Projects > miniature clothing project

Miniature Clothing Project

"Communion" video by Erich Buenger

for more miniatures select miniatures under the art section

..........artist statement
People have such strong memories associated with certain clothing. They keep them for a reason. I'm taking a memory and making it more precious to them. I stand back in this process and let people tell me their stories. Their stories are just as important to them as mine are to me. This work is experiential in it's very nature. I produce miniature clothes as an intimate homage to acquaintances, and friends. Each surrendered garment becomes a miniature portrait of the individual it represents. All are hand-sewn. I use as much of the original seams and hems to keep as much of the integrity of the original as I possibly can. These pieces become precious in a way that may not have been previously conveyed. Through miniaturization, the originals are transformed in a way that lends a positive experience to the person who surrenders the garment, keeping intact the memory of each piece while allowing the viewer to explore the reasons and ideas of transitions in time and place.

..........others have said
His miniature commissions are among the most powerful art works I have come across. In them, Jon takes items of a client's clothing and reproduces these in miniature and then sets them alongside other items of miniaturised clothes. Collectively, they become a memory of ourselves and/or those around us. -Haydn Shaughnessy, Gallerist Cork County Ireland

"House and Garden: Twists on Domesticity," (Andy Warhol Foundation Grant) curator, Anne Arrasmith Space One Eleven, Birmingham, AL (catalogue with foreword by David Moos)
Coffelt's miniature clothes - each garment a portrait of a distinct individual - merges
the feminine, domestic chore of sewing with the act of painting. Instead of relying
upon his customary paintbrush and wooden panels, Coffelt is creating surrogate paintings with these patterned garments. This painterly emphasis, stressing the color, texture, weave and gloss of his chosen fabrics, is what separates Coffelt's undertaking from the painstaking labors of a miniaturist such as Charles LeDray. And like Beall, who often makes works in response to personal circumstances, or events, Coffelt produces clothes as intimate homages to acquaintances, and friends. - David Moos, Curator AGO (Art Gallery of Ontario), Toronto CN

"The Longest Winter," curated by Gean Moreno, critic, Florida Atlantic University, Damarys Ocana Boca Raton, FL
Coffelt sews, and if the story that he made his Clothing series while bedridden is to be believed, he fits into Moreno's idea snugly. The miniature items -- among them a flowered party dress, a shift, a fringed cowboy jacket, striped pajamas -- are the kind of obsessive, fetishistic work that, once discovered in some serial killer's home, addles the neighbors' evening news sound bites that though ''he was nice and mostly kept to himself, ''they knew all the time that there was something weird about him. -Damarys Ocana, Miami Herald, Miami FL

"Tiny Treasures"
The latter, a series of immaculately hand sewn miniature garments, will be on view
starting Friday at Space One Eleven, 2409 Second Avenue North, along with work by Karen Rich Beall and Carolyn Wade. Titled "House and Garden: Twists on Domesticity." Perfectly finished inside and out -- except for buttonholes, which proved impossible on the tiny scale that became his world -- each article took him about eight to 10 hours to complete. They're entirely sewn by and, although Coffelt does admit taking advantage of preexisting features, such as hems, when appropriate. "Doing these by hand is a commentary on our society," Coffelt noted. "Just about everything can be made by a machine, I chose the hard way to do this." -Nancy Raabe, The Birmingham News

"Familiar Reality: A Celebration of Alabama Art," curated by Georgine Clarke, Alabama State Council for the Arts, Montgomery, AL
Although at first glance the casual observer may assume these garments are skillfully sewn doll clothing, they are not. The artist refers to them as "relics", "soft sculpture", or "memory clothes." Each article originated as a vision Coffelt had of a particular person. This installation might be viewed as a type of quilt, a collage of treasured fabrics and memories. Each object provides thoughts about the significance and symbolism of garments as they represent the people who wear them. -Georgine Clarke, Art Gallery Director, Alabama State Council For the Arts, Montgomery AL

..........venues

2000
"House and Garden: Twists on Domesticity," Space One Eleven curator Anne Arrasmith (Andy Warhol Foundation Grant) Birmingham, AL (catalogue foreword by David Moos)

