OCTOBER 10 • 2024 | 41
life or as a process to help me stay balanced
and centered as I move through things in life,”
said Brunhild, 29.
“The theme of this show is about finding
one’s center in life as things happen around
us. It’s about being able to be present and
focus, be centered and balanced.
“Most of my work is black and white. Often,
it’s about process more than the outcome. It’s
to eliminate distraction. If color is used, it’s
usually about expressing a feeling. Black and
white is to eliminate distractions.”
This is Brunhild’s first solo show in
Michigan. In October, she also will be part of
the group exhibit “Fiber Fest” at the Lawrence
Street Gallery in Ferndale. In another display
linked to her religious interests, the fiber
specialist is arranging the current High Holy
Days art display at Congregation Shaarey
Zedek in Southfield.
“In the library show, I have a weaving called
Listening, and it’s about being in a room full
of people quietly breathing and just hearing
everyone’s breath,” she said. “I have another
piece, Suspire, and it’s about heavy sighing
when something’s going on that’s difficult in
life.
“I have a piece called Breath Weavings, and
it’s about the experience of meditating while
also thinking about the loom as a metaphor
for breathing. The shafts enclose as the shuttle
moves through, and it’s like oxygen being
inhaled and exhaled.”
FINDING HER FOCUS
Brunhild’s interest in fiber arts draws from
interests expressed by members of the family
line traced through her mother, Karen
Schurgin, who currently is painting ketubahs
as gifts for family members and friends.
Painting has been an important interest of her
mom’s pursuits and the start of art interests
for Brunhild.
“While I was a student in arts communities
and apparel-textile design at Michigan
State for my undergrad, I was taking all of
my electives in painting,” Brunhild said.
“I became interested in painting on the
fabric I was working on, embellishment and
embroidery.
“Nobody had told me that textiles was
an option, and I was looking at graduate
programs and saw fibers. I thought maybe
that’s what I really like to do, and no one had
ever directed me there. I started to experiment
with weaving and other fiber arts.”
“I fell in love with weaving, and I’ve
always loved embroidery. I started looking at
stitching in terms of contemporary art instead
of embellishment for clothing or design. I
started to focus the things that I was doing in
fashion that were textile and then based them
into contemporary art lines.”
Brunhild’s library exhibit came about after
she met Joann Kallio, the Woods Gallery
coordinator and another student in screen
printing studies. When Brunhild told Kallio
about the fiber work she was doing, Kallio
expressed her interest in an exhibit, explaining
the gallery had never shown fiber work.
Brunhild, who grew up in West Bloomfield
and graduated from West Bloomfield High
School, was a member of BBYO during her
teens and attended services at Congregation
Shaarey Zedek.
She lives in Royal
Oak, and her current
Jewish commitments
involve attendance
at NEXTGen Detroit
events and Chabad
Shabbat dinners.
“I use Instagram and
a website to promote my work,” Brunhild said.
“I spend a lot of time talking to other people
about my art. I think that art, in general, is
a really important way to express ourselves,
and anyone who is interested should consider
taking up a creative practice because it’s really
wonderful for mental health.
“Fiber art is an incredible field with a lot
of opportunity to explore different media.
I’m in a group called Fiber Club in Detroit.
It’s a wonderful place for people to come and
learn.”
Examples
of Rachel
Brunhild’s
fiber art.
DETAILS
“Center” will be on
display through Oct.
26 at the Huntington
Woods Library, 26145
Scotia. (248) 543-9720.