Since its inception in 1973, Fiberworks has been an internationally renowned art center that has revolutionized the textile arts. Founded by Hungarian-born environmental sculptor Gyöngy Laky, the center was later renamed to the Fiberworks Center for the Textile Arts in 1975, reflecting its ever-expanding range of activities. From conferences and special events to international bazaars and services for artists, the center has been a hub for creativity and craftsmanship. California Fibers, established in 1970, is another organization that has been instrumental in promoting the artistic growth and professional advancement of contemporary fiber artists in Southern California. Many of its members are well-represented in museums and private collections around the world and have received prestigious awards for their work.
Their creative expression encompasses weaving, basketry, sculpture, quilting, embroidery, felting, surface design, knitting, crochet, garments, and mixed media. In addition to Fiberworks and California Fibers, there are other organizations that have contributed to the important role that the Textile Arts Council (TAC) plays in supporting the textile arts in the Fine Arts Museums and the Bay Area. Ellin Klor has a degree in Art History from the University of California at Berkeley and a master's degree in Library Science from Simmons College in Boston. Serena Lee founded Textile Odyssey in 2000 with the idea of developing unique and innovative tours that would connect cultures through the textile arts. Barbara shifted her focus to non-functional textile art after participating in the Art to Wear movement in San Francisco in the 1970s and 80s. She was one of the featured artists at the Newark Museum's contemporary portable art exhibition and put her jackets on sale at Julie's Artisans' Gallery in New York.
Renée Cocke was the managing partner of KRIMSA Fine Rugs and Decor in San Francisco, founded in 2002. Both his bachelor's degree and master's degree in Fine Arts were accredited along with Lone Mountain College in San Francisco. At the University of Berkeley Art Museum, he was involved in organizing several exhibitions on the fiber optic arts of East and Southeast Asia. In addition to working for the Textile Arts Council, Shirley was president of the Bay Area Alumni Club at the University of Washington and vice president of the executive committee for Alameda County Crisis Support Services. In 1978, Fiberworks organized the Contemporary Textile Art Symposium which was one of the main international textile art conferences of the 1970s. The members of TAC elect volunteers to serve on its board of directors to lead the organization. Through these organizations and individuals, Alameda County has a rich history of fiber arts that continues to be celebrated today.
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