Back by popular demand is Markeim Arts Center’s annual fibers and fabrics show, but this year with a twist — MAC invites artists to submit contemporary and innovative work to Fiber, Fabrics & Foundry.
The Fiber, Fabrics & Foundry exhibition at the MAC will run from March 8 through March 30. MAC will be accepting submissions for the exhibition March 2 to 4.
“We try to share art with the community, that includes artists that use this material and (all of) the community to allow them to think of art in a different way, as it is not traditional,” Jenny Graham-Hougah, director of events and special programing, said.
MAC has been hosting the Fiber and Fabrics exhibition at its gallery for years. However, this year it decided to open it to foundry.
Fiber and fabric art refers to fine art whose material consists of natural or synthetic materials, plus other components, such as beads or yarn. Foundry refers to work created using metal, glass or both. All of this work focuses on the materials, on the manual labor on the part of the artist as part of the works’ significance, and prioritizes aesthetic value over utility.
“At Markeim, we offer a lot of opportunities for artists to exhibit their work. There are typically not a lot of opportunities to highlight these materials… We’re taking it out of the everyday use and celebrating the materials as aesthetic pieces,” Graham-Hougah said.
Graham-Hougah hopes members of the community come to the exhibition and get a deeper appreciation for the aesthetic value of the art.
“These materials are manipulated in a way to be beautiful. They are used in everyday items, and this takes the materials out of the everyday, and the artists use them for beauty. (I hope the community) gets a deeper appreciation for what these artists do and connect with the pieces,” Graham-Hougah said.
An opening reception will be held on Friday, March 11 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., giving the community the opportunity to mingle and speak to the artists. On March 12, MAC will also host its first of the year Free Art Community Event in connection with this exhibit. From 9 a.m. to noon, the public can have an interactive experience with Fiber, Fabrics & Foundry.
There will be papermaking (making paper with paper pulp), a seek-and-find worksheet, games, refreshments and more available, allowing the public to interact and form a social connection with the art.
“It gets you to look at the artwork in a different way, a more personal and meaningful way. The artists get a chance to display their artwork and get these materials into public, and the public gets to interact in a positive way with this artwork,” Graham-Hougah said.
Fiber, Fabrics & Foundry will be a juried exhibition. However, Graham-Hougah said anyone is allowed to enter.
“If someone feels that they are an amateur artist, it is still fun to submit to your local art center; it is fun to always try to get out there.
“You should feel comfortable with your local art center,” Graham-Hougah said.
Risa Batterman-Dera will be the juror for the show. Batterman-Dera is a contemporary stained glass artist. She works in the copper foil method of stained glass popularized by Louis Tiffany in the early 1900s, which allows for graceful lines and intricate detail.
The awards are $125 for Best in Show, $75 for Best Youth Entry, $75 for First Prize and $50 for Honorable mentions.
For submissions, artists must complete an entry form and pay a non-refundable fee of $20 for members and $15 for non-members for one to three pieces. Further details on submissions and the exhibition can be found at www.markeimartscenter.org/calendar/fiber-fabrics-foundry/.
