French-American multi-disciplinary artist studying a BFA degree at Parsons school of Design in Fine Arts and acquiring a minor in Museum and Curatorial Studies.
CARTER SMITH MASTERING SHIBORI ZEN
October 24, 2013 4:24 PM
“The innate energy to create - call it Zen”, Carter Smith explains as he folds up one of his large wall-size silk pieces dyed in black, a rich shade of olive, and every tone in between. With 25 years of dyeing experience and multiple iterations of perfecting and re-perfecting his craft, it’s no wonder that top designers including Donna Karan are rushing to educate their design teams on his unique Shibori technique.
Shibori is the ancient Japanese craft of tying, folding, and twisting fabric to dye unique patterns. In the west, it’s commonly known as tie-dye. Carter Smith however, has a method uniquely his own. A self-taught designer, Carter created his method in 1965 and although he took some time off in between, he always found himself drawn back to his craft. However it wasn’t until further in his career, when Carter reexamined his initial designs that he realized “in perfecting a technique, you take all the life out of it”. At that point, Carter explains that he had to start over again from the beginning. Buddhists believe that to reach Zen, one must realize that to have nothing is to have everything. Similarly Carter explains that knowing nothing is knowing everything. Which means? “In order to move forward, we have to start over again…to find oneself, one must be willing to be lost”. In looking into each design, noticing the symmetry, the tactical use of juxtaposed colors, one cannot imagine less profundity behind each of Carter’s pieces.
For Carter Smith, the creative process starts within the whelms of his dreams. He channels that creative energy and lets it guide him as he dyes the print before his in-house design team drapes and tailors the individual fabric into wearable pieces. His muse is every woman, inspired by her femininity, the pieces come together to accentuate and flatter every shape and form. Carter’s Shibori technique looks like it will be an ongoing process of perfecting and un-perfecting, through envisioning and then re-envisioning.The exhibition was in collaboration with handbag designs from Glen Miller for Ann Turk and on show on the second floor of Dejavu in Manhattan.
By Tina Shimizu
related posts
INTERVIEW: Adriana Wynne French-American multidisciplinary artist
Pointillism revived: Rising artist Cairo Dwek connects the dots
Cairo Dwek left behind her life as a model in Los Angeles to pursue her aspiration of becoming a fine artist.
Christopher Russell Interview: Beneath the essence of clay
Christopher Russell spent his youth in a small town outside Boston, Massachusetts. According to his kindergarten report card, he had an “unusual talent for art”.
ALL WHITE Summer SOIRÉE Party
ALL WHITE Summer SOIRÉE Party was held on June 25, 2022 and the night started out with the beautifully dressed guests.
American Ballet Theater Summer Gala
Spring/Summer of 2022 has seen a rushing return of events, dressing up, and the social calendar.
Elizaveta Litovka ‘Flowierdy’ footwear sculptures Interview
Naïve Beauty: Flowierdy
Support people in Ukraine
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s said in a tweet on February 24 that “Now, more than ever, we need concrete support.”
SHIOTA CHIHARU EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
TWELV interviewed performance and installation artist Chiharu Shiota and discussed her personal and professional life, as well as her inspiration and what plans she has for the future. The COVID-...
OLAF BREUNING Interview
OLAF BREUNING Interview is now available!
QUERIES OF A QUIRKY MIND
...
RYAN MCGINLEY EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
Standing before the images created by Ryan McGinley, one becomes entranced by the irresistible visions of freedom and joyous irreverence.
YAYOI KUSAMA INTERVIEW "AN OUTSIDER TO INFINITY"
In Yayoi Kusama’s world, everything is a polka dot — the cosmos, the earth, the world, stars, the moon, and people.
Body Beautiful Exhibit Opening November 21st
“BODY BEAUTIFUL”
A Group Show Curated by Indira Cesarine
OPENING RECEPTION: November 21, 2019
INTERVIEW: GRACIE ELLISON PORTLAND BASED ARTIST
Gracie Ellison is a self-taught Portland based artist who focuses on canvassing portraits of grumpy and solemn faced women with use of patterns, textures and colour. She was drawn towards canvas...
