Cecilia Ho, SC Arts Commission Certified Teaching-Artist (161)

2020 MAC Award winner, The SEW-Eurodrive Minority Teaching Artist Fellow

Wool Love

BIO:
Cecilia Ho of Greenville, SC was born into a family of fashion and interior designers in Hong Kong. During her last residence in Nova Scotia, Canada, the local sheep farms influenced her passion and direction into felting and fiber arts.
Since her relocation to South Carolina late 2013, Cecilia has continued to practice and demonstrate her felting skills. She has become a fiber art instructor since the inception of Greenville Center of Creative Arts in May 2015, as well at Spartanburg Art Museum. Cecilia has been a guest instructor at multiple Fiber Festivals since 2012 across USA, Canada & Germany. She often holds felting demonstrations at museums & art fairs ie Artisphere Art Lab (2016-2020), High Museum of Art in Atlanta (2018), & Smithsonian affiliations museums.

"Felt It. Love it. Treasure It." is how Cecilia creates memories through the process of felting. “FELT Expressions” is her traveling solo exhibition which had showcased in 4 cites across SC, while she enjoys taking part in juried art exhibitions & fashion shows. Cecilia is a South Carolina Arts Commission Certified Teaching Artist running fiber arts integration (STEAM) units to k4-12 students from local & regional public & private schools. Through SmartARTS program, Cecilia collaborates with Greenville County School teachers to conduct fiber art & academic learning integration units to K4 - 8th grade elementary students.

FELTasticFashion is a business created in 2011 to offer Ashford NZ wool fibers, Clover felting supplies, all-inclusive felting DIY kits, private workshops, group events, as well as customized wool felt commissions.
Booth 522 at Westside Market Greenville SC. Daily Inspiration on FB/IG @FELTasticFashion www.FELTasticFashion.com

 

ARTIST STATEMENT:​

I love wool because I can “Felt It. Love It. Treasure It.” Felting with colorful wool fibers allows me to create memories with unique decorative yet functional pieces to treasure. By applying the unusual wool materials in my work, it will drive conversation and also creative and innovative ideas with my audience.
 

Cecilia's original works have been custom made & showcased around the world through her first public felt work entry to The Woolmark Company WE LOVE WOOL campaign (September 2011), followed by taking part of an juried show, Felt: Future Contemporary Felt Fashion Show in British Columbia (September 2013). After the relocation from Nova Scotia, Canada, to Greenville, South Carolina, Cecilia has spent more times to create new felt works and participated in many exhibitions in the Carolinas ie CONTEXTILE Fashion Show in Spartanburg Art Museum (January 2016); "Couture for a Cause" Recycle Runway in Greenville (September 2017 & 2018); “Unnatural History” Contemporary Exhibition in Spartanburg Art Museum (Dec 2017 - Mar 2018) ; "Flat Out Under Pressure" at Metropolitan Arts Council in Greenville (2018, 2019, 2020 & 2022); "Greenville Open Studios" artist in Greenville (2019, 2020, 2021 & 2023); "FELT Expressions" Solo Exhibition in Spartanburg, Greer & Greenville (2020-2021); “GCCA Member Show“ in Greenville Center for Creaive Arts (2015 - 2023); “Cecilia Ho - FELTasticFashion” Solo Exhibition in Spartanburg (2023).

Since 2012, Cecilia has also conducted multiples felting demonstrations & has taught over 1500 students in felting workshops to all age groups (youngest at 2.5 years old & oldest in the 80s) including:

  • Mini Maker Faire (Greenville SC)
  • Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair (Asheville NC)
  • Upcountry History Museum (Greenville SC)
  • Greenville Center for Creative Arts First Friday (Greenville SC)
  • Spartanburg Art Museum Art Walk (Spartanburg SC)
  • Asheville Art Museum First Friday (Asheville SC)
  • SC Organization for Organic Living Homesteading Festival (Williamston SC)
  • National Association for Developmental Education NADE conference
  • Maker Festival + Creativ Festival (Toronto ON)
  • Nova Scotia Designer Craft Council Summer Craft Fair (Halifax NS)
  • Art & Craft Fairs (Waynesville, Highlands & Brevard, NC; Buckhead, GA; Traveler’s Rest SC)
  • Local elementary, middle & high school students and 4H communities

 

Artistry Experience:

1) Prepared and conducted felting demonstrations and hands-on interactive projects at schools : 

- 11 art integration units since 2018, acting as SmartARTS Teaching-Artist at Greenville County Schools (K4 - 8th grade + SPED)

Tigerville Elementary (k4-5th grades in Jan-Feb 2018) ; 

Beck Academy (6-8th grades in Dec 2018 & April 2019) ;

Mountain View Elementary (3rd - 5th grades in Jan - Mar 2019) ; 

Stone Accademy (3rd grades in Mar 2019) ; 

Blythe Academy ( 4th-5th Challenge in Sept -Oct 2019) ; 

Greenville Middle Academy ( 6-8th grade French Immersion in Jan -Feb 2020) ; 

Taylors Elementary (3rd grade in Mar 2020) ; 

