2016 A.R.T. Artist Judy Thompson's Homestead Series!

 "Prairie Schoolmates"

artwork ©Judy Thompson

 

The Homestead Series on the Road Again. 

Judy Thompson's Homestead Series, will be on exhibition at the Aberdeen Recreation and Cultural Center for the months of September and October.  The Aberdeen Recreation and Cultural Center is a multifaceted arts and community center that which provides programming in the visual arts, dance, music, theater, and special interest areas.

The Homestead Series was created during an artist's residency at the Homestead National Monument in Beatrice, NE and celebrates the the Western Movement of the United States through the signing of the Homestead Act of 1862 by President Abraham Lincoln. In addition to the 12 original watercolors in the series,Silver Lake Reflections will also be, the cover image for the national best seller, Pioneer Girl, the Annotated Autobiography by Laura Ingalls Wilder, published by the South Dakota Historical Society Press.

 Official Cover Art 

artwork ©Judy Thompson

Judy is also excited to announce that she has just completed the cover art for another SDHSP book: Pioneer Girl Perspectives: Exploring Laura Ingalls Wilder, edited by Nancy Tystad Koupal.  This volume explores Wilder's legacy and her creative process and will be available the spring of 2017 to celebrate Laura Ingalls Wilder's 150th birthday.

Tim Arand-McIlrath - "A Fiberartist Journey- 50+Years of Making Fiberart"

Tim Arand-McIlrath has an exhibit of his work currently on view at the Clear Lake Arts Center, Clear Lake IA. The exhibit "A Fiberartist Journey- 50+Years of Making Fiberart" will be on view through Oct.3, 2017. 

Fiberart has been my artistic expression for most of my life. Color, texture and the "feel" of fabric have always been important to me. In an undergraduate printmaking course, I was first exposed to the idea for printing on fabric. My graduate study led to exposure to many possibilities for making fiberart. My skills as a print and dye artist developed, as well as being exposed to the creative uses of crochet. 

My journey as a fiberartist has had four sections.  I began my creative exploration using photographic images and repeat pattern to screen print textiles. My artistic output included primarily yardages, hangings and quilts. 

The need for more dimensional work led me to feltmaking. My use of feltmaking included felting wool fiber unto wool fabric, producing highly textured surfaces because of the shrinkage. The concept of layering and exposing under layers was a major part of my journey with felt. 

Initially, my interest in building three dimensional forms came from the need to learn basketmaking for my teaching. I began building forms, then began inhabiting the forms with crocheted webs and eventually incorporating found objects. 

Upon retirement I took a break from art making but eventually my artistic nature led me to begin again, starting with painting but quickly led to using crochet to embellish the painted surface. Eventually I began revisiting my screen printed fabric and adding crocheted surfaces to create new artistic exressions. I found myself being really attracted to the many different approaches that are used to create fabric for clothing. This led me to recycling fabric from garments as backgrounds and creating new environments using crocheted yarn over the fabric backgrounds. 

I have had an incredible "love affair" with fiber and fabric and see myself keeping on creating new artwork as long as possible.

"Connecting With Nature Through Sculpture" Exhibit by 2016 A.R.T. Artist Bill Lieb!

 
Bill Lieb has a one-man exhibit of his work at the Dickinson County Nature Center in Okoboji, Iowa.  The exhibit, titled "Connecting With Nature Through Sculpture", is on display until the end of September. It includes photos and models of six of his large site-specific public sculptures located throughout the Iowa Great Lakes Region and Spencer.
 
Also included as part of the exhibit are photos of his most recent 'Bird Series' kinetic sculptures, each over ten feet tall with three moving parts activated by the wind.  One of these sculptures, Bird Series No. 3, has been installed on the hillside just south of the Nature Center. Two other 'Bird Series' sculptures are displayed and available at Art on 16th gallery in Spirit Lake and Bijou Gallery in Okoboji.
 
Bill is a long-time member and treasurer of the Artisans Road Trip. He is a retired architect who has completed more than 200 sculptures and paintings over the past 13 years. He can be contacted at 712.330.7295. His work will be on display during the 2016 Artisans Road Trip at his home.