Previewing
Linda Kamille Schmidt’s exhibition Fiber Space opens at Garvey|Simon Gallery on June 27, 2024. This is her first solo show with Garvey|Simon and her third in Manhattan. It showcases her semi-transparent fabric collages, ranging from large installations to smaller, intimate pieces.
Schmidt’s method begins with materials sourced from disparate places: thrift shops, bargain bins, and luxury textile stores. These fabrics raise questions about their prior owners and intended purposes, embedding a rich narrative within each piece. Schmidt’s process is organic and intuitive; she follows the lead of textures and color combinations rather than a predetermined plan. “I like to create a mess and then make sense of it,” she reveals, highlighting her penchant for construction and problem-solving. Her larger works, geometric and sculptural, evoke an architectural sensibility. The interaction of transparent and opaque materials shifts the viewer’s perception of their surroundings. The exhibition includes a mix of framed and unframed works. A notable unframed piece comprises three layers and is two-sided. The framed pieces are geometric collages of transparent and opaque fabrics, layered and separated by plastic strips, creating a shallow three-dimensional effect.
In her smaller framed works, Schmidt delves into emotional connections and memory. Each collage serves as a portal, stirring excitement and sentimentality. Precise cuts, placements, and stitches exhibit Schmidt’s meticulous craftsmanship, alternating between mechanical precision and loose, hand-sewn stitches. Strategically placed pins guide the viewer’s gaze through vibrant colors and textures. By rejecting the sterility of mass production, Schmidt challenges the equation of perfectionism with femininity, inviting a tactile, intimate engagement. Reflecting on the era when she was expected to cultivate domestic skills, she incorporates frayed edges and imperfect stitching into her fabric “paintings.”
Schmidt’s larger installations align her with the tradition of subversive feminist art. Drawing from a family quilting legacy, she employs scale and geometric abstraction to counter the quaintness often associated with craft. These installations, viewable from any angle, create a sense of volume and sculptural presence. Her larger works oscillate between intimate objects of comfort and exuberant displays of status. The interplay of transparent and opaque elements modifies the viewer’s perception of the environment, offering a dynamic viewing experience. Linda Kamille Schmidt’s Fiber Space at Garvey|Simon Gallery explores textiles, memory, and feminist art, encouraging new dialogues on craft and materiality.
Linda Kamille Schmidt: Fiber Space at Garvey/Simon Opening reception: Thursday, June 27, from 6-8 PM Gallery hours: Tuesday–Friday, 11 AM-4 PM 547 West 27 Street, New York, NY, 10001