Meet the Artists of Intangible!
A new chapter of Sweet Tooth Hotel is upon us - which means that brand new installations are colorfully coming to life behind the scenes. You can expect yarn bombs, latch hook techniques and pompoms, among many other fiber art fantasies in the world of Intangible, which opens in April.
The idea for this installation came when Sarah Guenther-Moore of Craft Yarn Council reached out to our founder, Jencey Keeton. Sarah had the idea for yarn to make some kind of appearance in a room of the next chapter. Jencey excitedly agreed, but with a bigger twist: instead of one room, the entire installation would be made exclusively from fiber and textiles!
Fiber art, a form of tactile art has many forms, and trust us, you'll be able to experience many of them hands-on. Literally. But one of the coolest things about tactile art is how beneficial it is for your mental health. Every part of it - from the stress relief that artists feel as they create, to the soothing feeling you get when you experience the art as a viewer, are food for the mind and soul.
We are so excited to partner with Craft Yarn Council (CYC) to bring awareness to the art of fiber, and help them showcase their mission: representing the leading yarn companies, accessory manufacturers, magazine and book publishers, and consultants in the yarn industry, and spreading the word about Humans That Yarn.
As you have seen in the past three installations, the Sweet Tooth Hotel team loves to push the boundaries by partnering with innovative emerging artists. We hit the ground running to curate incredible an incredible group of fiber artists not just from DFW but from around the entire country. Some of which have been commissioned for work as far as Rome. Excited yet? Read on to learn more about the talented artists we have teamed up with this time around.
LONDON KAYE (Los Angeles, CA)
London Kaye is a crochet artist, best known for her yarn bombs in Downtown Los Angeles. She uses bright colors to bring her imagination to life - with yarn creations that have featured everything from water pipes to Larry David. That's right, Larry David. London crocheted a portrait of him and yarn bombed it in L.A. - and you better believe he found it and took a selfie with it.
In addition to this, London has worked with some major brands like Disney, Coach and REDValentino, among many others. In 2018, London launched her own line for Lion Brand Yarn, made specially for both indoor and outdoor use. She also appeared on the Kelly Clarkson Show to teach Kelly Clarkson (plus Max Greenfield and Shin Lim) how to make pom poms - no big deal.
London's book "Crochet with London Kaye" is out now, and her work can be seen around the world, from Mexico City to Rome, and soon in Dallas, Texas, too.
ALLI K (Dallas, TX)
Alli K hails from Dallas, Texas. She is known for her beautiful monochrome murals, which feature her signature florals and inspiring words.
Alli is a visionary when it comes to her designs and positive messaging. Whether they are big or small, her creations radiate an energy that is both simplistic and highly sophisticated. She is the author of books "Bloom," "Florals by Hand" and "How to Draw Modern Florals," and the co-host of podcast Breakfast with Sis, which she records with her dad every Saturday morning.
If you ask Alli what keeps her going, she will tell you Chick Fil A's sweet tea and cuddling with her cats while she draws from her bed - which we totally understand and fully support. (Who wouldn't?) Beyond murals, Alli has designed beautiful stationery, home decor, a wedding veil collection, and a journaling app for Apple/Android called High/Low.
TWINKIE CHAN (San Francisco, CA)
Reigning from San Francisco, Twinkie Chan is the queen of food themed crochet art, home decor and accessories. You might have seen her work published on BuzzFeed - or if you're a Fuller House fan, you might've seen her bacon & eggs scarf worn by the one and only Kimmy Gibbler.
But if for some reason, neither of those sound familiar, we'll also tell you that she collaborated with the Hello Kitty 35th Anniversary fashion show, AND the Sanrio 50th Anniversary art show. A total dream, right? Twinkie also has her own licensed line called "Yummy You!" which has been sold be retailers like Hot Topic, NYLON and ModCloth.
As you can imagine, Twinkie's quirky products have quite a demand - which inspired her to write and publish two books, Twinkie Chan’s Crochet Goodies for Fashion Foodies: 20 Yummy Treats to Wear" and "Twinkie Chan’s Crocheted Abode A La Mode: 20 Yummy Crochet Projects for Your Home."
NIKI DIONNE (Dallas, TX)
Niki Dionne is a fiber artist and illustrator based out of Dallas, Texas. She's an expert when it comes to looms, pompoms and one of her biggest passions: drawing black women, living for care-free moments. You can trust us - every single thing she creates has a smart and carefree energy to it - whether it's fiber art, an illustration or animation.
