Los Alamos fiber artist Valentina Devine in her studio. Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon/ladailypost.com
By BONNIE J. GORDON
Los Alamos Daily Post
bonnie@ladailypost.com
Valentina Devine, internationally known fabric artist and designer, will present her annual trunk show 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19 and noon-5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 20 in conjunction with the Los Alamos Arts Council Holiday Arts and Crafts Fair. The trunk show will be held at Devine’s studio at 1222 Big Rock Loop on North Mesa.
Devine has just returned from Taos where she sold her wares at the On Higher Ground fiber arts event. Devine has been teaching and selling at the event for a number of years. She no longer teaches but continues to sell her hand-dyed yarn and one-of-a-kind garments at the event. Now in her eighties, Devine continues with most of her activities but no longer travels to teach.
This weekend Los Alamos will be treated to a slice of high fashion at the Trunk Show.
“Fashion is not a big deal in Los Alamos,” Devine said. “People call my knit work ‘over the top’. Handmade garments are very recognizable and unique.”
Devine will have a new hardcover book out next year called “30 Simple Crochet Patterns for Beginners” by Soho Publishers.
Devine is best known for her free-form style of knitting.
“A lot of knitting friends get so stuck on a pattern,” she said. “I want to introduce people to making your project your own. Using a pattern takes away from the freedom of creating art. In the U.S., fiber art is not seen as fine art. I’m constantly trying to come up with something new that is beautiful but also something people will buy.”
Devine grew up in wartime Berlin.
“Everyone in Europe grows up knitting,” she said.
In the U.S., people are not used to shops in peoples’ homes because they feel obligated to buy something, she said.
“No need for that,” Devine said. “I want to share what I do.”
Devine also wants to share her studio and shop. Her studio itself is a work of art with shelves full of colorful yarn. Devine sells her own hand-dyed yarn as well as natural fiber commercial yarn, one-of-a-kind garments and accessories.
“Just come and visit,” she said. “If you have a knitting question, I’d be happy to answer it.”
From giant wall hangings to custom hats, Devine continues to thrive on her art.
“If there is a Heaven, it’s listening to an audio book and knitting or crocheting,” she said.
