Below the Surface: A 21st-Century Look at the Prairie
June 12 to September 6, 2009
Opening reception June 12, 5:00 - 6:30 pm
Although the native tallgrass prairie of the upper Midwest is but a remnant of its former glory, prairie plants, animals and places continue to inspire artists in the 21st century. Below the Surface explores contemporary views of our place and its natural history, infused with overtones of the cultures that now live on the lands that were once a sea of grass.Natural history is one way to define a place based on close observation of the flora and fauna. This exhibition will also include some historical examples of earlier natural histories of the region as a way to explore how the act of looking and seeing where we are have changed.Curated by Lesley Wright, Faulconer Gallery Director. Artists include: Delores De Wilde Bina, Matilda Essig, Barbara Fedeler,Justin Gibbens, Wendy Hollander, Carl Kurtz, Sally Kuzma, Jin Lee, Peggy Macnamara, Marguerite Perret, Joseph Scheer, John Spence, Priscilla Steele, Tilly Woodward. There will also be a selection of photographs by David Ottenstein, a recent gift to the Center for Prairie Studies, and a selection of prints from Prairie Suite, a Center for Prairie Studies commissioned portfolio.
Sponsored by Prairie Studies and Iowa Prairie Network
Justin Gibbens, Conjunctive Barn Owls, 2008, Watercolor, graphite, gouache, acrylic, coffe on paper, 30.25x44.5", Courtesy of Elizabeth Leach Gallery
Small Expressions
June 12 - September 6, 2009
Small Expressions 2009, is sponsored by the Handweavers Guild of America, Inc. This annual exhibition of small scale works is limited to fiber techniques such as weaving, spinning, basketry, felting, beading, and papermaking. Finished pieces may not exceed 15 inches (38 centimeters) in any direction, including any and all mounting or display devices. This year's juror is Arturo Alonzo Sandoval, Alumni-Endowed Professor of Art at the University of Kentucky, Lexington. Sandoval is a fiber artist whose experimental techniques and expressive interpretations have earned him an international reputation. His work can be seen in the collections of the New York City Museum of Modern Art's Architecture and Design Collection, as well as galleries and private collections throughout the United States and the world.
Handweavers Guild of America
Midwest Weavers
Historic Valley Junction Fiber Arts
