Stitched Up and Unbuttoned

with Marie Bergstedt

Without ever planning it, Marie Bergstedt found that literally stitching up the loose ends of her life and unbuttoning the stories behind her interactions with relatives and friends would become an avenue to express more universal cultural truths and concerns.

In the lecture “Stitched Up and Unbuttoned” she will trace the frayed beginnings of her early childhood stories through the resolution she has found through a fiber art practice. Photographs map the journey of memories, ideas, discoveries, experiments, research, expanded understanding and, yes, mistakes. Art has not only healed broken parts of the past but it has reactivated a long-neglected interest in science. A path is laid from misgivings into growth and satisfaction.

Along with tracking the development and images of finished artworks, a variety of approaches to thinking will be presented including initial concepts, choices of techniques and materials, and the process of making. Important to all of these decisions is trying to set achievable goals and to manage the time/life commitment required to be recognized as a serious professional artist with a late-life launch. Essential complements to personal efforts have been classes, art groups, supportive art leaders, anonymous financial supporters, and most of all, those who agree to be subjects for visual representations that are often not beautiful.

The presentation will be broadcast live from the Koret Auditorium at the de Young Museum in San Francisco. Tickets for the in-person presentation are sold at the auditorium doors, and cost $5.

Eventbrite tickets are for those who cannot attend in person and would like to view the webinar.

A recording will be available for 14 days following the talk.

About Marie Bergstedt :

Residing in San Francisco, Marie Bergstedt re-emerged as a full-time artist in 2005, following a brief career in photography and 25 years of employment as a development director in not-for-profit schools and arts organizations. Throughout the recent 19 years she has concentrated in mixed media fiber art, utilizing 1000s of buttons along with embroidery, crochet and knitting. Almost always visualizing her thoughts through portraits, her goal is to address universal concerns and provoke deeper thinking. During this time her artwork has appeared in six solo exhibitions and more than 100 group exhibits, receiving 28 awards. Bergstedt participated in four artist residencies, among them the Lucas Artists Programs at Montalvo Arts Center. She has been invited to present lectures, workshops, webinars and videos, including at the San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles, Coastal Carolina University, Surface Design Association, and Yuma Art Symposium.

More than 40 books and magazines include her works, most recently Fiber Art Now, Spring 2024. From 2019-2023 she exhibited in the World Textile Art VIII Bienal, Spain; Scythia,Ukraine; Festival of Quilts, England; TexpoART ,Romania; 11th &12th Lausanne to Beijing International Fiberart Biennales, China; and ”Quo Vadis”, Latvia; as well as many exhibits in the United States. She was an invited guest artist for Timeless Textiles, Australia; European Cultural Centre's 2022 and 2024 Venice Art Biennials; World Textile Art's 25th anniversary; and the 2024 International Fiber Art Association Unveiling and Exhibition in Greece.

COATED IN COVID 2023Jacket and Skirt for mounting on mannequin and floor

60”H x 36”W x 31”D (varies by installation)

Cotton threads, wool felt and cotton fabrics, nonwoven interfacing.

Hand embroidery, applique, quilting, and crochet. Garment structure machine stitched.

Image courtesy of Marie Bergstedt

TERRY 2015

Wall Hanging

44”H x 41”W x2.5”D

Cotton and waxed-linen threads, buttons and beads over needlepoint canvas. Polyester and cotton batting stuffing. Rayon/wool canvas backing.

Hand stitching.

Image courtesy of Marie Bergstedt

Self-portrait

Image courtesy of Marie Bergstedt

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