Over time, we became this bad-ass group of visual artists – aiding and abetting our fellow members in this lifestyle we have chosen. We are supporting one another in what is a most competitive sport – the visual arts. As women, we are keen to address the strengths of our blatantly overlooked tribe. – SH
FIBER ART NOW
Out and About: CLUSTER
BLOG POST BY CAMI SMITH
This month’s Out and About takes us to the Pacific Northwest, where a group of artists, calling themselves CLUSTER, has been quietly (and joyfully) shaping a model of creative collaboration. What began as an informal gathering over food, wine, and conversation has grown into a dedicated collective of women visual artists who value honesty, trust, and the power of working together.
1. How did CLUSTER begin?
CLUSTER’s roots reach back to evenings spent around a dining table, where laughter and camaraderie flowed as freely as the wine. Out of those gatherings came an idea: an acronym that captured the spirit of the group—Creatives Laughing Uniting Supporting Talking Empowering Routinely. From there, the spark caught. “Over time, we became this bad-ass group of visual artists,” said member Stephanie Hargrave. “We support one another in what is a most competitive sport—the visual arts. As women, we are keen to address the strengths of our blatantly overlooked tribe.”
All works shown are by CLUSTER collectively
2. What values anchor the group today?
The heart of CLUSTER is a commitment to meeting regularly with openness and respect. One of the members wanted to emphasize honesty as a guiding principle, and that set the tone for every project that followed. These conversations—sometimes challenging, always genuine—have helped the group maintain a balance between support and critique, between laughter and serious artistic inquiry.
3. What has the monthly handoff taught you about trust and authorship?
We often work collaboratively, passing artwork from one member to the next in a kind of exquisite-corpse fashion. Trust has developed naturally from years of sharing stories and showing work. “The shared authorship felt quite natural,” they reflected. “We were proud of our ability to mesh so well, and all of us were surprised and delighted by the results.”
4. Which prompt sparked the biggest shift?
Our prompt in one collaborative project—So What—was the one that changed everything. Because each artist worked in solitude, no one could see the cumulative shifts until the very end. That prompt asked each member to bring the piece to completion on behalf of the whole group. The result was both surprising and transformative, underscoring the value of trusting one another’s instincts.
5. A pivotal moment together?
CLUSTERS’s participation in SUPERMARKET, an international alternative art fair in Stockholm, Sweden, was a defining experience. Preparing for their first collaboration abroad solidified the group’s identity. They leaned into each member’s strengths, organized collectively, and bonded—sometimes simply over the hotel’s breakfast buffet—before presenting their work on an international stage.
5. Advice for others hoping to start their own CLUSTER?
It begins with a genuine connection. “It’s important to genuinely like both the work and the people,” they noted. “Respect is non-negotiable. Allow the group to evolve naturally and give time for trust to take root.”
5. What do you most hope viewers carry away?
For CLUSTER, cooperation itself is the art form. Beyond the skill, the styles, and the clever adaptations, the simple act of working together stands out. “Given the world we are living in now, the basic idea of selfless cooperation rises to the top,” they shared. It is a reminder that art can be as much about process and partnership as it is about the final result.
Our Out and About blogs are curated by mixed-media artist Cami Smith, Fiber Art Now’s media manager and community engagement coordinator.