Meet Jeanne Akita | Fiber artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jeanne Akita and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jeanne, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I had my creative side calling strongly since my early childhood. I was constantly drawing and painting in school, and later been creating art project for my friends and family. It was no brainer what way to go after my 15 years long first career in finance. Art and creativity always had a special place in my heart.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I create sculptural fiber art by fusing my art vision with ancient felting technique. Like 3D flexible fiber sculpture, each one-of-a-kind piece is meticulously created, using only hand agitation, soap, water, and hand-selected sustainable loose fibers such as sheep wool, silk cocoons, flax, as well as raw lamb’s fleece from the small local farms. The texture and patterns are scrupulously created by layering and shaping the loose fibers of different properties. To implement the art idea, I use shibori dye method on the felted piece, applying non-toxic or plant dyes, and then finalize the design by hand painting with the brush. My intention is to focus on the impression of micro details and textures to employ the art idea, while keeping the main priority on the sustainability of the process and materials. Along my art path I noticed that the art is like the mirror reflecting the inner world of the viewer, as everybody has a unique perception of my art though the prism of their own personality. That communication through the art feeds the imagination and helps to employ new creative ideas.
It wasn’t easy to get where I’m now professionally, it is still a lot of rocks on the way, I’m always learning everyday, and enjoying the ride at the same time.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Dallas downtown walk – garb a coffee at Joule coffee shop and enjoy the collection of the art, dine at The Adolphus, walk to Dallas Eyeball and Thank-Giving Square. Wort Worth Sundance square walk. Visit:
Dallas Art museums,
Dallas Arboretum,
Grapevine Main Street,
Fort Worth Art Museum,
Stockyard WF.

Favorite places to eat:
Istanbul grill, GOorganics Eat, Malai Kitchen, Calabrese Southlake.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’m so grateful to my fellow artist community. There is so much support and mentorship, you guys helped to make my path in art career more smooth and sufficient. Special thanks to artists Jonathon Stopper, Thomas Wargin, Jenny Hill, Douglas Wodark. I’m so grateful to all my collectors, thank you so much for trusting my artistic ability and experience. It was a pleasure to create something truly special and unique for each of you!
Also special thank you to art festival management and volunteers teems, for all your hard work and support: Bayou City Art Festival TX, Cottonwood Art Festival FX, Art Forth Festival TX, Park City Kimball Art Festival UT, Saint Louis Art Fair MO, Columbus Art Festival OH, La Quinta Art Celebration CA, Vail Fine Arts Festival CO.

Website: https://www.illulab.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/illusionslab/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/illulab

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRA0-lp_S0fiFRoIO1KCfLg?view_as=subscriber

Image Credits
Photographers: Tawny Horton, Lexi Marie Models: Megan Kennedy Neeleman, Cody Scott, Yuruana Silva, Julia Elsholz