'Cat Chow: Alterations' at Hillestad Gallery Jan. 30-Feb. 24
Released on 01/17/2006, at 2:00 AM
Office of University Communications
University of Nebraska–Lincoln
WHEN: Monday, Jan. 30, 2006, through Feb. 24, 2006
WHERE: Robert Hillestad Textiles Gallery, 2nd Floor, Home Economics Building, north of 35th Street and East Campus Loop
Cat Chow is an artist, fashion designer, educator and musician. In her work she creates innovatively constructed garments and, most recently, sculptures from common materials such as zippers, dollars bills, measuring tapes and baby bottle nipples.
Her exhibit. "Cat Chow: Alterations," will run Jan. 30-Feb. 24 at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Robert Hillestad Textiles Gallery on the second floor of the Home Economics Building, north of 35th Street and East Campus Loop.
Her work has been exhibited extensively in museums and galleries nationwide, most prominently at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which has her acclaimed "Zipper Dress"(1999) in its permanent collection. "Zipper Dress," made of 100 yards of a continuous length of zipper, will be on view in the exhibition at the Hillestad Gallery. Also on exhibit will be "Heavy Metal" (1999), made of stainless steel and brass rings along with the more recent work, "Mo(u)rning Gown" (2004). made with horsehair and antique Chinese furniture fixtures.
Chow has won several awards, including the prestigious Louis Comfort Tiffany Biennial Award. The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Women's Wear Daily and magazines such as Elle, Paper, Surface and Black Book continue to recognize her growing success. She earned a bachelor's from Northwestern University (1995), where she majored in theater with a concentration in costume design. She is an artist-in-residence in the Artists Alliance studio program in New York City.
She will be the featured speaker at the Friends of the Gallery annual meeting, Jan. 29. The business meeting is open to the public and begins at 1 p.m. in Room 31 of the Home Economics Building. Her slide lecture, "Pattern Language: Cat Chow Unzipped," begins at 2 p.m. in Room 11 of the Home Economics Building. A reception for the artist will follow the lecture on the second floor.
She will also provide programs for youth of the Asian Community Center and the Indian Center, as well as working with UNL Department of Textiles, Clothing and Design students. The Friends of the Gallery, the Nebraska Arts Council, the UNL Academic Senate and the Textiles, Clothing and Design Department provided funding to underwrite her visit.
The Hillestad Gallery is open to the public without charge Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and weekends by special request. Call (402) 472-2911, to request weekend opening. It is closed university holidays and between shows.
The links below are to color JPEG images of pieces in the exhibit: "Heavy Metal" (1999), stainless steel and brass rings, 72" x 18" x 14"; and "Zipper Dress" (1999), a single length of zipper, approximately 100 yards, 72" x 24" x 16".
CONTACT: Wendy Weiss, Professor, Textiles, Clothing & Design, (402) 472-6370