TILT-A-WORLD

Santa Cruz artist Susan Else is earning a national reputation for her elaborate fiber sculptures. She makes unique conceptual and figurative pieces entirely covered in quilted, printed and painted fabric.

The onetime Open Studios artist delighted visitors for years with such signature pieces as a complete fabric chess set and board, or a five-foot in diameter rotating Ferris Wheel with her boisterous sculpted figures in every seat (created in honor of the 100th anniversary of the Santa Cruz Boardwalk).

Starting this month, Susan will be showing a collection of her work at the Peninsula Museum of Art in Burlingame (1777 California Drive, Burlingame).

Called "Tilt-A-World," the exhibit will feature Susan's marvelous, whimsical and/or sardonic figures, unexpected fiber landscapes, and large show-stoppers. That's her delightful "When Pony's Dream," above.

"Boundary" by Susan Else

In her artist's statement, Susan says, "I treat cloth not as a flat surface but as a wild flexible skin for three-dimensional objects. Life is always a complicated stew of positive, negative, and shades of grey – all at once – and I want my works to reflect that complexity and ambiguity.”

The show opens October 20 and runs through January 26, 2014, in the East Gallery.

A reception for the artist will be held this Sunday (October 20), 1-4 pm, so if you're in the neighborhood, drop in to cheer Susan on and see a fabulous show!