HANDCRAFTED: A National Juried Exhibition of American Crafts in Ceramics, Fiber, Metal, Wood and Glass is opening February 2, 2016 at the Imperial Centre for the Arts and Sciences in Rocky Mount, NC. The exhibition features thirty-four handcrafted works in a variety of media from artists across North Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Missouri, Washington State and California. Media in this year’s HANDCRAFTED exhibition includes woodcrafts, glass, metal, enamel, wool felting, ceramics, book arts, and jewelry design.
Barbara McFadyen of Chapel Hill, NC has been accepted into the exhibition for her pieces entitled Memento Mori and Grief Came Knocking. The works are both accordion style artist books in laser etched enamel on steel, paper, and book cloth.
Now in its sixteenth year, HANDCRAFTED is well received by artists and visitors. It began when Jerry Jackson, now deputy director of Penland School of Crafts, was curator for the Arts Center. He recognized the need for a national juried show featuring the rich heritage of American Crafts in North Carolina, a state so rich with these traditions. This year, twenty-six artists from seven states submitted 92 entries for consideration.
Works for the show are chosen by an independent juror through a blind jury process. This year’s juror is Kimberly Winkle, Foundations Coordinator and Gallery Coordinator of Tennessee Tech University’s Derryberry Art Gallery. She has exhibited nationally and internationally, including SOFA Chicago, Wanted Design NYC and the Architectural Digest Home Show. Winkle’s work has been included in a number of publications, including Fine Woodworking and Woodworker magazines and the books 500 Tables, 500 Chairs. Winkle has been awarded the Fulbright Hays Fellowship, the International Turning Exchange Residency at the Center for Art in Wood in Philadelphia, the Windgate Artist Residency at State University New York (SUNY) Purchase, Haystack Mountain School of Crafts and at the Appalachian Center for Craft. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Art in Ceramics from the University of Oklahoma and a Master of Fine Art in Furniture Design from San Diego State University.
An Artist Reception and Awards Presentation will be held February 6, 2016, 2:00-4:00 pm at the Maria V. Howard Arts Center at the Imperial Centre, 270 Gay Street, Rocky Mount, NC 27804. It is free and open to the public.
HANDCRAFTED will announce its 2016 Award winners at 2:30 pm during the Reception. Awards totaling $1,600 include First, Second, Third place, and a Best in Show Acquisition Award that also becomes part of the Arts Center’s Permanent Collection. In 2015, Claire B. Jones, a native of Glasgow, Scotland now living in Seattle WA garnered the top prize for her textile piece Containing I: Whole Surface Series.
Now in its sixteenth year, HANDCRAFTED is very competitive, and well received by artists and visitors. The exhibition will be on display at the Maria V. Howard Arts Center through May 15, 2016. MVHAC is a part of the Parks and Recreation Department, City of Rocky Mount, NC. For gallery hours and more information see www.imperialcentre.org/arts.