(Above: “Samba,” an art quilt created by Mandy Miller, is part of a fibert art show, “Intersections,” at the Maude Kerns Art Center.)

By Randi Bjornstad

Metal artist Greg Wilbur of Portland has a piece in the “Convergence” exhibit titled “Tumble”

The first exhibit of the year at the Maude Kerns Art Center is really two shows, one titled “A Convergence of Elements” and the other “Intersections.” The opening reception for the shows will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Jan. 12.

“Convergence of Elements” presents the work of four artists: Eugene ceramicist Karen Perkins; metalsmith Greg Wilbur and wood sculptor Michael de Forest, both of Portland; and New Mexico painter and ceramicist Gretchen Wachs.

Karen Perkins, a Eugene ceramics artist, has work in the Maude Kerns show

The name of the show refers to the way each artist employs the artistic process to create the final result.

As Perkins puts it, “Michael (de Forest) chooses to consciously reveal his process as part of each piece (while) Gretchen (Wachs) shares her energetic process through animated texture and color. Greg (Wilbur) and I value leaving the mark of the hammer, the burnishing tool, and the flow of the fire atmosphere.”

All four are schooled specifically in the arts and have exhibited their work widely.

“Intersections” consists of fiber art by three Eugene-area artists —

“Minnie,” by Michael de Forest, is one of the pieces on display

Diane English, Janet Hiller and Mandy Miller —and the title of the show refers to the intersection of cloth and thread that converge in various ways to produce the final result.

English does both hand and machine quilting, using hand and commercially dyed cotton and silk. She has shown her work extensively in both juried and non-juried shows and participated recently in two international traveling exhibits,”World Fairy Tales International Quilt Challenge” and “Patchwork Design.”

Gretchen Wachs’ paintings are included in the show; the artist, who also works in ceramics, is from New Mexico

The Japanese embroidery stitching called sashiko helped interest Hiller in fiber art more than two decades ago, and since then she has exhibited her work throughout the United States and internationally. She also had work in the “World Fairy Tales International Quilt Challenge” and also the “World Painters International Challenge.”

Miller’s lifelong interest in fabric and design began with self-teaching and eventually led to her specialty in art quilting. Her work has appeared in many local and regional art shows, including at Oregon State University and the Eugene Textile Center.

 

 

“A Convergence of Elements” and “Intersections”

When: Jan. 12 through Feb. 9; opening reception from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 12

Where: Maude Kerns Art Center, 1910 E. 15th Ave., Eugene

Hours: 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday when exhibits are on display

Admission: Suggested donation of $3 per person or $5 per family

Information: 541-345-1571 or mkartcenter.org/

Below left: “Pathways,” a fiber art piece by Diane English, is part of the new show at the Maude Kerns Art Center, as is Janet Hiller’s quilt, “Shattered,” below right