2001
"Realism and Everyday Life: A Survey," curated by Georgine Clark, Alabama State Council on the Arts, Montgomery AL

2002
"The Longest Winter," curated by Gene Moreno, Schmidt Center Gallery, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton FL (catalogue foreward by Gean Moreno)

2006
Dolly Parton has one of my miniatures. I presented it to her on one of concert trips to New York City.

2007
"Miniatures," curated by Marcia Wood, Marcia Wood Gallery Atlanta, GA

2007
"Contexture: Fabric/Fashion/Fantasy," curated by Clayton Colvin, Space 301, Mobile AL

2008
"Inside/Out," curated by Herb Williams, The Rymer Gallery, Nashville, TN, December

2008
"MEND: love, life, loss," curated by Mark Sloan, Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art, Charleston SC (catalogue)
MEND: love, life, loss (catalogue)
Charleston City Paper

2008 DAILY ART MUSE
Daily Art Muse
Coffelt-"Order From Chaos Chaos From Order"

2008
I was commissioned to miniaturize a cashmere beaded sweater for Frank Lloyd Wright's daughter, Catherine Wright who was the mother of actress Anne Baxter. The black beaded cashmere sweater was bought in Beverly Hills in the 1930's and the beads are real pearls.

2009
"FIBERARTS," January/February
FIberArts Coffelt
Jon Coffelt’s Memory Clothing was included in the Creative Process section. Coffelt uses cherished items of clothing to create miniature replica garments. Coffelt describes the miniatures as tiny symbols of people and events, folded in time.

2009
"Communion," Susan Hensel Gallery, Minneapolis MN, April
This video of Coffelt's Communion exhibition is by Erich Buenger of Minneapolis Minnesota.

2009
"Beyond The Border," International ART FAIR with IAO Projects, Salt Lake City UT held in San Diego, September

2009
"Two Colorists: Jon Coffelt/Michael Cherboka," curated by Julie Dunker and qi peng, The Livingroom Salt Lake City UT (Inauguration Exhibition)

2009
"The Makings of Memory," curated by Mia Kaplan, Ammo Arts New Orleans, October
Please note the Lawson sister's (Barbara, Becky and Betty) mother's dress that she wore at 4 years old is part of this exhibition. They presented this dress to her for her birthday in Feb 2010.

2010
"A Gathering" curated by Shannon Morris, Georgia State College and University Museum GCSU in Milledgeville Georgia, April

2011
"Hiding Places: Memory In Art" curated by Amy Chaloupka and Leslie Umberger, John Michael Kohler Art Foundation, Sheboygan, WI