Mitchell Road Elementary (1st - 2nd grades in Apr - May 2021) ; 

Rudolph Gordon Elementary (5th grade in Sept 2021) ; 

Sterling School (3rd grade CTC in Oct 2021) ; 

Mitchell Road Elementary (k4 in Mar 2022)

Sterling School (3rd grade Science in Sept 2023) ;

Summit Drive Elementary (5th grade Science in Oct 2023) ;

Tanglewood Middle (7th grade Social Studies in April 2024)


- 24 Artist in Residence (3-5 days) at local & regional schools across SC since 2017 : 

Christ Church Episcopal School (4th grade in Sept 2017) ; 

Spartanburg Day School (3rd & 4th grades in Dec 2019 & 2021) ; 

Stone Academy (3rd grade in Feb 2020) ; 

Honea Path Elementary (k4 - 5th & SPED in Dec 2020) ; 

Duncan SC Spartanburg School District 5 Summer Camp (June 2021) ; 

Saluda River Academy for the Arts, West Columbia (2nd & 4th grades in Nov 2021) ; 

Spartanburg Day School, Spartanbuirg SC (3rd & 4th grades 3-day in Dec 2021) ; 

Brushy Creek Elementary School (4th grade in April 2022) ;

Ashley River Creative Arts Elementary, Charleston SC (3rd & 5th grades in April 2022) ; 

Stone Academy (2nd grade in Sept 2022) ;

Spart1 Campobello Gramling School, Campobello, SC (4th, 5th & 8th grade Art 1 4-day in November 2022) ;

Saluda River Academy for the Arts, West Columbia (k5 & 5th grade 4-day in Nov 2022) ;

Sterling School/Charles Townes Center, Greenville SC (3rd grade 5-day in Jan 2023) ;

Spart6 Roebuck Elementary, Roebuck SC (3rd - 5th Horizons in Jan 2023) ;

Spart6 Jesse S Bobo Elementary, Spartanbuirg SC (3rd - 5th Horizons in Jan 2023) ;

Spart6 Fairforest Elementary (3rd - 5th Horizons in Jan - Feb 2023) ;

Spart6 Anderson Mill Elementary, Moore SC (3rd - 5th Horizons in Feb 2023) ;

Spart6 Woodland Heights Elementary, Spartanbuirg SC (3rd - 5th Horizons in Jan 2023) ;

Spart6 Lone Oak Elementary, Spartanbuirg SC (3rd - 5th Horizons in Feb 2023) ;

Spart6 Aracdia Elementary, Spartanbuirg SC (3rd - 5th Horizons in Mar 2023) ;

Spart6 Pauline-Glenn Springs Elementary, Spartanbuirg SC (3rd - 5th Horizons in Mar 2023) ;

Spart6 Westview Elementary, Spartanbuirg SC (3rd - 5th Horizons in Mar & Apr 2023) ;

Spart3 Cannon Elementary, Spartanbuirg SC (3rd - 4th grade 4-week in Apr & May 2023) ;

Spart1 OP Earle Elementary, Landrum SC (4th grade 5-day in April 2023)


- 13 Artist Visit (1-day) at school since 2016 in SC : 

St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School (4th grade in 2016) ; 

Bell’s Crossing Elementary Felt Factory  (2nd grade in May 2017 & 2018) ; 

Lyman Elementary Art Encounter (4th grade in Nov 2019 & 2022) ; 

Belton Elementary Anderson District 2 Summer Program (June 2021) ; 

Sterling School April Arts Community Night (2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023) ;

Beck Academy Middle School International Day, Greenville SC (800 students 6-8th grade in Mar 2023) ;

River Spring Elementary, Irmo SC (LexRich5 99 students of 5th grade in April 2023)


- 3 years Teaching Artist for Fine Arts Center “Explore the Arts” Summer Program (4th-8th grades) (2017-2019)


2) Prepared and conducted felting demonstrations and hands-on interactive projects at PUBLIC events : 

- Presenter, Palmetto State Art Education PSAE Arts Integration Conference, Columbia SC (Oct 2022)

- Facilitator, SmartARTS Education Institute (2019 & 2021)

- Facilitator, South Carolina Art Education Association SCAEA Conference, Greenville SC (2018, 2019, 2022)

- Presenter, Extra Yard for Teachers, Atlanta, GA (Jan 2018)

- Presenter, MakEdu Conference Presentation for Educators & Teachers, Atlanta, GA (Oct 2017)

- Demonstrator, Upstate Juneteenth (June 2022)

- Demonstrator, Hands-on Greenville, United Way (April 2022)

- Demonstrator, Artisphere Art Lab (2016 - 2020) 

- Demonstrator, iMAGINE Upstate STEAM Festival (2016 - 2017) 

- Demonstrator, First Friday Art School Open House at Greenville Center for Creative Arts (2015 - present) 

- Demonstrator, First Thursday ArtWalk at Spartanburg Art Museum (2015 - present)

- Guest Artist, Greenville County Recreation Community Centers (Freetown & Sterling) (2021)

- Guest Artist, The Children’s Museum of the Upstate (2019-2020) 

