“From Hair to There” artist talk at CCCD

Hair is both subject and medium for artist Sonya Clark. She’ll discuss that intersection — and its relationship to fiber art — in the artist talk “From Hair to There,” held at The Center for Craft, Creativity & Design on Friday, March 27.

Born in Washington, D.C., Clark earned an MFA from the Cranbrook Academy of Art. Her work has been exhibited in Europe, Africa, Asia, South America Australia, and throughout the USA. She currently chairs the Department of Craft/Material Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Va.

On her website Clark talks about her hair craft project, saying, “Hairdressers are my heroes. The poetry and politics of Black hair care specialists are central to my work as an artist and educator.” She continues, “The project bridges boundaries between hair salons and art galleries as sites of aesthetics, craft, skill, improvisation and commerce. Hairdressers were each supplied with my full head of hair and a canvas hand stitched with silk thread. Their challenge was to demonstrate their expertise in a familiar medium, hair, and translate it into a less familiar one, thread on canvas.” Read more and see images here.

Clark “begins with the premise that hairdressing is the first textile art,” says the CCCD. “Throughout her art practice she finds narratives.” The artist talk begins at 6 p.m. and is free and open to the public. Learn more on Facebook.