TOPSHAM

“Masters: Contemporary Fiber Art,” is on view at Maine Fiberarts, 13 Main Street, Topsham now through June 28. The exhibition includes work by 16 Maine artists including woven tapestries, art quilts, embroidered objects, artist books, handmade paper, sewn paintings, and knit sculpture. A reception will be held on Sunday, June 1, from 2-5 p.m. and several of the artists will speak about their work starting at 2:30 p.m. The event is free, and the public is encouraged to see this spectacular work created by Maine artists.

Artists included are: Barbara Burns, Elizabeth Busch, Susan Carlson, Katharine Cobey, Allison Cooke Brown, Gayle Fraas, Duncan Slade, Paul Hollingsworth, Emi Ito, Richard Lee, Roslyn Logsdon, Cynthia McGuirl, Arlene Morris, Michael Patterson, Jill Snyder Wallace, and Jill Vendituoli. These artists have achieved a level of “mastery” through years of trial and error, a perfection of technique, a willingness to take risks or to experiment, a desire to let materials speak, and/or a proficiency in expression.

Throughout Maine Fiberarts’ gallery, you will see a scarlet butterfly sewn into a quilt using thousands of scraps of fabric; a handmade paper “forest” appearing to float on air; an eight-foot-tall knitted cormorant struggling against the bombed oil fields of the Gulf War; and a see-through dress knit of wire. Two woven portraits, an embellished iron, and a sheer linen book revealing sewing machine nudes are also included. This is work to admire, to investigate, and to ponder, and the exhibition reflects well on the state of contemporary Maine fiber art.

Since the year 2000, Maine Fiberarts has hosted exhibitions that change every two or three months. Work by the quilters of Gee’s Bend, Alabama will be on view in the galleries during July and August. The statewide arts nonprofit currently hosts a free online Fiber Resource Guide, Bulletin, and Folio to promote Maine’s fiber community. Visit the group in Topsham Tuesday-Friday, 10-4, Saturday, 11-2, or online at www.mainefiberarts.org.

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