Nancy Young

Fiber Art

Representations of the human figure have been a frequent theme in my work. Currently I am focusing on surface design and soft sculptures. I use techniques such as gelatin printing, shibori, and dye transfer to dye, paint, and print fabrics. Along with commercial fabrics, I use my hand-dyed fabrics to create quilts and art dolls. I then embellish them with hand appliqué, hand quilting, embroidery. Throughout my explorations with techniques and material, there’s been a common thread—my love of color, texture, and whimsy.

When I was 5, I knit a red snow suit for my teddy bear. Today, years later, I’m still creating with fiber, but now with my soft sculptures, I’m making the figure as well as the clothes. Over the years I explored many fiber techniques, including dyeing, spinning, and weaving. I also worked with paper, creating collages and using various printing techniques. And I made jewelry with Fimo and paper.

•Grown Up Figures, juried group show, Fiber Art Center, Amherst, Mass. • Art Quilts in Amherst, juried group show, Burnet Gallery, Amherst, Mass. • First place, sculptural forms, Mid-Atlantic Fiber Conference member show, Clinton, N.J. • Monetary award, Convergence Fiber Conference, Cincinnati, Ohio • First Place, jewelry, Matoon Art Festival, Springfield, Mass. • “Diagonal Top,” Spin-Off. Article and photographs featuring hand-dyed, handspun, handwoven garment. • Juried Group Show, Handweavers of New York, New York City