Caring For Fiber Art

Do you have questions about caring for fiber art? If you’re new to fiber art, you might be wondering, things like, how do you keep it clean or does it last for the long haul? Well, I have some good new for you. Textiles are more than sturdy enough to last through the ages. The Bayeux Tapestry, for example is almost 1000 years old. The Cloth of St. Gereon dates from the 11th century and the Överhogdal Tapestries may be even older. While there are certain challenges to maintaining fiber art, which are different than oil paintings or stone sculptures, there’s no reason that your new piece of fine fiber art can’t last a lifetime or longer.

To give your new fiber art the best chance at a long life, I encourage open air flow by framing my work directly to canvas. While a shadow box can prevent dust from collecting on the fibers, they also trap moisture and prevent air flow which can encourage mold and pests. Should you need to dust, fiber art can be treated as you would other textiles, by removing it from the frame and hitting it gently from behind to dislodge any stray particles. Some of my pieces can even be washed if necessary. Kept away from direct sunlight, smoke, cooking oils, hair spray, really anything that would damage other artwork as well, and you can expect to enjoy your fiber art for a long time to come. If you have any specific questions or concerns about how a specific piece should be handled, please don’t hesitate to ask.