Tara’s new work on display

effloresce (ˌɛflɔːˈrɛs) vb (intr), to burst forth into or as if into flower; bloom, Tara Jon Manning, 2021.  Mixed media fiber art piece, Approx 24x24x6”

After 20 years as a hand knitting designer, I am returning to my fine art roots. But I could not leave the wool very far behind. My recent explorations have included hand dying, hand spinning, felt making in all its guises, and lots of handwork. I moved to a new town just months before COVID-19 lockdown. I spent a lot of time in isolation with my catfriend Kitty McCree. When I recently joined the local Louisville (CO) Art Association, I was drawn (or maybe felt) to participate in the LAA summer member’s show,  “Emergence.” I decided to explore the feeling of wanting to bust out and rejoin my world. This new felt and art doll piece, effloresce, shows how it feels to be emerging from COVID and from a few years of big changes. effloresce will be on display at

East Simpson Coffee Company, 201 E. Simpson St. in Lafayette, Colorado. (720) 502-7010

Reception: Friday, July 9, 4-7 pm
​(In conjunction with Art Night Out Lafayette)

and vote for effloresce as the people’s choice.

effloresce technique details: handmade felt using dry needling and Nuno wet felting techniques.  Felt materials: hand dyed wool fiber (Merino, Gotland), silk fiber and silk chiffon. Hand sewn figures materials: commercially woven cotton cloth, commercial wool felt, hand dyed wool locks, polyester and cotton thread.