Fuller Lodge Art Center Goes Soft For Art

Susanne Wetzell’s “Porcupine” is one of many artistic creations entered in “Pins and Needles” whose opening reception is 5-7 p.m. Friday at Fuller Lodge Art Center. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com 

By Kirsten Laskey

When viewing artwork, it is usually best to exercise a hands-off approach. Handling a vase or touching a painting can result in blaring alarms or shattered pieces.

But the newest exhibit at the Fuller Lodge Art Center will make the viewer want to wrap their fingers around everything.

Rather than sleek and hard, the entries are plush and soft. And it is not just quilts or knitted hats on display – the participating artists have taken the theme for the newest show, “Pins and Needles” and proven that the fiber arts has a wide range and lot of creativity.

Beate Bossert’s “Sweet Dreams.” Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com

At the very entrance of the gallery space, one artist’s piece will not only make viewers want to pick them up but bite into the art.

Artist Beate Bossert’s “Sweet Dreams” are felted chocolate truffles. Ken Nebel, director of the Fuller Lodge Art Center, joked that “so far no one has bitten into it.”

Majorie Masel created four cloth masks that symbolize the four elements – earth, wind, fire and water while Scott Speck used pin-hole photography to create his images.

Nina Davydenko created a whole menagerie of fabric animals from “Siamese Cat” to “Polar Bear.”

Debra Steinman created abstractly-shaped baskets using pine needles and Kathy Konecki knitted intricate shawls, scarves and jackets.

Not everything is whimsical or conventionally beautiful.

Marce Mitchell’s “The Results are Inconclusive,” is a quilt that features various body parts.

“It’s so wonky and just a little crazy,” Nebel said. “I fall in love with the artist just looking at it.”

Not only is there a huge range of art mediums but they come from a wide range of locations. Some artists sent their pieces from Israel, England and Germany while a number of local and New Mexico artists participated as well.

Daria Lvosky’s fox and sandling. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com

Nebel credited promotional work as well as the show’s proximity to other fiber arts events such as the Taos wool festival to attracting international attention.

“It’s not everyday we get things from so far away,” he said. “It’s amazing what has come in. I’m in love with this show … I’m so impressed with what people have come with for this show.”

In addition to the exhibit in the main gallery space, the Portal Gallery is featuring black-and-white photography by Minesh Bacrania.

His photographs document the construction of the Los Alamos County Municipal Building and pay respect to the individuals who are creating this building.

The title of Bacrania’s show is “Upon this Ground We Build.”

The opening reception for “Upon this Ground We Build” and “Pins and Needles” is 5-7 p.m. Friday at Fuller Lodge Art Center.

Kathy Konecki’s knitted designs. Laurie Waters donated all of the manequins in the show. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com 

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