February 9 - June 15, 2008

Cranbrook Academy of Art has been a hothouse environment for graduate studies in the visual arts for more than 75 years. In particular, the program in Fiber, under the successive leadership of heads of the Department of Fiber at Cranbrook Gerhardt Knodel (1970-1996) and Jane Lackey (1997-2007) has contributed to the rethinking of the field, redefining and shifting it in new directions. This exhibition presents outstanding works by Knodel and Lackey as well as over 40 of their 275 graduates, all of whom have contributed to the ever-expanding field of fiber.

“Many of our alumni are now in charge of the major programs in fiber. They are leaders in the field of fiber at national and international educational institutions or in the commercial world,” said Knodel.

Hot House features a range of work from pieces produced in the fiber medium to work produced for the textile and design industry. For example, Nick Cave, who is currently a chair of Fashion Design at the School of Art Institute in Chicago, will exhibit several “sound suits.” He developed these sculptural, wearable costumes for dancers to wear in live performances. Also on view are works by Anne Lindberg, Lisa Lockhart, Emiko Nakano, Ólöf Nordal, Warren Seelig (Reading, PA native) and 34 other graduates.

Ronald C. Roth, Director and CEO of the Reading Public Museum, stated, “Cranbrook Academy of Art has played an important role in developing some of the United States’ most brilliant and innovative artists working in a wide variety of media. This exhibition will surprise and delight visitors as they experience fabric and textiles created and presented in extraordinary new ways.”

"Meet the Artist" Lecture Series

Warren Seelig will be featured in a special presention on Friday, May 16. He will discuss the history of his textile work leading up to his recent wall sculptures shown in the current exhibition.

Nick Cave will present on Friday, April 6, 2008. He is one of the most interesting and controversial artists in the Hot House exhibit, and merges his diverse interests of fashion, dance, ritual, social identity and fiber into his Soundsuits and other pieces specific to the exhibition.

Refreshments will be served afterwards in the Atrium. Presentations will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Auditorium. Each lecture and tour is $10 for Members and $20 for Non-members.

Art Discussion Group —Tuesday, May 13 - 7:00 p.m.
Lancaster Borders and Seattle's Best Cafe

Art enthusiasts of all types are welcome to join the discussion. For May, the focus will be on our Hot House exhibition.

Click here to download a Comcast Newsmakers Segment (mp4)

Click here to download an interview with Gregory Wittkopp, Director of Cranbrook Art Museum (mp3)

Click here to download an interview with Reed Kroloff, Director of Cranbrook Academy of Art and the Cranbrook Art Museum (mp3)

Click here to download an interview with Gerhardt Knodel, former Director, Cranbrook Academy of Art (mp3)

Click here to download an interview with Jane Lackey, Director of the Fiber Department at Cranbrook Academy (mp3)

Click here to download an interview with Marlin Miller, Marlin & Ginger Miller Exhibition Endowment (mp3)

The exhibition, Hot House: Expanding the Field of Fiber at Cranbrook, 1970-2007 was organized by Cranbrook Art Museum at Cranbrook Academy of Art, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, where a larger version of the exhibition was presented June 17 through October 14, 2007. The exhibition was curated by Cranbrook Art Museum Director Gregory Wittkopp and former Curator Brian Young, in consultation with Gerhardt Knodel and Jane Lackey. The catalogue and the presentation of the exhibition at Cranbrook were made possible through the generous support of Marlin and Ginger Miller.

The selection of work at the Reading Public Museum is curated by Ronald C. Roth, and is underwritten by the Marlin and Ginger Miller Exhibition Endowment. Additional grants have been made by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission and the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts.

Images, top to bottom: Gerhardt Knodel, Act 8, 1974, silk, nylon cords; Annet Couwenberg, Act Normal and That's Crazy Enough, 2002, starched cotton, reed, copper wire, computer embroidery, fabric; Kinnari and John Panikar, Lotus in the Clouds, 1974, woven organza (structured and layered)

Download Press Release (PDF)