Socorro County Arts

 

 An organization of and for the artists of Socorro County
 

Artist Member Cat Brysch

Location

Cat Brysch Creations Studio began in Victoria, TX in 1980 and currently the Studio thrives in the mountains southwest of Albuquerque in the Village of Magdalena, where Brysch lives with husband, Jim Hokett, and a fine old feline named Walter. She works and teaches in her studio at 100 Eighth Street(corner of 8th & Chestnut) at the east edge of the Village.

Experience

Cat Brysch is a self-taught weaver. She has been weaving for 30 years. Brysch began weaving baskets in 1975. She has offered demonstrations to the public, in schools and to groups & organizations and has taught weaving to adults and children throughout Texas. She taught weaving in the Southwest Craft Center's Fibers Studio from 1986 through 1997, while from 1993-1995, she served as arts administrator to the four "Young Artists" children's art programs there. In the Fibers Studio, Brysch taught intermediate and advanced students while expanding and developing one of the most highly-comprehensive beginner programs in the country, pursuedby non-beginning weavers as well. Additional experience was gained while working in the Betty Maddux Textile Complex of the Witte Museum, San Antonio TX and later in their Archeological Department. During these work periods, some lasting a year and more, she documented an extensive collection of historic textiles from throughout South America, quilts and coverlets from the colonial North America, Ashanti from Africa, and Navajo rugs and blankets.

Present Production

From the loom, Brysch produces one-of-a-kind textiles for the body such as outer wear; light/sheer next-to-the-skin fabrics, evening wear glitz, "art scarves" and blankets. Her fabrics hold 4-6-8-and 10-harness laces and 4-8-and 16-harness twills. Her trademark is hand-manipulated inlays of color. Her garments have been on national & international runways. Among her simple loom works, she strives to create innovative applications of traditional tapestry techniques accented by hand-manipulated methods found in weaving cultures around the globe.
 
Since 1988, Brysch has developed an intricate combination of photography and woven structure which she calls "Woven Imagery". These works are in private collections throughout the United States. Then, in 1990, she began creating fiber art, inspired by the colors and textures of the threads with which she weaves. In these works, she combines her life-long experiences in drawing, painting, sculpture and poetry.

Current Services

Cat Brysch Creations Studio has been a teaching weaving studio since 1997. Open to adults of all skill levels, these on-going classes are custom designed around the individual student's needs, interests and abilities.
 
Creations Studio is a source of retail sales to weavers specializing in very fine threads and yarns for warp and weft. Some stock is available in house and custom orders can be made at any time.F
 
or many years, Brysch has consulted on the repair/renovation of looms and spinning wheels and can provide on-the-board drawings for the client to take for parts fabrication elsewhere or Brysch has worked extensively in partnership with Jim Hokett on a wide variety of repair/restoration/renovation.
 
Brochure available upon request.

Published

Cat Brysch freelanced early in her career, writing for "Handmade Magazine" and "Handwoven" and local and regional weaver's newsletters. Recently she wrote for the "Complex Weaver's Journal". She has been featured in many local magazines and arts publications.

Awards

In 2001~A Fiber Odyssey, the Contemporary Handweavers of Texas Biennial Conference Fashion Show brought two 1st place awards & one 2nd place award as well as the coveted Complex Weavers Award.

Shows and Affiliations

Brysch currently shows her works in Peppers Gallery in Magdalena, NM and in area galleries. She is the current president of the Magdalena Area Arts Council, is Daytime Recording Secretary of Las Aranas Spinners & Weavers Guild, is the Co-Secretary of Fiber Artists of Socorro County and is a member of the Albuquerque Fiber Arts Council, Handweavers Guild of America, Contemporary Handweavers of Texas and Complex Weavers...and, recently joined Socorro County Arts!
 
 

last modified 7 December 2004    Copyright © Socorro County Arts    All rights reserved.