Silvermine Art Center has been a part of my life since I was a child attending art classes. When my own children were young, I taught quilting, sewing and puppet making through Silvermine’s Art Partners program in the public schools. I’ve also taught hand appliqué and rug hooking workshops for adults at the art center and participated in numerous juried shows. Most recently I exhibited a series of large hand hooked portraits in a solo show at the Silvermine Galleries. This exhibit celebrated the completion of a twenty- year project and was the first stop for this traveling exhibition. Opening this exhibit at Silvermine was the best experience I’ve ever had exhibiting my work!
Our family has lived on the same piece of property for thirty-six years. The land was reverting to wilderness when we moved in, but a fifty-year-old organic vegetable garden, blueberry bushes, and a scattering of old apple trees spotted with lichen remained. We have pruned, raked, mowed, and gardened this land throughout the seasons, and our gardening tools have become old friends, helping to create a quality of life that we value. For more than thirty years, I’ve raised a variety of backyard hens for their beautiful and delicious eggs. A mix of blue, green, brown, and pink eggs can usually be found gracing our table. When I’m out in my garden surrounded by all that I love, the compass always points to True North. It’s a feeling of well-being, and everything seems right in the world.
Liz Alpert Fay started her art education at Philadelphia College of Art and went on to graduate with a degree in Textile Design from the Program in Artisanry at Boston University in 1981. For seventeen years she created art quilts, exhibiting nationally and in Japan. These quilts can be found in both private and corporate collections, as well as in many publications.
In 1998 Liz became intrigued with the technique of traditional rug hooking and began experimenting and pushing the art form in new directions. Since then, the artist’s studio practice has evolved to include innovative contemporary hand hooked rugs, artwork, and large- scale hooked art installations. These works sometimes incorporate a variety of other textile techniques and make use of mixed media materials. Embroidery, punch needle embroidery, and various hand quilting and stitching techniques can often be found within the same piece. These award- winning works have been included in many juried shows, invitational museum exhibitions, and private and museum collections.
Early in her career Liz earned the title of Master Teaching Artist through the State of Connecticut. Present workshops provide instruction on designing contemporary textiles.
In 2004 the artist began working on a series of larger – than – life hooked portraits of women entitled Ordinary/ Extraordinary Women. The series was completed this past year and began traveling with two opening receptions and a solo exhibition at the galleries at Silvermine. Museum exhibitions are planned for 2026.
To inquire about the availability of Liz Alpert Fay's work, call Silvermine Gallery at 203-966-9700 x 220
Credits:
Silvermine Arts Center