2024 Summer News Cycle
News from Deborah Kruger’s studio that spans Italy, Iceland, Turkmenistan, Oregon, and North Carolina
Right now, I have so much great news to share that it made more sense to send out a newsletter with blurbs about each one and over the course of the fall, I will write individual blogs as they all deserve longer descriptions. Please consider supporting these art organizations by following them on Instagram or other social media platforms.
Click on Headline Below to see more Details!
II INTERNATIONAL BIENNIAL OF CONTEMPORARY FIBRE ART
Museum of Embroidery and Textiles in Valtopina, Perugia, Italy
Thanks to curator Barbara Pavan, my work has once again been included in a major contemporary art exhibition in Italy. Beginning on September 6th and running through December 8, 2024, my piece titled Ropa Blanco will be shown at the Museum of Embroidery and Textiles in Valtopina, Perugia, Italy, which is hosting the II International Biennial of Contemporary Fibre Art. The title of the show is RADICI, METAMORFOSI, MESCOLANZE and includes the artwork of 34 artists who are exploring concepts of time through the media of contemporary fiber, textiles and embroidery art.
Biennial website: https://www.mostravaltopina.it/
ARTS IN EMBASSIES PROGRAM (AIE)
My artwork is traveling to Turkmenistan!
Did you know that the US Department of State has included an art program designed specifically to improve diplomacy in the 180 embassies that we have diplomatic relations with around the world?
I was recently contacted by Claire D’Alba, one of the Chief Curators of the AIE program. In reviewing my AIE portfolio, she thought that the new ambassador, Elizabeth Koop, from Durham, NC, would appreciate my artwork for the new ambassadorial building in Ashkgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan. The curator thought that I was a perfect match for the ambassador’s love of birds and environmental issues.
One of my colorful murals is slated to travel to Turkmenistan this fall where it will grace a white marble wall across from the elevators, ensuring that all visitors to the embassy will see my artwork. My work will be on loan to the embassy for the next three years.
If you are reading this and you are an artist, I recommend that you submit artwork to this remarkable program. https://aieregistry.org/
AIE website: https://art.state.gov/
TURBULENCE: BIRDS, BEAUTY, LANGUAGE & LOSS
Solo Exhibition at the Block Gallery in Raleigh, NC
I am excited to announce my solo exhibition at Block Gallery in Raleigh, North Carolina. The curator, Stacy Bloom-Rexode, contacted me through LinkedIn (good reminder to keep your LI profiles current!).
TURBULENCE: Birds, Beauty, Language & Loss, is the title of this new exhibition that features 25 recent pieces of my environmental artwork. This show will be on display at the Block Gallery, which is the municipal gallery of Raleigh. The gallery is spread over two floors and the show runs from December 4, 2024 – April 25, 2025.
During this same timeframe, my work will also be on view at the Mint Museum in Charlotte in their Coined in the South Bienial.
TURBULENCE focuses my current body of work, which is all motivated by the extinction of bird species, and the loss of indigenous languages around the world. Human-induced climate change and habitat fragmentation contribute to these problems. My pieces are made with feathers fabricated from recycled plastic and silk screened with images of endangered birds and languages. My hope is to raise awareness and inspire action about these impending losses that affect all of us.
Turbulence Resources:
Block Gallery Website: https://raleighnc.gov/arts/places/block-gallery
Block Gallery Instagram: @raleigh_arts
IMPERFECTA GALLERY IN OREGON CITY, OREGON
Now representing Deborah Kruger
Daria Loi, gallerist for imperfecta gallery contacted me through Instagram and invited me to be exclusively represented in the state of Oregon. The gallery is located in Oregon City, just south of Portland and self describes as an art & design gallery focused on elevating women artists and minority creatives. The gallery offers a wide range of artwork including sculpture, vessels, jewelry, art dolls and work for the wall. I am pulling together a collection of pieces to send to imperfecta that may include this affordable and hot off the press White Mini Kimono 2.
imperfecta website: https://www.imperfecta.xyz/artists
imperfecta Instagram: @imperfecta.xyz
imperfecta Blog: https://deborahkruger.com/new-gallery-representation-in-oregon/
COINED IN THE SOUTH BIENNIAL AT THE MINT MUSEUM
Kruger is a Finalist and will show her work in Charlotte, NC
This year is the third edition of the Coined in the South Biennial. I am incredibly honored to have my artwork included in what is often considered the Whitney Biennial of the South. The exhibition showcases the top artists from every Southern State and strives to represent the diversity and creative spirit of the Southern arts community.
The show is sponsored by the Young Affiliates of the Mint (YAM) whose mission includes bringing cultural access to children in order to foster community and art enrichment.
This exhibition at the Mint Museum in Charlotte, North Carolina runs concurrently with my solo show in Raleigh, North Carolina and I am thrilled to have this amplified visibility in North Carolina December 2024 – April 2025.
Coined in the South Website: https://www.mintmuseum.org/exhibition/coined-in-the-south-2024/
ICELANDIC TEXTILE CENTER IN Blönduós ICELAND
Kruger invited for a one-month Residency
Like most artists, I spend an inordinate amount of time applying for grants, shows and residencies. I get more rejections than acceptances and have developed a thick skin, so usually the rejections just roll off my back.
When I heard about the Icelandic Textile Residency (ITC) I immediately sent them a proposal. I have to admit that I REALLY wanted this residency and I knew that a ‘No’ would sting. To my great delight, my proposal was accepted and I will be spending the month of September 2024 in Northwest Iceland in the town of Blönduós on the glacial river Blanda (about 4 hours from the current volcanic eruption activity!).
I plan to spend the month drawing endangered birds, catching up on art reading, hiking and exploring the northwest area of Iceland, thinking about new directions for my work and of course soaking in thermal springs!
Blog: https://deborahkruger.com/icelandic-textile-center-residency/
Icelandic Textile Center website: https://www.textilmidstod.is/
Deborah Kruger is an environmental artist known for her sustainable art installations featuring endangered birds and languages. Her abstract, contemporary artwork focuses on the impacts of human induced climate change and habitat fragmentation on the environment and culture.