On display through September 30, new work by mixed media fiber artist and educator, Mallory Zondag.

"Connective Fibers" is a collection of large scale fiber sculptures that were born out of the physical processing of the artist's personal emotional histories that began during the pandemic and are still continuously being resolved. The sculptures are primarily created through wet felting, a full body textile technique that involves both the meticulous layout of wool fibers and subsequently slamming the fibers against hard surfaces to develop the fabrics structure and the sculptures form. It is a technique that requires presence and care as well as physical release and strength, these are tools needed for both felting and the healing of emotional wounds. The creation of Mallory's new sculptures was an act of both.

Fiber art throughout history, has always been about more than function, it is about storytelling. How we move through the world rests fundamentally on the stories we tell ourselves, about ourselves, our actions and our relationships. Storytelling is healing, storytelling though physical art making can be transformative.

Mallory's work weaves together visual narratives of the visceral body and the natural world, using organic forms as mirrors of personal experiences to both process and share her stories.

"Connective Fibers" will be on display in the gallery from September 15 - September 30 and Mallory will be leading a series of workshops as part of our "Ewe & Us" Farm and Art Collaboration.

This project is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by The Arts Center of the Capital Region.

Mallory Zondag is a Mixed Media Fiber artist and artist educator. She graduated from Pratt Institute with a BFA in Fashion Design and her work has been exhibited in both solo and group shows in New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and the Ukraine. She has been an artist in residence at The Allentown Art Museum, The Wassaic Project and many schools and community organizations. During many of these residencies she has led community art programs where felted wool living walls are collaboratively created with students of all ages and abilities. She was commissioned to create the sensory space for Artsquest's Accessible Arts program and was recently commissioned to recreate a component of one of Amalia Mesa-Bains's installations for her retrospective at the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive. Mallory currently travels around the Northeast teaching workshops, leading community art programs and installing shows.