Nanette Davis is a mixed-media artist whose roots reside in fiber art.   She pushes the traditional boundaries of fiber with non-traditional materials and techniques.  Her recent investigation is in the basketry technique of plaiting.  Plaiting allows for the use of more flexible materials such as foil and acetate. These materials have recently been added to the mix for her new series on hands:  “The Midas Touch.”  She also paints and dyes silk in the shibori method and incorporates it in her work.  Her process involves bonding the silk to acetate or foil, cutting the bonded material into strips by hand, and then plaiting those strips into sculptural forms.  “Plaiting has freed up the form of my sculptural pieces while the bonded acetate and foil lend brightness to the color and texture.”

Shown:  "Basket" plaited

Susan Kristoferson combines intricate hand painted paste papers and hand dyed papers to create her sewn paper collages of flowers.  They are inspired by her travels, as well as responses to the paper itself.  Fragile and transitory, these blooming flowers in vases represent hope for renewal in life.  “Hope” combines the folk art traditions of cut paper artworks with the style of historical 1700 Dutch floral still life paintings called “impossible bouquets” in which flowers of different seasons were represented in one image. Here “Hope” begins with the kneeling prayer of planting, includes hope that the plants will grow, and hope that flowers will emerge.  Inspiration for these images originates with Kristofferson’s passion for gardening.  The collages are created from hand dyed ‘itajime’ papers and hand painted ‘paste’ papers created by the artist. 

Left: "Courage" paper collage

In the Window Gallery
February 25-March 21
Peg Johnson

Peg Johnson creates one of a kind Raku ceramics.  Her pieces for this display have birds as her central theme.  She has also introduced a new element for her; decorative flower patterns.  Her designs took inspiration from the patterns on vintage french tins.  Her pottery has the characteristics that only Raku can produce: crackle lines, flash flame marks and an incredible iridescence.  Her colors range from copper to turquoise.   Her ceramic work showcases the spontaneity, yet control of her medium.

Left: Large hanging platter, Raku