“Shape Shifters: Fibers, Threads and Fabric”
April 12 – May 19, 2018
The Arts Center Gallery
Open Monday – Friday from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
and Saturdays from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Free and open to the public
In the exhibition business sometimes things don’t always go as planned. This exhibition began as a textile challenge last fall. Artists were given the winter to work on their projects. For many, life got in the way and they couldn’t complete their artworks. This happens sometimes and, as the saying goes, we learn to roll-with-the-punches.
So an exhibition that had size constraints and limited submissions per artist has evolved to include more work by less artists and a greater variety of sizes and shapes. But there will still be a variety textiles, fabric and woven fiber. The exhibition’s title, Shape Shifters, originally referred to a prescribed size of the artwork having at least one dimension of 12 inches (e.g. 12″ square or 12″ diameter). I thought this would be a manageable size for artists and the size constraint provided me with a pallet of objects that could be organized in grids and geometric configurations to create interesting installation opportunities.
In early March, realizing that the exhibition wasn’t moving forward as expected, I dropped the size restrictions and contacted other textile artists and private collectors to insure that the exhibition would continue as planned. The exhibition title, Shape Shifters it still appropriate, where before it referred simply to “size” configurations, it now expresses a different perspective. The notion that through the magic hands of artists, simple everyday materials are transformed–or shape shifted–into new, unique pieces of art.
The resultant exhibition features a group of fiber and textile arts including three-dimensional and two-dimensional artwork like quilts, baskets, weavings and more. The exhibit continues to grow but at this moment nine artists are involved, Lydia Richez-Bowman (Bismarck), Linda Olson (Minot), Sue Balcom (Mandan) Myra Olson, Joleen Reiland Lorenz, Emma Tressler, Bonnie Tressler & Doreen Strode (all of Jamestown) and Vicky Jo Bogart (Fargo).
Several of the artists have multiple pieces and we are lucky to be able to feature the textiles of our newest Arts Center staff member Myra Olson. Myra’s medium of choice is textile, not only does she create handmade artwork, but she raises the sheep, angora goats and alpacas that provide the raw materials for her pieces.
So you see, there is never a dull moment in the exhibition business. One must be flexible, accommodating and creative to find options when things don’t go as planned. It helps to have the connections of many artists and collectors to draw upon and I appreciate their willingness to share their artwork to augment this exhibition.
Photo credit: Mixed media fiber work by Joleen Lorenz
SPECIAL EVENT
The artists are invited to Meet & Greet Lunch on Wednesday, May 9 at noon. This is an opportunity for the public to see the exhibition and visit with the artists. A homemade lunch will be provided for $5 or, if you prefer, bring your own. RSVP by May 7 by calling 701-251-2496.
More Info: http://www.jaemstownarts.com
Event Start Date: 04/12/2017 Event End Date: 05/19/2017
Time: 9:00am - 5:00pm
Sally Jeppson
701-251-2496
sjeppson@jamestownarts.com
Location Name:
The Arts Center
Location Address:
115 2nd Street SW
Jamestown, ND58401
Event posting from www.JamestownCalendar.com