10.25.2012

Guild Meeting - Susan Klebanoff: “Creating Unique Tapestries”

Tuesday, November 6, 2012, 9:30AM
Westminster Presbyterian Church, Santa Fe



Susan Klebanoff has been creating unique tapestries for over 30 years. Klebanoff, now a New Mexico resident, had a one-person exhibit in Chevy Chase, MD in 2011. Returning to the place where she grew up, she explained her process this way “I was inspired to create this unique form of tapestry when I was swimming one day and decided to create works of art that mimic the “ephemeral” feeling of being underwater”. She developed the unique weaving and multi-layered relief process over a period of time, beginning with simple square formats and a limited color palette. “I wanted to know what the colors were doing with space,” says Klebanoff, who begins her process by painting the yarn by hand. She experimented with getting rid of color altogether and using all white, a technique she said helped her realize she could “create imagery through the shadows.”As her process evolved, Klebanoff began producing more complex works that range anywhere from a couple of feet to many yards. With each piece, the background layer is solid, while three to four layers in front contain woven and sewn shapes that give the piece movement and form.

Her works are in private collections, embassies, and corporate headquarters, as well as museums around the world. Most recently, this year, she has lectured and exhibited in Bangkok Thailand, Seoul Korea, and Tokyo Japan. View more of her tapestries at www.susanklebanoff.com.