‘Fabricating Art’ Gallery 5 artists express themselves using fabric, beads, driftwood, jewelry and photography; finely crafted

LEWISTON – Sixteen artists present their unique interpretations of “Fabricating Art” in the theme-based exhibit opening Friday, May 15, at L/A Arts Gallery 5. A reception will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. at the gallery at 49 Lisbon St.
Suzan Wachs Katzir is an energetic fabric artist new to Gallery 5. Her work is inspired by words and each of her pieces carries a message – sometimes subtle, sometimes not. “My life and work can be explained as a relationship with text. Not only my work in the fine arts, but also crafts, cooking, even chasing after small children and working in a committee are informed by poetry, Bible, midrash (rabbinic fables/parables), or Dear Abby,” Katzir said.
The bold black-and-white stripes and checkerboard pattern of her piece “God Was Not in the Fire?” immediately catch your eye before you are drawn into the detail of the triangle patterns in primary colors and finally the text on the red atarah/collar band: “And after the cataclysm, fire; but God was not in the fire.” ( 1 Kings 19:12).
Also new to Gallery 5 is Kathy Angel Lee, a fiber/mixed media artist whose specialty is creating landscapes and flowers. “Marsh River” is an intricate landscape of the Scarborough Marsh created with fabric, thread, netting and ribbon. The box mounting gives the piece the feel of a painting. Her “Tall Sunflowers” piece is a bolder wall hanging done in bright fabric, thread and beads.
Jennifer Wadsworth returns to Gallery 5 with a contemporary abstract work titled “Life Drawing,” a twist on figurative work. Many oil-on-fabric paintings have been randomly pieced together and framed in fabric to make a large wall hanging. “Shadow Images” was created with oil paintings on delicate tissue then mounted on canvas and framed in a traditional presentation.
In a different interpretation of fabricating art, Stephanie Berry has created a natural driftwood mobile; Macintosh and Tuttle, cabinet and furniture designers, and Katahdin Studio Furniture, both return to Gallery 5 with crafted furniture pieces; and Steven Langerman brings his fine art photography together with scanned art in three pieces.
Other artists new to L/A Arts Gallery 5: Sam Grant, Tracey Twitchell Pray and Kendra Biddle.
Other returning artists: Kelly Christopher, Lorraine Giasson, Martha Lentz, Gloria Limoges, Ed McCarten and Kristi Beck Touchette.
Judith Barker and Kathryn Beausang also return as Gallery 5’s featured jewelry artists.
There will be two Gallery Talks associated with this exhibit from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 19 and July 24. Talks are free, but reservations are recommended so that adequate seating can be arranged.
The “Fabricating Art” exhibit will be open through July 25. Gallery hours are 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday or by appointment by contacting curator Tammie Grieshaber at 576-4805.