So too, under the warm haze of October's harvest moon, a whimsical ballet of WINSOME WATERCOLORS by Rena Brouwer, GLASS: AS HOT AS IT GETS by Lisa Pelo-McNeice and a FUNKY FALL FABRIC CHALLENGE by quilt artists Toshie Kazahaya, Sara Kleihauer, Marilyn Maddux and Jan Sieferman shout for joy in the Library's Mary Bishop Memorial Art Gallery.
Watercolor artist Rena Brouwer lives in the midst of a luscious wildlife haven in rural Carroll County Indiana. The environmental inspiration for her paintings is clearly evident in her delicately detailed watercolor depictions of the fauna and creatures she observes. Rena's distinctive style is an interesting combination of realism, impressionism and abstraction. Always struggling to categorize her work in traditional terms, Rena asked international juror Robert Genn to define her work. After much thought he said, "It is Rena Brower."
Her Artist's Statement reads: "The imagery in my work springs from the history to which I belong. A part of a legacy that we each leave behind. Painting is a means for me to explore the recesses of memories from yesterday and the expressions of the 'todays'. The fluid freedom of watercolor breathes life into my creative journey."
Rena's collaborative nature has brought her opportunities to work locally, nationally and internationally through the arts.
In 2006, Rena was one of ten artists juried from a select group of 150 artists to represent Indiana in a project titled "Preserving Nature".
In recent years she has limited her teaching to community grants for schools and public venues that reach out to children and those at risk. As an instructor at Morton Community Center for 15 years, she offers public classes at the West Lafayette facility.
She has served on numerous arts boards. Her work has received recognition through awards from the Hoosier Salon, Watercolor Society of Indiana, Indiana Artists Club and various juried shows. She is also a member of the Brown County Guild, Nashville, Indiana.
Co-owner and founder of the Lafayette Renaissance Academy, Rena is the Gallery Director of the company. Her studio/gallery is located in the Lafayette Renaissance Academy. She may be reached at www.lafayetterenaissanceacademy.org.
Blown glass artist, Lisa Pelo-McNeice, owns Hot Blown Glass, Ltd. at 3717 S. County Road, 200 E, Clayton, Indiana. It is here, and at the glass studio of the Indianapolis Art Center, that she creates her one-of-a-kind eclectic glass pieces ranging in size from small and delicate to large and complex. To create her work, Lisa uses both a Hot and Cold Glass studio.
She has been the Glass Studio Department Head and Faculty Instructor in Glassblowing since 1998 at the Indianapolis Art Center. In 2000, she added Art Gallery Manager of Plainfield-Guilford Township's Public Library Gallery in Plainfield Indiana to her agenda.
Lisa strives to make a complete visual statement both in the skill needed to achieve the glass form and in the complementary color and styling enhancements of the form. She chooses glass as a medium or means to express glass, with glass, about glass. Within that equation -- her personality equals the glass. This makes for timeless study and the knowledge that there is always more to learn about glass, and about herself.
For her art glass, Lisa insists that it be identifiably unique in color and form. There would be no point in creating glass art that replicates anything created by any other glass artist. "And why would any artist want to do that anyway"? she asks.
In 1988, Lisa graduated cum Laude from Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Specializing in Glass and a Bachelor of Fine Arts, in Creative Writing. This distinguished student spent 1986 in a European Study Program in Seville, Spain and belongs to the Golden Key National Honor Society. She has received many honors for both her art and her writing. Impressive!
Quilt artists Toshie Kazahaya, Sara Kleihauer, Marilyn Maddux and Jan Sieferman chose FUNKY FALL FABRIC CHALLENGE as the title for their exhibit. "Brown & white challenge fabric" was pulled from a rag bag at a quilt bee last spring. At its unveiling quilters present burst out laughing, thinking there was no way that ugly fabric could be used to make a thing of beauty! Never say never!
An exceptionally creative quilt bee member saw the fabric's potential. She brought the fabric home. She called three quilters, not present at the bee and asked them to use the fabric in a quilt, sight unseen. The three accepted and secretly created their challenge piece without the others seeing it. Weren't they brave? Or were they foolish?
The challenge read: Create a small quilt. Use fabric provided for at least one fourth of the quilt. Add "some" red. That was it! The challenge was worded loosely enough that "small" could be interpreted in any way the quilter wanted, as could "Red"!
A glance at the northwest wall of the gallery will bring forth gasps of unbelievable pleasure as you observe how each quilter interpreted their Funky Fall Fabric Challenge! Wouldn't you love to tap into their imaginations and see what falls out???
Don't let the chill of October keep you from the warm comfy exhibits presented, or the ghouly ghosts of October will come and get you.
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