Jo Noble (North Pocket)
Jo was born and raised in South Dakota. In her family home the sewing machine was as necessary as the ironing board. Making clothes, drapes, and household projects continued into Jo’s adult life. However, it wasn’t until she went to Uganda in 2002 that she discovered the joy of using the sewing machine to create art with fabric. There, in a country rich in beautiful fabrics, the possibilities were endless. While there, Jo developed a tailoring department for Kika Cultural Dance Troupe so that the performers could make their own costumes. With access to sewing machines and notions, Jo also started exploring the basics of quilting. When she returned to the United States in 2012, she joined Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA) and Columbia Fiber Art Guild in Portland Oregon. There, she turned full-time to her artistry exploring fiber, technique, and composition. While color, texture, and composition are all important components of fiber art, the story is the driving force behind Jo’s work. She is a natural story teller and believes art is a natural medium to share the struggle and joy of being human.
See more of Jo’s work on her website at http://www.noblefiberart.com/.
“My Soul House” (Hemp cloth, repurposed silk, repurposed cotton material, silk thread, sari thread, jasper disks, metal beads, pearls, coconut shell disks, Cofan Indian neckpiece)
The divine feminine lives within me. Awakening that essence has transformed my life. I am a person of the planet and move comfortably among many cultures. Peace, justice, deep listening, service, balance, and love are all strengthened through the feminine. This piece represents my cloak of femininity, MY HOME, where the best of me is housed, nurtured and deeply respected. All hand-stitched lines represent feminine symbols.
“The Projects” (Painted, commercial, hand-dyed fabric, paper; W 38″ x L 36″)
Where you live greatly defines who you become. While natural habitats become extensions of the creatures that live there, many habitats are not natural, safe, or nourishing. What started out as a good idea for public housing in the 1950s decayed into violent, drug-infested housing for mostly minorities by the 1980s. Further defunding in the 2000s of public housing had thousands of families living in substandard health environments with few options to live elsewhere. This piece speaks to the decay, pollution and anger of The Projects.
“A Matter of Perspective” (12″ x 12″)
What we see is often what we want to see. This piece explores how differently our story can change depending upon how we look at it. Half of the piece is black on white; the other half is identical, but white on black. Turn it 90 degrees and the story changes. Turn it again and the story changes again.
“Baksimba” (W 63″ X H 39″)
This collaborative piece was made with my friend Pat Fifer who came to Uganda to help me teach a class in fiber art.
Baksimba, a fiery African dance, embodies the story about a Bugandan King who greatly enjoyed the local beer made from banana plants. At one gathering, the King drank too much of the beer and became quite happy. In Buganda, it is taboo to say that the King is drunk; but, you can say that the King is very happy. While the musicians mimicked on their drums, the King’s praises for the drink, the women imitated the king’s movements which led to the dance now performed throughout Buganda. The African textiles in this piece represent the women’s costumes as well as the lively, energetic Baksimba dance.
