Nelly Kouzmina, an award winning fiber artist and Plainsboro resident, exhibits a colorful and eclectic collection of handmade felt works in a solo show at the Plainsboro Library Gallery from Saturday, June 27, to Wednesday, July 29. Her one-of-a-kind wall hangings and wearable art will allow viewers to see the wide range of possibilities of felt making. At the art reception on Sunday, July 12, from 2 to 4 p.m. the artist will talk about her craft, and about the natural elements around us available for use in the dying process.
The gallery goer will be treated to a wonderful array of pieces, including wall art, rugs, seamless clothing, accessories such as scarves, hats, and bags, and items for the home — table runners, pillow cases, and a chair throw. All of the items are originally designed with handmade felt, and some are dyed with natural plants, a process referred to as botanical printing or eco-dyeing. Their patterns are created with elements found in nature, such as eucalyptus, acacia, oak, and maple leaves that lend their unique shape as well as their color.
Kouzmina, a Russian native, has been a Plainsboro resident for more than 20 years. She has an engineering science background, and is a self taught fiber artist who started exploring the felt making process three years ago. She pursues the craft with a passion under the company name Feltinelli LLC. Kouzmina approaches felt making by applying established techniques as well as creating her own, and she experiments with a wide range of fibers and natural dyes.
Felt may be the oldest fabric known to mankind — a process that has been practiced for thousands of years — and there are many references to it in ancient writings. Some of the earliest felt remains were found in the frozen tombs of nomadic horsemen in the Siberian Altai Mountains and date to around 700 B.C. These tribes made clothing, saddles, and tents from felt because it was strong and resistant to severe weather. It is not woven and does not require a loom or other equipment for its production. In recent years felt making is experiencing a revival and developing in new, contemporary forms.
The artist has exhibited widely in the tri-state area, including the Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie, the Raymond James Gallery in Pennsylvania, and LaLa Gallery in SoHo, New York City. She is a regular exhibitor at regional arts festivals, such as the Sugarloaf Craft Festival in Somerset, Communiversity in Princeton, and the New Hope Art Festival — where she received the Best in Show Award last September. She received the Best in Fiber Art Award at the Ellarslie Open in Trenton last year, and also the first place in Fine Crafts at the Highland Park Art Show.
She is a member of the International Association of Feltmakers and North East Guild of Feltmakers. Kouzmina works in her home studio, and teaches workshops and classes in Plainsboro, West Windsor Art Council, Artists of Yardley, and Trenton City Museum.
The show runs in tandem with the library’s summer program Local Color, during which Kouzmina will be offering a two-part workshop on the felting and natural dying processes.
Art Exhibit, Plainsboro Public Library, 9 Van Doren Street, Plainsboro. Sunday, July 12, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Reception for an exhibit of fiber art by Nelly Kouzmina. On view to July 29. 609-275-2897. www.lmxac.org/plainsboro.
