Iowa Artisans Gallery celebrates its 20th
Anniversary with an exhibition that includes some original
consignors to the Gallery. In two separate shows running October
1 - November 8, Rowen Schussheim-Anderson shows tapestries,
and members of the Woodworker’s Collective show furniture
and accessories.
Tapestry
artist Rowen Schussheim-Anderson is a faculty member of Augustana
College, in Rock Island, IL and completed her education at
Arizona State University (MFA) and Rochester Institute of
Technology (BFA). She is currently participating in the American
Tapestry Alliance's Small Format Tapestry Invitational and
has exhibited widely.
Schussheim-Anderson draws inspiration from
South America, as well as West Africa ceremonial walking sticks
in her more recent vessel forms. Her large handwoven tapestries
incorporate textural yarns such as sisal, wool and linen,
as well as shiny, newer synthetic fibers and beadwork. This
contrast of old vs. new, rough vs. crisp, ancient vs. contemporary,
is part of her intent. Having studied the elaborate textile
tradition of Peru, she observes the emergence today of a “textile
knowledge, sensitivity to color and surface, and innate sense
of design of incredible sophistication.” In Peru, she
noted, “Cuzco is the oldest, continually inhabited city
in the new world. While there, I observed teenagers playing
video games in an Incan building –a structure which
predates the arrival of the Spanish! This exemplifies the
type of dichotomy I strive to capture in my work.”
Russell Karkowski and David Naso are two
of 12 original founders of Iowa Artisans Gallery, and Karkowski
continues as one of 5 current owners. The two locally prominent
furniture makers head a woodworkers' collective in Iowa City
and will show tables and a buffet. Fellow Woodworkers’
colleagues Eric Wortman and Nancy Romalov also contribute
works to this show. Romalov shows furniture and “Ginger
and Fred,” two music stands, and Wortman contributes
whimsical plant stands.
Click here for David Naso's Artist
Statement
Click here for Nancy Romalov's Artist
Statement
Russell Karkowski
Russell Karkowski
Click
here to see more examples of Karkowski's work
