Fiberarts Connection was founded by Anne Copeland in 2003, and became a full-fledged 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2005.
In 2003, we held our first themed challenge, "My World in Black and White," which had 10 live venues in California and other parts of the United States. We had some 127 participants from all over the world, and the exhibit was a major success. We made award ribbons and participation ribbons for everyone and people still talk about those.
That exhibit was followed by "Myths and Legends," "The Indelible Spirit," "The Voice That is Great Within," "She Made Her Mark," "She Made Her Mark, Too," "Fragments: Urban Decay," "Metamorphosis: Contemporary Art from Vintage Cloth," and "My World in Black and White Revisited."
We are taking some new directions such as writing a book about the creative work of physically challenged artists and how they have altered their studios/workspaces, tools and materials to acccomodate their challenges. We will also be investigating other new means of reaching those fiber artists with challenges. We want our organization to remain organic and flexible to meet the changing needs as we identify them.