Dionne has collaborated with brands like HERMarket, Audible and Sharp Object. She is also part of the Craft Yarn Council team - so you might say that she is weaved into Intangible in more ways than one. We can’t wait to see what Dionne brings to the upcoming installation. Hint: if you’re into games and nostalgia, you’ve got a lot to look forward to as well.
MOLLY SYDNOR (Dallas, TX)
Molly Sydnor is the Dallas fiber artist who transformed all three floors of her condo into an art gallery last spring. She was featured in for this stroke of genius in none other than D Magazine, in the August 2019 spread, "Meet the Woman Who Turned Her Oak Lawn Condo Into an Interactive Pop-up." If you missed the pop-up, no worries. She's got several colorful tricks up her sleeve for her space in the next install.
Molly specializes in rug design, pattern and print design, and let us be the first to tell you: her talent in textile making is to. die. for. She even custom designed a stage costume for Imogen Heap for a showstopping performance in Seattle.
Amazing woman, right? In addition to her art, she also helps run a women's collective in Dallas called "Lady" or LQC.
HANNAH BUSEKRUS (Austin, TX)
Hannah Busekrus worked as a graphic designer and illustrator for 20 years, before she discovered her true passion in fiber artistry and handcrafted arts. Now she is having the time of her life, designing everything from custom yarn bombs, to quirky jewelry made from recycled cashmere.
Hannah's designs are influenced by her own vivid imagination, and each creation has its own personality (shaved ice plushies, anyone?) It comes as no surprise that she was recruited as a featured artist by the Honolulu Museum of Art in 2012 - and again by the Honolulu Museum of Art's school, Linekona, again in 2014.
Did we mention that she is also a hedgehog mom? Enough said.
JACKIE LAWRENCE (Denton, TX)
One of Denton, Texas' finest: Jackie Lawrence is a fiber artist and recent graduate of the University of North Texas' Fibers program. Jackie is a big fan of stitching and latch hook techniques, and we are a big fan of her. Imagine any tree or woodland creature in the forest, and Jackie has probably already embroidered it.
Jackie is also the artist responsible for Intangible's famous panels! The colorful banners that she created as a backdrop, were done entirely by freehand.
Jackie's work is truly one-of-a-kind, among all of her fellow artists in the upcoming installation.
SALLY ACKERMAN (DALLAS, TX)
Sally Ackerman, also known by her yarn bomb name Knit Witta, has been dubbed Dallas’ first and most active yarn bomber. She placed her first ‘street bombs’ out in 2011 and has been spreading yarn love ever since. At that time, Dallasites had never seen a yield sign with hand knit skirts or a fire hydrant wearing a sweater. Local interest was peeked and the art form took off in the Dallas area.
Sally soon co-founded Dallas Yarn Bombers, a group that comes together to work on large yarn installations. With Sally as the Artistic Director/Head Knit Wit, the Dallas Yarn Bombers have done many major installations including the Winspear Opera House for Broadway Musical Hair, the grand opening of Klyde Warren Park, Historic Downtown Plano for Artfest, Downtown Dallas, Inc’s Color My Downtown Dallas, the Dallas Theater Center’s production of Hair, and they once yarn bombed an entire village for Dallas Heritage Village’s Spring Fling!
Sally’s solo commissions include the Trees of Bishop Arts for the new television show Dallas, the HVAC vents at Emporium Pies Deep Ellum, parking meters for the City of Dallas, the WFAA Channel 8 studios, and ad campaigns for Michaels Stores, Chooze Shoes, and Lime Bikes. Her work has been exhibited in numerous galleries and art shows, and she has done many private commissions.
Sally Ackerman is the bass player and vocalist in a band called The Ackermans. They are widely known as the International Ambassadors of Texas Music. She goes on the road with an extra suitcase for just for yarn and crazy ideas.
Tickets for Intangible are on sale now and $1 from each ticket will also be donated to Warm Up America. So make sure to book yours now!
Special thanks to the Craft Yarn Council and its members, including Aksa Acrylic Fibers, Boye Needles and Crafts, Clover Needlecraft, F+W/Interweave, Knitter's Pride, Leisure Arts, Lion Brand Yarn, LoveCrafts, Prime Publishing, Prym, Red Heart, and Yarnspirations.