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Sumi Foley
sumjo@earthlink.net
Sumjo P.O Box 261 Claremont, CA 91711
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Artist’s Statement
I love sewing. When I was a child, I learned sewing from my grandmother. I used to imitate her when she was sewing.
Later, I became interested in needlework. My special interest is in making art work out of Kimonos. Here is a story about why I started making art work from Kimonos:
One day I stopped by my grandmother’s house. She was putting a lot of Kimonos in a plastic bag and said “I don’t need these Kimonos.” I was immediately interested because these were the fabrics I had always wanted to have. I asked her to give me all of them. Since that day, I have been an enthusiastic fabric artist.
I also love to use abandoned fabrics for my work. Each fabric has a beautiful design and color, even if it is abandoned. If I use the abandoned fabric in the right spot and the right way, its beauty stands out. It is very thrilling for me to transform old Kimonos and abandoned fabrics into beautiful art work.
I think the same thing can be said about human beings. Each person has a wonderful talent. If we accept each person’s value in a right way, we will be able to create a wonderful society. This is the message expressed through my abandoned-fabric art.
My work is all hand done, because I want to express very fine lines and designs which I can not express when I use a sewing machine. Although it takes many months to make a piece of art this way, I like handmade work.
"We are just like a piece of fabric
Each has a different pattern
Each has a different color
Each has a different story
Through each life
Let’s sew us together
Nicely
Carefully
And make a beautiful story
For the next generation" Sumi Foley
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
**Many of my exhibitions have had musical collaborations by John York.
2009 (June - Sept) "Artist Choice" Square 1 Gallery Claremont, CA
2009 (July 10 - Aug 5) Bunny Gunner Gallery, Pomona, CA
2008 Alexander Hughes Community center, Claremont, CA
2007 The Claremont Forum, Claremont, CA
2007 Aiko Institute, Claremont, CA
2007 Pacific Asian Museum, Pasadena, CA
2007 Riverside Art Museum, Riverside, CA
2006 Claremont Community Foundation, Claremont, CA (Commendation)
2004 Aiko Institute, Claremont, CA
2000 Claremont Public Library, Claremont, CA (Commendation)
2000 Musubi Dojo, Claremont, CA
1999 Musubi Dojo, Claremont, CA
1999 Descanso Gardens, La Canada, CA
1999 The Claremont Forum, Claremont,CA
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2009 (Oct - Dec) "Contemporary Art Quilts" Muckenthaler Cultural Center, Fullerton CA
2009 (Oct 17) "Festival of Autumn Moon" Pacific Asia Museum, Pasadena, CA
2009 "Ntl.Small Art Quilts" The Main St. Gallery Groton, NY
2008(Jan) Bunny Gunner, Pomona, CA
2008 The Folk Tree, Pasadena, CA
2007 San Bernardino Valley College, San Bernardino, CA
2006 The Folk Tree Collection, Pasadena, CA
2006 LA Art Core, Los Angeles, CA
2004 Space SOU, Osaka Japan
2000 Bella Cosa, Claremont, CA
1999 The Claremont Forum, Claremont, CA
1999 Ontario Convention Center, Ontario, CA
1999 Cutress Gallery, Pomona, CA
1998 California State University Lon Beach, CA
1997 Ontario Convention Center, Ontario, CA
AWARDS
2004 WAVE Award(Western Area Video Excellence Award)
2000 Special Commendation Award from County of Los Angeles
1995 Blue Ribbon Los Angeles County Fair
* My work has been featured on the cover of Aikido today Magazine many times.
CD design and cover art: 2006 “Arigatou Baby” –music by John York. 2003 “Koto” music by John York & Yukiko Matsuyama.
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* None of the artworks may be copied or reproduced without the written permission of the Artist