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.

2016 A.R.T. Artists Cherie Courter and Ron Netten!

Acrylic Paintings © Cherie Courter

Paintings by Cherie Courter are on exhibit at the Clear Lake Arts Center from April 3 through May 14.  Featured works depict a variety of landscape compositions inspired by different landforms observed across the state of Iowa.  Cherie’s works are done in acrylic paint on canvas and emphasize such elements as color, texture, pattern, and light.  They range in size from 11”x14” to 24”x30”; are framed in oak; with most pieces available for sale.

 Stoneware © Ron Netten

Ron Netten and Cherie have also recently installed an  exhibition in the windows of what is known to Storm Lake residents as the “Old Montgomery Ward Building” in downtown Storm Lake.  This building did, in fact, once house a Montgomery Ward Store, but is now used for storage.  When asked by the owner about the possibility of displaying their work in the front window areas the two artists jumped at the opportunity to make their art more visible in the community.  The exhibit consists of ceramic pieces by Ron and paintings by Cherie and is located east of Vista Theatre on Lake Avenue.  Pieces are available for sale by contacting artists directly and contact information is provided at the site.  The works in the space will rotate due to the demands of other exhibitions and art fairs, but Ron and Cherie will keep pieces on display as consistently as possible.

The artists have received many favorable comments about how the exhibit “dresses up main street”.  Be sure to stop by for a look if you are in the area!
 

Artisans Road Trip Artists on Exhibit at Clear Lake Arts Center!

A sampling of artwork showing in the

January-February exhibit at the Clear Lake Arts Center

(upper left - clockwise - Bruce Morrison, Timothy J Arand-McIlrath, 

Barb McGee, Linda Fries, Cherie Courter, Judy Hemphill and Marisa Sidles.)

All artwork © the respective artists.

The Artisans Road Trip has its first exhibition of the year!  Showing at the Clear Lake Arts Center; the exhibit began last Friday on January 8 and runs until Saturday, February 13.

This exhibit is actually the final exhibition for the artists participating in the 2015 Artisans Road Trip - soon we will have the 2016 A.R.T. group organized and will be looking forward to the new exhibition schedule for 2016! 

This is what is unique for the Artisans Road Trip - there are events and exhibitions lasting throughout the entire year, so be sure and look for what's new with A.R.T. in the region!

Be sure and take in the Clear Lake Arts Center exhibit - a great respite to enjoy during the cold months of winter...warm up with some great art! 

Hope to see more of you in 2016! 

 

Happy New Year from the Artisans Road Trip - See You in 2016!!!

"Late Winter Afternoon - Woodland Edge"

photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison

Happy New Year from the artists of the Artisans Road Trip!  We'd like to take a moment to thank you for making 2015 a great year and for supporting your local artists of this region!

Look for the future artists of the 2016 A.R.T. in the months ahead - as well as future exhibits held throughout the year!

Our next art exhibit starts in just over a week at the Clear Lake Arts Center in Clear Lake, Iowa!  The image above is just one sample of what will be showing and available at the CLAC!  The exhibition will open on January 8th and run through February 15th of 2016.  If you're in the Clear Lake area be sure and not miss out!

Also, if you would like to participate through the 2016 year as an artist of the Artisans Road Trip - its not too late!  Just download the prospectus from the A.R.T. web site and send it in by January 15th!  Enjoy the benefits of year around exhibits in quality galleries and art centers, your own web page and weekly to semi weekly blogs for free P.R. as well as advertising and full color brochures for 2016 - what better way for a Happy New Year in the arts!  Visit the Artisans Road Trip web site for more information and contacts - http://www.artisansroadtrip.com/

Happy New Year!!!

Clear Lake Arts Center A.R.T. Exhibition!

Many people may not realize it but the artists of the Artisans Road Trip participate in fine art gallery exhibitions throughout the year.  Many such exhibits become area traditions and the Clear Lake Arts Center is one such noted venue. 

 

17 Artisans Road Trip artists are being represented in an outstanding exhibit at the Clear Lake Arts Center in Clear Lake, Iowa this month and next!  The artists involved in this year's exhibit are: Barb McGee; Beth Cathcart; Bill Lieb; Bruce Morrison; Linda Fries; Danielle Clouse; David Storm; Dennis Dykema; Glenda Drennen; Joanne Alberda; Joleen Dentlinger; Judy Hemphill;  Marisa Sidles; Mitch Eveleth; Perry Polson; Sue Biederman and Timothy J Arand-McIlrath.

Get a glimpse of the artwork by the top artists in NW Iowa at the CLAC from January 15 through February 28th!  Plan a road trip and enjoy some great works - call the CLAC at 641 357-1998 or e-mail clac@netins.net for more information! 

2014 Artisans Road Trip Artist Bruce Morrison at Clear Lake Arts Center Exhibition

(top to bottom)

 "M12 Bales" - photograph, "Sun Dogs and Barn" - photograph, 

"Summer Memories" - oil painting

Images © Bruce A. Morrison

(click on image for a larger view) 

2014 Artisans Road Trip artist Bruce Morrison was invited by the Clear Lake Arts Center to participate in the exhibition "Salute to Agriculture".  

Morrison works in several different mediums, from photography to painting, drawing and serigraphy. His subject matter is the landscape and flora/fauna of the tallgrass prairie region of NW Iowa.  "Agriculture was the biggest benefactor of the prairie soil and it certainly becomes a frequent subject in my landscapes as well.", says the artist.

The "Salute to Agriculture" exhibit is being sponsored by Sukup Manufacturing and runs through March of 2015. 

Morrison and his wife Georgeann live on a small prairie remnant in SE O'Brien county where Bruce works from a brooding house/sheep barn studio they remodeled some years back - retaining the "character" of the building's past (in keeping with its agriculture heritage).  You can learn more about the artist by visiting - www.morrisons-studio.com