MAURIZIO CATTELAN INTERVIEW "MAD SCIENTIST"
MAD SCIENTIST by MIGUEL FIGUEROA
WOLFORD LEADS THE SUSTAINABLE FASHION REVOLUTION WITH DUAL CRADLE TO CRADLE CERTIFICATION
Making History With The Aurora Collection
"GREETINGS FROM SWEDEN" BY RUVAN
Ruvan Wijesooriya is a self-taught American Photographer, who began by starting a skateboard brand before moving to working with clients such as Vogue, Samsung and many in the nightlife...
ZIP III Opening March 9th
Like it or hate it, we live in a fully connected digital world these days.
INTERVIEW: FAHREN FEINGOLD CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN ART
The name of contemporary American artist Fahren Feingold has become synonymous with fluid, feminine watercolours in her...
Interview: Lisa Ann Markuson on Modernizing Haiku
The minimalism of Haiku poetry– it’s English form dictated simply by the syllabic pattern 5-7-5– allows this traditional Japanese verse to span languages, cultures and ages.
Interview: Rebecca Leveille's Solo Exhibit "The End of Love"
Certain artists have captured the zeitgeist of a particular time and place in such a powerful way that history will forever be represented through their images.
Oussamah Ghandour’s Journey from Ad-Man to Painter
Do you remember that episode of Mad Men when Don Draper decides to quit the ad business and follow his true calling as a painter?
Jörgen Axelvall's "KÄR / LEK" Photo Exhibit in Tokyo
For Jörgen Axelvall, photography is a language.
Interview: Illustrator Roby Dwi Antono on his Startling Surrealist Imagery
In a single painting, Indonesian artist Roby Dwi Antono combines a breastfeeding lamb, a kiwi bird, power ranger, crocodile, and a child.
Interview: Bettina Werner's Pioneering Use of Salt in Art
Being an artist isn’t just a matter of creating paintings or sculptures in a particular medium, it’s about making your mark on history.
"One Year of Resistance" Recalls an Unsettling Year Under President Trump
During President Trump’s inauguration week, curator Indira Cesarine hosted a group art exhibition entitled Uprise / Angry Women in response to the election.
Artist-Activist Francesca Galliani Brings Her Messages of Empowerment to Fashion
Modern day social activism can be found and utilized everywhere from social media to organized protests.
ARTIST MISHA KAHN'S ANTI-RIGHT-ANGLE EXHIBITION "MIDDEN HEAP" ON DISPLAY AT FRIEDMAN BENDA
Artist Misha Kahn lives in a world free of right angles.
Interview: Lin Dai, CEO of Hooch, the Game-changer Drinking App
Hooch is here just in time for the holidays! The Hooch app is the first-of-its-kind, subscription-based drinking app, offering customers 30 free drinks a month for just 10 dollars.
Chrome Hearts Miami Transformed into Candy Shop and Gallery for Art Basel
Chrome Hearts is celebrating Art Basel at their Miami retail space with a pop-up confectionary and café, alongside the launch of group exhibition in their second floor gallery. The...
Indira Cesarine's "Only You" Art Series Visualizes Emotions after Betrayal
New-York based artist Indira Cesarine premiered the video format of her art series “Only You” at Art Basel Miami in 2010...
Chappy's "Dress the D" Halloween Campaign Promoting Safe Sex
The new-on-the-scene dating app Chappy has gained recognition for its mission and success in producing more meaningful...
Ashley Judd & Gloria Steinem Address Human Trafficking at Apne Aap Benefit
The award-winning actress Ashley Judd, luminous in a bisque maxi-dress, was feted at a Manhattan soiree on Thursday night.
Yayoi Kusama to Open Namesake Museum in Tokyo
On your mark, get set, go! Yayoi Kusama enthusiasts will be delighted to know that tickets to the venerated Japanese artist’s namesake museum go on sale August 28.
Just Cavalli Restaurant & Club Opening in Porto Cervo
From the brand that fully embraces the bold and vibrant Dolce Vita lifestyle, now comes the ultimate nightlife experience. On July 14th, the...
The witty pop art of Alessio Franceschetto
Minimal, quirky and straight to the point, all uniquely describe the work of artist Alessio Franceschetto, a superhero of graphic art.