The Needle Knows – An Exhibition of Contemporary Embroidery

Artist Reception and First Tuesday ArtWalk:
* Tuesday, November 7, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Exhibition Dates
* November 2023

The Needle Knows – An Exhibition of Contemporary Embroidery

This is an exhibition of narrative hand embroidery and applique that largely reflects my travel experiences in Mexico by Caroline Dahl. I use exclusively DMC cotton floss on muslin. Occasionally I use Kreinik metallic thread for highlights. The show, with a few exceptions, contains work that I do on the road, working as a piano player.

My first interest in making fabric art was quilting. After a couple of years as a quilt maker, I found I liked the feel of embroidery materials better, and I wanted to tell more detailed stories in a smaller format. Also, at that time, I moved from a large apartment in Kentucky to a small room in San Francisco, and I left my quilting frame and other large encumbrances behind.

I remembered that, as a fashion-forward hippie of the 60’s, I loved the embroidery (from Mexico) on several of my blouses, and I wanted to explore that avenue. I was also heavily influenced by the book, Native Funk and Flash ( by Alexandra Jacopetti,  Scrimshaw Press 1974). It contains beautiful examples of needlework and otherwise decorated clothing from around the San Francisco area .

Working with my hands is a meditative, introspective process I find comforting, while coming up with images, designing, and working out construction issues is exciting for me.  The reflective, solitary nature of embroidery is a perfect foil for the energetic, communal, public act of playing music. I feel like one pursuit enhances the other.

I choose to make mostly humorous, diary-like work, often including text or titles in the pieces, as it seems an accurate reflection of my life, which is very often, just silly….

ARTIST BIO

• Born in Louisville, Kentucky
• BA in English Lit. 1972 University of Kentucky
• First solo trip to India   1972  Began interest in fabrics and textiles
• Began work as a self-taught quilter and embroiderer. Began entering juried shows 1974
• Living in San Francisco, Ca. 1979- present
• Work as a piano player, playing in bands and solo 1981- present
• Play most often with Tom Rigney and Flambeau. Play solo gigs locally and boogie woogie shows in Europe.
• Continue embroidery work. I often take projects on the road with me when I play music.

Embroidery website www.carolinedahl.com
Music website www.boogiewoogiepianoplayer.com