Riffe Gallery to Present "Material Pulses: 8 Viewpoints"

COLUMBUS, Ohio—The Ohio Arts Council's Riffe Gallery will present Material Pulses: 8 Viewpoints from May 12 - July 16, 2016. Nancy Crow, an internationally recognized quilt-maker and the co-founder of Quilt Surface Design Symposium and Quilt National, will curate the exhibition of quilts and textiles. 

"Material Pulses: 8 Viewpoints is the culmination of my mission to bring back the majesty, strength, and energy of textile works, particularly large quilts," Crow said. 

Though curated by Ohio-born Crow, the exhibition features eight international artists from the Midwest to the Southwest, Canada to the United Kingdom (UK). These artists investigate color, pattern, and size through traditional and experimental quilt-making applications. 

 FEATURED ARTISTS 

 Mary Lou Alexander | Hubbard, OH
 Claire Benn | Betchworth, Surrey, UK
 Elizabeth Brandt | Holland, Mich. 
 Christine Mauersberger | Cleveland, OH
 Jan Myers-Newbury | Pittsburgh, Pa.
 Denise L. Roberts | Albright, W. Va. 
 Jayne Willoughby | Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
 Barb Wills | Prescott, Ariz. 

EVENTS

Opening Reception | Thursday, May 12, 5 - 7 p.m.
Join us for the public opening reception and be the first to view these never-before-exhibited artworks. A trio from the Ohio Fingerstyle Guitar Club will perform thanks to generous support from the Greater Columbus Arts Council. 

Curator's Tour | Friday, May 13, noon - 1 p.m.
Nancy Crow will lead an in-depth tour discussing each exhibiting artists and her selection process, as well as current techniques and trends in contemporary quilt-making. 

Fiber Collage with Patty Mitchell: Free Family Workshop | Saturday, May 21, 2 - 4 p.m.
Explore new materials through ripping, cutting, drawing, beading, and stitching with OAC Artist in Residence Patty Mitchell. Put these techniques to use on an individual quilt or collaborate with a group. This workshop is geared toward children ages 6 and up. All children must be accompanied by registered adult. Register at riffegallery.org from May 12 – May 20. 

Layering Words with Wendy McVicker: Free Writing Workshop | Thursday, June 9, 5:30 – 8 p.m. 
Immersed within the Material Pulses exhibition, Athens poet and OAC Artist in Residence Wendy McVicker will lead a free writing workshop based around the possibilities of material, texture, color, and pulse. Integrating the dimension of the spoken word, Wendy will engage participants in a collaborative poetry reading and invite them to stir their own words to life. Please register in advance at riffegallery.org from May 12 – June 6. 

ARTIST DEMONSTRATIONS | While you browse the Material Pulses exhibition, watch original art unfold before your eyes. 

Piecing Pattern with Donalee Kennedy | May 13, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. & May 18, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. 
Quilt-maker and pattern designer Donalee Kennedy will create an improvisational, machine-pieced wall-hanging quilt-top using her own fabric designs. 

Dyeing to See the Surface with Jeanie Coy Auseon | July 7 & July 13, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. 
Columbus mixed media 2D artist Jeanie Coy Auseon will create original surface designs using various printmaking, stamping, and dyeing techniques on silk and canvas.  

Riffe Gallery admission, events, and programming are free and open to the public.

Material Pulses: 8 Viewpoints is produced by the OAC's Riffe Gallery. Media support is provided by CD102.5, CityScene, Ohio Channel, WOSU, Ohio Magazine, and WCBE 90.5 FM.

LOBBY EXHIBITION

VSA Ohio's  Accessible Expressions 2016 | June 6 – July 7
This statewide touring exhibition celebrates its 20th year of presenting visual art created by artists of all ages with disabilities. See it in the first floor lobby of the Vern Riffe Center for Government and the Arts, directly outside the OAC’s Riffe Gallery. 

About the Riffe Gallery: The Ohio Arts Council's Riffe Gallery showcases the work of Ohio's artists and the collections of the state's museums and galleries. The Riffe Gallery is located in the Vern Riffe Center for Government and the Arts, across from the Statehouse on High Street in Downtown Columbus. The gallery is free and open to the public.

ABOUT THE RIFFE GALLERY
The Ohio Arts Council's Riffe Gallery showcases the work of Ohio's artists and the collections of the state's museums and galleries. The Riffe Gallery is located in the Vern Riffe Center for Government and the Arts, across from the Statehouse on High Street in Downtown Columbus. The gallery is free and open to the public.

ABOUT THE OHIO ARTS COUNCIL
The Ohio Arts Council is a state agency that funds and supports quality arts experiences to strengthen Ohio communities culturally, educationally, and economically. Connect with the OAC on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, or visit our website at oac.ohio.gov.

Image: Elizabeth Brandt,The Habits of Being, 2015 © Elizabeth Brandt, 100.5” x 63.25,” Cotton fabric, polyester batting and thread, Photo: William Morgan.  

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