Artist Liz Alpert Fay translates traditional hand crafts such as rug hooking into energetic, tactile contemporary works of art. New Canaan Library welcomes Fay’s vibrant exhibition “Hand Work, but Not Home Work,” which opens on Thursday, February 16 and runs through Sunday, March 26. An opening reception will be held on Sunday, February 26 from 3 – 5 p.m. in the Curtis Gallery; all are welcome to attend.
On Saturday, March 11 join Liz Alpert Fay from 2 3 p.m. as she demonstrates some of her hooking techniques.
Fay both utilizes and challenges the traditional view of, and use of, hand hooked floor rugs. Many of her rugs are created with unusual shapes, irregular borders and openings that let the floor shine through. From that basis, her artwork evolved, featuring hooked pieces meant expressly for wall decoration and created without the constraints of functionality. Her pieces are carefully thought out, and emerge highly textural and alive with hues that reflect her talent as a true colorist.
“My love of color, and textures, and telling stories plays an important role in each piece I create,” says Fay. ” I love the richness of hand-dyed colors and the varied textures of recycled fabrics.”