- Guest Artist, Upcountry History Museum (2016 & 2018)

- Guest Artist, Charlotte NC Discovery Place Science, "Genghis Khan" Exhibition Opening (Nov 2016)  


3) Prepared Adults and Kids Felting Workshops (3-6 hours workshops all year round) at : 

- Greenville Center for Creative Arts, Greenville, SC (2015 - present) 

- Spartanburg Art Museum, Spartanburg, SC (2015 - present) 

- Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair Event Workshop, Asheville, NC (2015 - present)

- Furman University OLLI (2019 - present)

- Rolling Green Village Senior Living (2022 - present)

- Simpsonville Arts Center, Make and Believe Artists, Simpsonville SC (2023 - present)

- Fiberworld Virtual Fiber Show (2021-2022)

- Stitches West Expo, Santa Clara CA (2018)


4) Participated in exhibitions and fiber art competitions with Cecilia Ho's original fiber art works :

- MAC Gallery Joint Exhibition “Wonder of Wool” (Jan - Feb 2022)

- MAC Gallery 12x12 Exhibition (2019 - 2022)

- MAC Greenville Open Studios Artist (2019 - 2021)

- MAC Flat Out Under Pressure Artist (2018 - 2020 & 2022 ; Committee Award in 2018)

- Greenville Center for Creative Arts GCCA Annual Member Show, Greenville SC (2016 - 2022)

- Greenville Center for Creative Arts GCCA Opening Exhibition by Founders & Instructors (Apr - May 2015)

- Fiber Art Now, Teacher Excellence 2020 Grant winner, Fiber Art Network (Worldwide)

- Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Exhibit, Greer Center for the Arts (Apr - June 2022)

- “Camperdown Art Houzze Art Walk” Winter 2022, Camperdown Plaza, Greenville SC (Feb - Apr 2022)  

- “Friends of the Library Award”, 8th Annual Juried Exhibition, Spartanburg County Public Libraries (July-Sept 2021)

- GSP 3D Show, GSP Airport Connentions Gallery (July - Sept 2021)

- “FELT Expressions” Solo Exhibition (Spartanburg July-Sep 2020; Greer Nov 2020-Jan 2021; Greenville July 2021)

- “A Common Thread: Textiles Past and Present (Invitational Exhibition), The Arts Center of Greenwood (Nov 2020 - Jan 2021)

- Artists Collective Spartanburg SC 2nd Annual Juried Exhibit (July - Aug 2020)

- Artisphere Artists of the Upstate Juried Exhibition (Virtual Oct 2020)

- Art Goes Viral, Metropolitan Arts Council Virtual Gallery Exhibition (May - June 2020)

- “Unnatural History” Contemporary Art Exhibit, Spartanburg Art Museum (Dec 2017 - Mar 2018)

- “Couture for a Cause” Recycled Fashion Runway Show, Greenville, SC (2017-2018)

- Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair Fiber Art Competition, Asheville NC (2015-2017) 

- 10x10=100 Exhibit, Greenville Center for Creative Arts, SC (Dec 2016 - Jan 2017) 

- CONTEXTILE Fashion Show, Spartanburg Art Museum, Spartanburg SC (Jan 2016) 

- Unseen Greenville, Greenville Center for Creative Arts, SC (Dec 2015 - Jan 2016) 

- Canadian Contemporary Felt :: Feutre Felt Fashion Show, British Columbia, Canada (Sept 2013)


5) Private Collection with Cecilia Ho's original fiber art works

- “Under the Stars” purchased by the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville SC (2022)

- “Liberty Bridge at Falls Park” (multiples) commissioned by various private collectors (2016 - 2022)

- “Colorful Sky” purchased by private collector from Columbia SC (2016)

- “200YR Poinsett Bridge”purchased by private collector (2020)

- “FELTasticGeode” (multiples) purchased by private collectors (2019 - 2021)

- “Koi” (multiples) purchase by private collectors (2020 - 2022)

- "Roar Tiger" commissioned by private collector (2022)

- “Aurora Sky” purchased by private collector from Travelers Rest SC (2023)

- “Blue Heron” purchased by private collector from Greenville SC (2023)


6) Juror & Publication & Media & Interview:

- Juror, 2022 SCAEA Western Region Youth Art Virtual Exhibition for Elementary, Middle & High Schools (Feb 2022)

- Juror, 2022-2023 Greenville County Schools District Middle Schools Art Show (Apr 2022)

- Judge, 2022 City of Greenville Fall for Greenville Tent Decoration (Oct 2022)

- Judge, 2023 Very Local Steam TV “Maker Nation Challenge” Greencille SC Series (July 2023)

- TV Interview, Your Carolina “City of Greer Center for the Arts: AAPI exhibition” (Apr 2022)

- TV Interview, Your Carolina “Cecilia Ho FELTasticFashion” (Jan 2023)

- Stream TV Interview, Very Local Greenville SC (Aug 2022)

- Publication Interview, Life in the Park, Hollingsworth Park Verdae (2021 & 2022)

- Publication Interview, Art That Endures Town Magazine, Greenville SC (May 2023, click below to view article)