials I use are familiar to me in that they have been worn by or fashioned after people I know or have known. These people are those that I have strong attachments through love, hate and that which ties us together. I use a lot of military garments and blankets when I work (life has always seemed a bit of a battle to me). I use both hand and machine stitching the hand ties me to my work and the machine brings speed and extra strength to the material when I need that.

By using military gear I have found a correlation to the bigger conflicts that affect not only my small place in the work but the battles that rage between nations and religions, and the false belief that there is a single answer.

Artist Bio

Born 1954. College education at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, 73-77 and San Francisco Art Institute in 1976. In 1977 began studying ceramics with studio potter Bruce Cash at Lill Street Studios, went on to do a year of apprenticeship at Big Hart Pottery.

In 1979 moved back to Chicago to become a studio potter, worked in partnership with husband, Alan Lerner making pottery until 1991. During those years I exhibited in numerous group and solo ceramic exhibitions making ceramic objects and sculpture, as well as making a wholesale line of decorative ceramic in my studio business.

In 1991 joined the staff of Lillstreet Art Center as an administrative staff and in 2000 became the Director of Lillstreet Art Center.

At the same time that I worked at Lillstreet Art Center I began embroidering; making a series of small thickly stitched self-portraits. In 2003 I began taking classes with fiber artist Rebecca Renquist where I found an endless way to work and express myself in a mobile and unlimited way. In 2003 I began to exhibit again using fiber and thread as my main medium. The bodies of work I am working on are currently text based and question oriented.

Misc.

Curator Lillstreet Gallery

2001-2006

Production Potter 1978-1991

Current skills involve piecing together and altering exisiting garments and cloth, garment and accessory construction using faux fur and felted wool, silk screen on cloth, hand and machine embroidery