Four artists' work with fiber exhibited
Jan. 7, 2004
KALAMAZOO--"Pictorial Seams," an exhibiton of works by four artists whose source material is fibers, opens today in Sangren Hall Gallery II and continues through Jan. 21.
Presented by the School of Art at Western Michigan University, "Pictorial Seams" is free and open to the public 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, Jan. 7-21, except Monday, Jan. 19, when WMU will be closed in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
Curated by Jen Talbot of Chicago, a broader version of the show was presented last year at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
The intent of the exhibit is to challenge the historical position of fiber as a media, which has been traditionally, considered a craft. Talbot says, "...issues are explored through widely varied work using media not naturally associated with fiber such as photography and video. The artists within 'Pictorial Seams' are tied together by an exploration of implied history, examined through broad definitions of materiality, either by direct or implied reference to cloth, material and fiber."
Darrel Morris uses embroidery and applique as the media to depict vignettes from everyday life. The show features both diminutive and large-scale examples of his work.
Harvey Opgenorth is exhibiting color photographs from his "Museum Camouflage" series. These photographs document an hour-long performance in which he wears clothing that allows him to blend with artwork by artists Ellsworth Kelly, Cristopher Wool, Henri Matisse, Mark Rothko, and Helen Frankenthaler.
Lisa Clark and Talbot are presenting videos. Clark's video, "Unwind/Rewind," not only suggests people winding and unwinding spools of thread, but also emphasizes the characteristics intrinsic to the media. Talbot's video is accompanied by a color print of a production still and uses the figure in a fiber environment to suggest a variety of human experiences through gesture.
For additional information, contact the Exhibitions Office at 269-387-2455.
Media contact: Jackie Ruttinger, 269 387-2455, jacquelyn.ruttinger@wmich.edu