#47
vintage fabric, thread, buttons
25.4 CM x 25 CM
2000
#422
Vintage wool crepe, thread, buttons
35.6 X 30.5 CM (14x12”)
#446
Cashmere, thread, buttons
17.8 x 25.4 CM(7x10”)
2021
#420
Fabric, thread, button
8.5 x 6”
#416
Fabric, thread, buttons
6 X 6"
#425
denim, rayon, fur, thread, snaps
8.5" x 6.5"
#430 A and B
Fabric, thread, elastic
8x6" 3x8"
#440
fabric, thread, buttons
6.5 x 7"
Mark Sloan
poly/wool blend, satin, thread, buttons
16x23 cm
About Coffelt's Memory Clothing Project
1993 to the present
412
silk, cotton, tulle, thread
15x15 cm
391, 392
polyester, rayon, thread, buttons
14x13 cm
433, 434
jersey knit, cotton, buttons, thread
18 cm x 18 cm
Miniature Clothing Project Install
fabric, thread, buttons, snaps
install variable
418
cotton twill, satin, thread, buttons
15x15 cm
387 verso
silk crepe, thread
6x28 cm
387
silk crepe, thread
6x28 cm
241
vintage fabric, thread, buttons,
371
camo canvas, cotton, thread, buttons, snaps
18x10 cm
429
fabric, thread, buttons
12 cm x 12 cm
2010
425
lace, thread
14 cm x 9 cm
2010
369
cotton, thread, buttons,
2008
12
cotton, thread, buttons
15.5x14 cm
17
cotton, thread, buttons
15.5x14 cm
19
linen, thread, buttons
15.5x14 cm
21
madras, thread, buttons
15.5cmx15 cm
23
faille, thread, buttons
15x14.5 cm
27
flannel, thread, buttons
15.5x14 cm
38
cotton, thread, buttons
15x14.5 cm
40
cotton, thread, buttons
16x15.5 cm
1996
395
cotton, thread, buttons,
11cm x 19cm
399
cashmere, thread, pearls
44
nylon, thread
22x15cm
45
cotton, thread, buttons
16x15.5 cm
51
ikat, thread, buttons
15.5x15 cm
58
mercerized cotton, thread, buttons
15.5x15 cm
59
polyester, thread, buttons
15x14.5 cm
61
cotton, thread, buttons
14.5x14 cm
63
fun fur, thread, buttons, chain
15.5x18 cm
64
flannel, thread, buttons
15.5x15 cm
66a
cotton, thread, buttons
15.5x15 cm
66b
cotton, thread
8x17 cm
69
polyester, thread, buttons
14x14 cm
70
cotton, thread, buttons
14.5x14.5 cm
76
cotton, thread, buttons
14.5x14.5 cm
78
cotton, thread, buttons
15.5x15 cm
83
cotton, thread, buttons
15.5x15 cm
82
cotton, thread, buttons,
87
cotton, thread, buttons
15.5x15 cm
90
cotton, thread, buttons
14.5x14.5 cm
91
cotton twill, thread
6.5x18 cm
93
cotton, thread, buttons
14.5x14.5 cm
94
cotton, thread, buttons
15x14.5 cm
99
microfiber, thread, buttons
14.5x14.5 cm
103
cotton, thread, buttons
16x15.5 cm
104
denim, thread, buttons
14x14 cm
106
cotton, thread, buttons
14.5x14.5 cm
108
cotton, thread, buttons
16x15.5 cm
110
linen, thread, buttons
15.5x15 cm
113
cotton, thread, buttons,
15x14.5 cm
118
viscose rayon, thread, buttons
16.5x16 cm
123
cotton twill, thread, buttons
14x12 cm
125
linen, thread, buttons
14.5x14.5 cm
132
satin, thread, buttons
15x15.5 cm
138
metallic vinyl, thread, snaps
15x14.5 cm
141a
viscose rayon, thread, buttons
8x18 cm
141b
viscose rayon, thread, buttons
6x16 cm
142
polyester, thread, buttons
12x18 cm
149
cotton, thread, buttons
14x18 cm
151
cotton, thread
6.5x18 cm
170a
felt, thread, buttons
16x15 cm
170b
felt, thread, buttons
8x16 cm
281
cotton, thread, buttons
14x14 cm
282
cotton, thread, buttons
14x13 cm
301a
cotton, thread, buttons
14x9 cm
301b
cotton, thread, buttons
8x14 cm
310
Cotton Blend, thread
7x5 cm
334
cotton, thread, buttons
15x15 cm
335
cotton, thread
12x22 cm
360
cotton, thread, buttons
10x10 cm
363
cotton, thread, buttons
15x15 cm
372
cotton flannel, rayon, thread, buttons
17x21 cm
373
wool, cotton, button
8x18 cm
374
2008
377
silk, thread, buttons
18x17 cm
379
cotton knit and thread
16x16.5 cm
380, 381, 382, 383
9x10 cm + 8.5x10.5 cm
388
cotton, thread, buttons
15x15 cm
393
cotton, thread, buttons
15x15.5 cm
402
yarn, thread
11cm x 19cm
2009
404, 405
cotton, thread, buttons, elastic, paint
8x10 cm, 7x8 cm
406
linen, thread, buttons
15x11 cm
407
wool, acetate, thread, metal pin
15.5x15.5 cm
409
cotton, satin thread, buttons
14x15 cm
410a
Cotton Flannel, thread, buttons
9x10 cm
410b
cotton flannel, thread
7x18 cm
423
silk, thread, sequins
14.5x15 com