2016 A.R.T. Artists at the 5th Annual Artist's Showcase in Orange City, IA!

 Artwork by 2016 A.R.T. artists (left - clockwise) Joanne Alberda, Judy Thompson, Timothy J. Arand-McIlrath and Pam Harp.  All images © property of the respective artist.

 

2016 Artisan Road Trip artists, Jo Alberda, Pam Harp, Tim Arand-McIlrath and Judy Thompson will be exhibiting artwork at the 5th Annual Artist's Showcase in Orange City, Iowa.

The Artist's Showcase is an art exhibit sponsored by Orange City Arts in conjunction with the Northwestern College art and theatre department. The Artists' Showcase: Orange City Arts Regional Exhibition offers an opportunity for artists to exhibit their work April 22-30, 2016 at the Northwestern College DeWitt Theatre Arts Center in Orange City IA, in conjunction with the production of Rabbit Hole. Regional artists (from Iowa or within a 350-mile radius of Orange City, IA) were invited to submit work to the juried exhibition. 

The Artist Reception will be from 6:00-7:00 pm. Saturday, April 30 before the final performance of The Rabbit Hole.  The art reception is open to the public.  Tickets for the Rabbit Hole can be reserved/purchased at:   boxoffice@nwciowa.edu

2016 A.R.T. Artist Hank Hall in National Ceramic Competition!

"Parade Ready"

(wheel-thrown and altered/mixed media teapot)

©Hank Hall

Hank Hall's "Parade Ready" teapot has been selected for the bi-annual 21^st San Angelo National Ceramic Competition hosted by the San Angelo Museum of Fine Art (SAMFA) in San Angelo, Texas. Hall's piece is one of 115 chosen out of 721 submitted works from across the U.S. and Canada. Juror Christy Johnson, retired Director of the American Museum of Ceramic Art in Pomona, CA, will speak about the exhibit and present awards at the opening reception on April 15 at SAMFA. 

Hall's "Parade Ready" has already received regional attention after being juried into the River to River Ceramic Exhibit at Coe College as part of the third bi-annual Iowa Clay Conference in Cedar Rapids in 2015 and the "Best in Show" award at the Iowa Crafts: 42 Exhibit at the Charles H. MacNider Museum in Mason City, Iowa, also in 2015.

"Parade Ready" is a wheel-thrown and altered teapot with a mixed media lid and handle, painted metal wheels, and a wooden ramp base. The non-functional teapot is made of bisque-fired cone 6 stoneware sprayed with green glitter paint on the outside and glazed inside. Hall says he likes to "break all the rules for making traditional teapots" and tries to "satisfy his own aesthetic" when creating a new piece. He adds, "If others get a kick out of my work, then it doesn't get any better than that."

Hall will attend the opening reception in San Angelo with the added benefit of participating in a day-long ceramic workshop with acclaimed ceramic artist Ron Meyers from Athens, Georgia. Meyers' workshop at the Old Chicken Farm Art Center in San Angelo will focus on wheel-thrown and altered clay. Other activities for selected artists include a Clay Symposium at Angelo State University that weekend.

Hall, an Artisans Road Trip participant, creates his one-of-a-kind clay, drawing, and mixed media pieces in his home. His work is represented at Art on 16th in Old Town Spirit Lake and at Summerwind Gallery (former location of Side Street Art and Framing) in Arnolds Park opening May 1. More information on Hall's work and artistic process can be found on Facebook at Hank Hall. 

2016 A.R.T. Artist Timothy J. Arand-McIlrath's Mixed Media Fiber Art Featured in Sioux Center, IA

 "Unsquared" - pieced fabric, chrocheted yarn -  copyright Timothy J Arand-McIlrath

 

Timothy J Arand-McIlrath's Mixed Media fiber art will be featured in the Garden Cafe at Sioux Center Health, Sioux Center Iowa for the months of April, May, and June.

 

"Entwined I & II" - acrylic paint, crocheted yarn - copyright Timothy J Arand-McIlrath

 

In the two dimensional pieces, the backgrounds are painted with acrylic paint, surface designed fabrics, and recently recycled fabrics from garments, sometimes embellished with found objects. The foregrounds have crocheted webs introduced onto the compositions.  Color, texture, repetition, and pattern have always been strong elements in the work. The compositions are based on my observations of the world around us.

(Gallery installation) - copyright Timothy J Arand-McIlrath

Folk art has long been an area of interest for me, as a source of inspiration. I have researched and collected folk art in all my travels.I have spent extended visits to Mexico and in particular to the Oaxaca area. The color, texture and freedom of expression have  always fascinated me.

I have been "accused" of having too much fun creating my art. Not possible in my world. Having fun is one of the prime motivators in my work. I love having viewers smile. I smile a lot while I am working on my art.