Check out Mary Tabar’s Artwork

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Tabar.

Mary, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
Growing up I had a pencil or needle in my hand, since I was four years old. I was the last of six children, and I think giving me crafts and art projects kept me entertained. I was born in Hannibal Missouri, which influenced a strong Mid-western work ethic. My family moved to East Dubuque, Illinois where I graduated from High School. I then went back to Missouri and graduated from Truman University in Kirksville Missouri. I have a BS in Industrial Technology and a minor in Graphic Arts. I have lived all over the United States and one year in Lebanon with two daughters.

These two daughters are now married and are established artists. I currently live in North County San Diego and have taught quilting for Palomar College for seven years, and San Diego Continuing Education for three years. I travel throughout California to lecture and teach quilting techniques. I have taught internationally, while contracted on three quilt cruises. My quilts have won awards and have been exhibited locally, nationally and internationally. My art work is using photographs printed on fabric, then cut apart and re-pieced with commercial fabric. My other art quilts are using bleach to make a design that is interesting and different from other art quilters. I now have a line of patterns called Snip & Flip using the design principle of Notan art. My other patterns are based on bilateral symmetry, for example my animal patterns.

We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
I love textiles. From hand embroidery to rust dyeing fabrics. My business “Dye Stuff Art”, I produce over-dyed fabrics, dyed and bleached clothing, dyed fabric for quilters and bleached or “discharged dyeing” fabric for art quilters. An artist needs to expose themselves to nature, museums of all kinds, and take an art class. Currently I am taking watercolor classes and it is refreshing to talk only about art for three hours a week. Using your time to join art groups, helps you see what other artists are doing. I will see a technique or pattern and try to think how can I make this art my own. Some artists wonder why they do not get into shows or exhibits, and I believe they are just coping their teacher’s work and not trying to make original art.

Have things improved for artists? What should cities do to empower artists?
I believe textile artists have a hard time selling work. The public really has a difficult time realizing that a quilt can take about 10 times longer to make than a watercolor project! The word “quilt” brings memories of an aunt or grandmother that made traditional bed coverings. I would like the public to see textiles as art that can be hung on walls. We do have a renowned textile museum here in San Diego. Quilt Visions Museum is located in Point Loma. Every day but Monday you can see exhibits, take classes and buy local art. I sell greeting cards there and do have pieces on exhibit there about two times a year. I would like to see young people exposed to textile art through their schools and viewing exhibits.

Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
I currently have five pieces hanging in a spa in Rancho Bernardo “Nail Spot”. (11677 Duenda Rd, San Diego, 92127) I have been exhibiting there for six months. My web site has a gallery that shows dyed fabric and quilts that I have made. I have published 22 patterns and they can be found on https://www.craftsy.com/search?query=snip%20and%20flip. Quilt guilds hire me to lecture and give workshops. I do commission work and give weekly emails on the updates of the project.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.marytabar.com
• Phone: 858-472-4657
• Email: marytabar@gmail.com
• Instagram: merrytab
• Facebook: marywoodtabar
• Twitter: marytabar @marytabar1

Image Credit:
Joseph El Tabar

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