A visit to the New England Quilt Museum on Shattuck Street in Lowell should be on your “must do” list before the year is over.
The three exhibits on through Dec. 31 pay tribute to and honor the natural world. In “A Walk in the Woods” curator Pamela Weeks has selected twenty diverse works from eight renowned American quilt artists for this exhibition. The exhibit is much more than a showcase of its artists’ remarkable interpretations of the natural world. It is a poignant reminder of nature’s extraordinary ability to restore and transform us.
“My aim is to create universal and playful narratives that offer people of all ages a way to experience the brilliance of nature,” says Salley Mavor, whose “To Every Season” is on view through Dec. 31.
This exhibition is a unique opportunity to take in the exceptional detail and 3-dimentional quality of Salley Mavor’s bas-relief embroideries. It consists of a wide selection of seasonal landscapes that capture the wonder and magic of the natural world. Rarely seen early works on loan from private collections are included, as well as recent pieces, including her Four Seasons series.
The award-winning artist has spent four decades developing her signature style and working methods, carving out her own niche within the children’s book world and the fiber art community. Seeing her artwork up close is like being immersed in an enchanting miniature world full of characters, props, and scenery, all created by hand with stitching, fabric, beads, wire, and found objects.
On view are framed tableaus, original picture book illustrations, and sculptural objects from the past 40 years, including dioramas inhabited by wee folk characters set up in display cases.
Also on view are “The Spirit Books” by Susan Kapuscinski Gaylord. She says of her work: “The Spirit Books’ merge my response to the mystery and miracle of nature with the long-standing tradition of books as testaments of faith and belief. Working with handmade papers, natural materials, beads, and stitching, I create contemplative objects that straddle the boundary between sculpture and book. ‘The Spirit Books’ remind us of what is at stake in today’s world. Acknowledging the strength and the fragility of nature, they are both celebration and reflection.”
A visual artist since the late 1970s, Gaylord’s most recent works include handmade books, calligraphy, digital compositions, and the series of Spirit Books which are the focus of her NEQM exhibition. This evocative and meditative installation invites viewers to slow down, engage deeply with the art and appreciate quiet contemplation.
Visit www.neqm.org for hours, admission, and other information.
Gallery notes
LAST CHANCE: “Celebrating Ted Lavash Through His Art” is on through at the Ayer Lofts Gallery, Middle Street, Lowell through Dec. 28. Open weekends noon-4 pm.
HOLIDAY HOURS: Check your favorite museum and gallery websites for holiday hours. Many are closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day but are open during the following week until New Year’s. Visiting museums is a favorite pastime during that week, so check those websites to see the hours at your chosen spot.
CHRISTMAS BREAK: There’s no Eye on Art column next week, Dec. 25, but the column returns on Thursday, Jan. 1 with more art choices for the New Year.
Nancye Tuttle’s email address is [email protected].
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