current SHOW

                                                 MARK OLSHANSKY: "TAPESTRIES"
                                                            AUGUST 5-28, 2022
  Mark Olshansky, born 1929, first picked up a piece of Persian wool around his fortieth year at a party. As Mark recalls, “It was meant to be a light-hearted accompaniment to a more serious activity of downing martinis with stylish canapes.” Since then he has created many pieces and exhibited in over 100 shows. After retiring from a twenty-year adventure in the wine importing business, needlepoint became his work and has remained his passion while veering in new directions within his process.


Once MO is stitched in the right hand corner of each scrim, Olshansky is off to the races. Every line, shape, color, connection, separation, relationship, extension, density, stitch is a new decision and, once made, there’s no going back. There is little general planning. The image may be inspired by a piece of music or, most often, an idea for a series. The strands of Persian wool are sometimes blended to create color combinations to suit the design. The textural rhythms of stitches are changeable forming visual direction and pattern. Mark Olshansky is a contemporary artist who has reintroduced us to an art form that many associate with craft and home décor. His unique approach has raised needlepoint to a new level in the fine arts. More of Mark’s work can be viewed on his website, artwithwool.com.




 
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