On display in the South Gallery of the Columbia Art League
October 28 - November 29
Joint Artist Statement
Over three decades of friendship, Jennifer Wax and Leandra Spangler have acted as colleagues, allies, and trusted observers, fostering mutual support and encouragement in this fiber arts journey.
Their aligned interests have led them to curate fabrics, develop surfaces, and inspire one another to transcend existing knowledge while delving into imaginative possibilities.
A recurring motif in their individual creations is the recording of time, place, and personal experiences. This exhibition showcases their fiber work, incorporating paper and cloth along with intricate layers of stitching and assembly.
Artist Bio: Leandra Spangler
Leandra Spangler recalls hand-stitching cotton fabric into a nine-patch while Mrs. Koch read Little House on the Prairie to her 3rd-grade class at Parkade school.
Making something from nothing has been a lifelong passion for Spangler. She became an art teacher at West Junior High School, inspiring young people to express themselves and invent new things in her classroom. After retiring from the public school system, Spangler became a full-time artist, continuing to teach locally and regionally.
During the pandemic, Spangler discovered “slow stitching,” an intentional, intuitive, and meditative approach. It involves following your instincts, layering cloth, and letting the act of pulling thread through cloth become the focus of the activity.
Artist Bio: Jennifer Wax
Jennifer, born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, grew up in a neighborhood where her piano teacher lived just two doors away. There was also a dance teacher with a basement studio and an artist who taught lessons for a quarter. Arts were highly valued and cherished in her community.
Jennifer received a piano scholarship to Stephens College and had the wonderful opportunity to study all of the arts while earning an education degree that led her to become an elementary teacher. It wasn’t until her three sons started school that she decided to return to graduate school at MU for a master’s degree in art education. This allowed her to delve deeper into her passion for art. Fibers and graphic design were her favorite classes.
Jennifer formed a close bond with her cooperating teacher, Leandra Spangler, and later became a classroom art teacher in Columbia for 18 years. After retiring, she has enjoyed becoming a grandparent along with her husband and consistently creating fiber art in her home studio. Working with Leandra has been rewarding, motivating, and joyful.
