Sandra Golbert Statement

My work is in Fiber, mostly hand-made paper, hand-dyed silk, surface design and fabric manipulation.

I began working with fabric many years ago as a child when I designed and made dolls’ clothes! Then I went on to design costumes and clothing for "real people", and in 1959, my designs appeared in Vogue magazine. When I no longer lived in the US, I could not work as a “seamstress/designer” since I was considered an alien, I began to put my fibers on the wall instead of the body, making intricately embroidered wall hangings and sculptures. I've seldom gone back to the body!

I returned to beading in 2000 when one of my designs was accepted in CowParadeNY2000. It was a completely beaded life-size fiberglass cow! Five hundred of them were shown on the streets of New York City and were later auctioned off for children's charities…. mine was sold for $17,000.00.

Through the years, I have received many grants, three residencies and much help from my children so that I might continue my work. Two of my pieces were chosen to be in an exhibit called “9x9x3” at the American Craft Museum in New York City and I have a piece in the Zimmerli Museum at Rutgers University in New Jersey in the permanent collection of the National Association of Women Artists. This collection contains eminent artists such as Mary Cassatt, Louise Nevelson and Judy Chicago. I am awed to be part of this amazing company.

My last large commission was for the lobby of La Concha Hotel in San Juan, PR. Eight glass cases, each 6’ x 6’, were installed in the lobby: each containing a colorful hanging. The entire project consists of almost 7000 small hand-painted silk pieces. It is shown in detail on my website, www.fiberarte.com and in the August 2009 issue of Architectural Digest.

My work can be found in many countries, in residences, corporate offices and hotels in the US, the Caribbean, South America and in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where I was born.