Sometimes an everyday job may inspire an artist. For fabric artist Salley Mavor, her work as a children’s-book editor opened the door to allow her to become an illustrator.
Her work will be on display from March to May at Greenville’s Upcountry History Museum.
Career as an artist
For over 45 years, Mavor has created hundreds of three-dimensional art pieces using fabric, embroidery and found objects.
“I use a distinctive blend of hand-stitching techniques that I’ve developed during my career,” Mavor said. “Each piece is presented as a tableau, with scenery, props and characters assembled in a shadow-box frame.”
Mavor has created stand-alone pieces and works as part of a series. Her art has also been photographed and reproduced in a variety of printed products, including 11 children’s books such as “Pocketful of Posies.”
Creating ‘Bedtime Stitches’
Mavor spent more than two years creating the illustrations used in Rebecca Bond’s book “My Bed: Enchanting Ways to Fall Asleep Around the World.” The story shows children from countries such as Afghanistan, Ghana, Brazil and the Netherlands as they sleep in their beds.
“I started by researching children, architecture, furnishings and landscapes of different regions around the world,” said Mavor. “I then sketched out the pages of a 32-page children’s book. After showing the mockup to my editor and getting the go-ahead, I gathered materials and started stitching.”
Along with the book’s release in September 2020, Mavor assembled her exhibit “Bedtime Stitches,” which showcases 18 pieces of original artwork featuring intricate designs made with a variety of materials, such as fabric, beads and wire.
The exhibit will run from March 2 to May 5 at the Upcountry History Museum in Greenville. It will be accompanied by interpretive boards and a short video to give visitors a look at Mavor’s process.
For more information, visit upcountryhistory.org.
By the numbers
- Over 45 years of work as a fabric artist
- Created hundreds of works
- Illustrated 11 children’s books
- Art has been shown in over 50 solo exhibitions
- “Bedtime Stitches” is Mavor’s third exhibition at the Upcountry History Museum
Want to go?
- Upcountry History Museum
- 540 Buncombe St., Greenville
- 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday and 1-5 p.m., Sunday
- Free for children age 2 and under, $9 for ages 3-18, $11 for ages 65 and up and college students, $12 per adult
