“Most of our lives we live closed up in ourselves, with a longing not to be alone, to include others in that life that is invisible and intangible. To make it visible and tangible, we need light and material, any material. And any material can take on the burden of what had been brewing in our consciousness or subconsciousness, in our awareness or in our dreams.” (Anni Albers) 

 

The title of this exhibition is inspired by a quote from Anni Albers’ 1982 lecture, Material as Metaphor. This is a group presentation of artists Jessica Beels, Sarah Jane Castellon, Lori Sargent, Bailey Schmitt, and Joanne Weis, who use their material as a means to express ideas about and deeper understand themes of location, home, or cultural systems.

 

There is a transformation in the material; a sense of movement or image that wouldn’t be there without activation from the artist. The work from each artist in this exhibition falls under the category of fiber art. Through employing unconventional materials or methods in their work, the material becomes the idea and the vehicle of expression.

 

 

 

About the Artists

 

Jessica Beels

 

Jessica Beels moved to Louisville in 2022 after living and working in Washington, DC, for over 35 years. She has actively participated in curated gallery exhibitions and national juried art and craft shows, as well as taught papermaking and other techniques such as wirework and assemblage. Recent artwork has included larger installations and collaborative work, often with themes relating to climate change and conservation.

 

 

Sarah Jane Castellon

 

Sarah Jane Castellon is a fibers and mixed media artist originally from Danville, KY. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies from the University of Kentucky and is currently an MFA student with the Hite Institute of Art and Design at the University of Louisville. Her body of work ranges from wearable garments, sculpture, installation--along with patchwork, dying, knitting, and other forms surface design--to assemblages of found materials. She is also a mother, caretaker, educator and activist whose roles as such share a special connection to her art making. 

 

 

Lori Sargent

 

Lori Sargent has always created artwork in multiple disciplines, first as a studio artist, then as a college faculty member. After earning an MFA in Ceramics at Wichita State University in 1976, she began teaching ceramic workshops and working as an adjunct at several colleges and universities. Although her studio work included functional and sculptural ceramics, her exhibited work often combined ceramics with fiber. During 1984-5, she had the opportunity to take graduate coursework in fibers at the University of Northern Colorado and discovered the joy of tapestry weaving. Her weavings decreased in size, measuring as small as 3” square. Weaving became a counterpoint to her ceramics production and teaching, something she does for personal expression and enjoyment. After earning an MA in art education from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1994, Lori began teaching a variety of courses at Lindsey Wilson College in Kentucky. She also directed many grants expanding the experiences of art students and exhibited her own ceramics, mixed media sculptures, weavings, and artist’s books. Lori earned the rank of Professor of Art and Education and served as Associate Academic Dean.

After retiring in 2012, Lori moved to Louisville, KY.  She is an active member of LAFTA (Louisville Area Fiber and Textile Artists), exhibiting with the group and teaching occasional workshops.  Lori continues to create a variety of two- and three-dimensional fiber artwork. Materials and process experimentation inspire most of her work. She prefers to design as she weaves, working from a rough sketch rather than pre-planning all the design elements in a composition. Most mornings, you will find Lori drinking coffee, watching the sunrise, and enjoying the meditative process of weaving with a needle and thread.

 

 

Baylee Schmitt

 

Baylee Schmitt (MFA from Miami University) is a fiber artist and printmaker based in Newport, KY. Memory, place, and the indistinguishable difference between childhood fact and fantasy are central to Baylee’s practice. Baylee has exhibited work with solo exhibitions at River East Gallery, Living Arts and Science Center, Fitton Center for Creative Arts, and an upcoming exhibition of new work at LaiSun Keane in Boston, MA. Baylee has also participated in group exhibitions across the United States and in Canada at DesignTO, Ohio Craft Museum, Sanitary Tortilla Factory, Gallery 130, 1202 Contemporary, and Wavelength Space.

 

 

Joanne Weis

 

Joanne Weis is a textile artist in Louisville Kentucky whose work can be found in numerous private

collections around the country.  After retiring from a full career as a social worker, she graduated with a Masters Degree from the University of Louisville Fine Arts program. In addition to creating fiber art, she juries and curates shows, teaches and promotes appreciation of fiber and textile art within the community.