August 29, 2002

Water Spots 8 by Leah Sorensen Hayes, 2002, hand-dyed and painted cotton; machine-pieced and quilted.

Hillestad shows artists' master works in textiles

Geometric forms become the language that artists Leah Sorensen Hayes and Judith James use to explore peace and human relationships to it. They are exhibiting their work from Sept. 9-27 at the Robert Hillestad Textiles Gallery. The gallery is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and is on the second floor of the Home Economics Building on East Campus.

The exhibition is the culmination of the two artists' work toward the master of arts degree in textiles, clothing and design. A reception for the artists will be from 5-7 p.m. Sept. 13 in the gallery.

Judith James' constructed textiles use centuries-old methods of Japanese "shibori" and African "adire" resist dyeing, as well as screen printing and relief printing. Referencing the geography of the Earth and sky and using imagery and pattern from ancient civilizations, she creates landscapes of muted color, spatial illusion and rhythmic pattern.

James uses discharge dyeing and stitched resist techniques on black linen, silk and cotton fabrics to achieve atmospheric effects and create a sense of three-dimensional space. The discharge process creates a blurry-edged image, but the sharp mark of James' sewing needle often remains visible on the fabric even after the thread is removed. The needle marks meander across the cloth. Geometric patterns are combined with fluid stitched lines to create rhythmic movements.

"I want to create a sense of ambiguity and a layering of multiple references that can be seen both as broad aerial views or small intimate landscapes inviting close-up observation," James said.

For her thesis work, Hayes also uses the "shibori" technique of bound-resist dyeing in combination with other fabric dyeing and painting methods to create a series of quilted panels, titled "Water Spots." Harnessing the effects of evaporation and capillary action, Hayes uses water as both subject and tool as she explores the fluid and circular nature of perceived reality.

"I am fascinated by the possibility that all we see is not all that there is to see," Hayes says. "Our reality does not necessarily end at the horizon, though our understanding of it does. I want my quilts to act as reminders that our world may not be as hard and fixed as it appears to be."

The dyeing and painting techniques Hayes uses allow the pigment solutions to flow into the folds and creases of the cotton broadcloth, depositing pigment where they pool and recede and capturing the grace of aquatic movement. The resulting atmospheric colorations serve as a backdrop for additional layers of transparent, circular imagery and superimposed lines of machine quilting.

Traces by Judy James, 2002, 27-inches-by-14-inches, screenprinted and resist dyed discharge and intaglio on silk, cotton and linen; hand stitched, cotton thread.

Art association conference Oct. 2-5 in Lincoln

The Mid-America College Art Association 2002 Conference will be Oct. 2-5 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Lincoln. It is sponsored by the Department of Art and Art History, the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts, and UNL. Mo Neal, UNL professor of sculpture, is the current president of MACAA.

"Mid-America College Art Association has been instrumental for many decades in providing a forum for studio artists and art faculty to exchange ideas, collaborate and improve their home institutions and their creative work. Almost forgotten today, MACAA was responsible for the 'terminal degree' status of the MFA in universities," Neal said. "Having MACAA come back to Lincoln after 27 years is a great honor and a fine opportunity for our colleagues and students to experience."

The keynote speaker for the conference is Peter Schjeldahl, the art critic for The New Yorker. Before joining The New Yorker in 1998, he was an art critic at The Village Voice from 1990-98. His keynote address will be at 8 p.m. Oct. 4.

"Peter Schjeldahl is an excellent critic and writer. His lecture will be the high point of the 2002-2003 academic year," Neal said.

Other conference events include many panel presentations and a Lincoln Tour of Collections, where participants will tour the collections of Marc and Kathy LeBaron, Karen and Robert Duncan, and the Smith Collection and Museum at Speedway Motors and Blue Diamond Classics.

There will also be a juried exhibition, "Cause/Effect" from Sept. 23 to Oct. 17 in the Eisentrager-Howard Gallery in Richards Hall, featuring the work of MACAA members and their selection of current or former students' work.

MACAA is a professional society of college and university artist/teachers. Founded in the late 1930s, MACAA has grown far beyond the Midwest and regularly attracts members and conference participants from across the country.

For more information about the conference, and for registration information, visit the conference Web site at http://www.unl.edu/macaa, call Neal at 472-9429, or e-mail moneal@unl.edu.

Networks to mark Sept. 11 anniversary

As the nation commemorates the one-year anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, the Nebraska ETV Network, NETV2 and the Nebraska Public Radio Network present programs honoring that day.

On Sept. 11, "Statewide," Nebraska ETV's weekly news journal, presents several stories of people whose lives were changed by the terrorist attacks, including six Auburn, Neb., Fire Department firefighters who worked at the World Trade Center site. An Omaha woman whose brother was killed in the World Trade Center is also profiled. "Statewide" airs at 7 p.m. Sept. 11 on Nebraska ETV, repeating at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 14 and at noon Sept. 15 on NETV.

At 7:30 p.m. Sept. 11, "Next Exit" takes a look at how the events of Sept. 11 changed the lives of a diverse group of Nebraskans.

Throughout Sept. 11, NPRN's news and music programs will present selections marking the anniversary of the events of Sept. 11, including music from the School of Music's "A Grief Observed: Voices and Music From Ground Zero" concert from Sept. 30. Other segments include essays from UNL English professor Stephen Buhler.

During the week, "Newshour with Jim Lehrer" will focus on the changes the Sept. 11 attacks have brought to the lives of people around the country, as well as update previously aired Sept. 11 stories. It airs weekdays at 6 p.m. on NETV

Scarlet and Cream performs Sept. 10

The UNL Scarlet and Cream Singers will present a free public concert at 7 p.m. Sept. 10 in the Clifford Hardin Nebraska Center Auditorium, 33rd and Holdrege streets.

Now in their 30th year, the Scarlet and Cream perform at venues across the country as the university's unofficial goodwill ambassadors. The 16-member troupe performs a variety of song-and-dance routines from many musical eras.

Free refreshments will be served after the concert, and door prizes will be given away during intermission.