TOPSHAM — A juried show of contemporary art is dazzling the walls of Maine Fiberarts’ gallery  through Sept. 3. Artists have come together to show state-of-the-art ideas in hooked work, woven tapestry, knitted wire, collaged fabric, paper assemblage, handwoven rugs, mixed media, needlepoint tapestry, felted work, and embroidery. A reception will be held on Sunday, July 10, from 2 to 5 p.m., free of charge, and the public is invited to attend.

 

 Portraits comprised of collaged fabric, a three-dimensional object created with netting, tapestries woven in electric colors, and quilts comprised of woven fabric are all on view. 

 

Katharine Cobey’s “Out of the Box” features a snake knitted of copper wire “escaping” its environment. Meryl Ruth’s “Tesserae in Refracted Light” is a quilt constructed using silkscreening, painting, cutting, weaving, and stitching to emulate a pileated woodpecker that she photographed out her window. Elizabeth Busch’s spheres and meticulous stitching are “other worldly.” Susan Carlson’s portrait of her son draws on Andy Warhol’s style, her own selection of vibrant colors, and the technique of using thousands of pieces of fabric to create a bold statement. Barbara Burns’ woven tapestry “Temptation” focuses on issues of sexual identity and the concepts of “innocence, enlightenment, and liberation.” Nelda Warkentin’s “Ravenswood” portrays nature’s rhythm and design and the beauty and order found in the woods surrounding her studio in western Maine.

 

The show includes the work of 30 artists—all members of Maine Fiberarts. These include:

 

Chris Antonak, Brunswick; Barbara Burns, Harpswell; Elizabeth Busch, Glenburn; Susan Carlson, Harpswell; Katharine Cobey, Cushing; Allison Cooke Brown, Yarmouth; Stephanie Crossman, Vinalhaven; Hillary Hutton, Veazie; Hector Jaeger, Bath; Natasha Kempers-Cullen, Topsham; Richard Lee, posthumously; Laney Lloyd, Ludlow; Roslyn Logsdon, Laurel, MD; Robert McKibben, South Portland; Susan Mills, Bowdoin; Arlene Morris, Brunswick; Rana O’Connor, Portland; Stephen Petroff, Topsham; Meryl Ruth, Cumberland; Kris Sandoy, Topsham; Marianne Senechal, Bath; Sybil Shiland, Standish; Jill Snyder Wallace, Minot: Rita Steinbach, Portland; Jill Vendituoli, West Newfield; Susan Wagley, Hallowell; Anne Walker, Rangeley; Nelda Warkentin, Phillips; Susan Winn, South Portland; and Catherine Worthington, Brunswick.

 

Many of the artists will be on hand for a reception on July 10 and will be available to answer questions about their technique, intentions and inspirations. Throughout the exhibition, knowledgeable staff and volunteers can also help introduce visitors to the work.

 

 For more information, or to see a preview of the current exhibition, visit www.mainefiberarts.org or call 207-721-0678.