Biennial juried student exhibition through Jan. 26 at Hillestad Gallery

Fourteen University of Nebraska-Lincoln students will exhibit their contemporary fashion and textile design work in the 2006-07 Biennial Juried Exhibition at UNL's Robert Hillestad Textiles Gallery through Jan. 26.

Anne Fenner of Omaha, with the assistance of Lyubov Logvinenko, was the juror for this edition of the exhibition, studying 53 works students entered in the competition. In a blind review process, Fenner selected work based solely on the merits of the entries. This show includes 25 pieces of fashion and textile design, representing the work of six graduate and eight undergraduate students.

The exhibition highlights the diverse areas of work in the design specialization of the UNL textiles and apparel program, said Wendy Weiss, director of Hillestad Gallery. Students will be showing work completed in courses ranging from sophomore to graduate levels. Their talents range from creating original fabric on the loom to creating unique apparel with fabrics of their own design. One student used the department's digital fabric printer to create fabric for her garment while another student used a resist scour method on silk to develop a "cable" design for her party dress.

Students enrolled in Textiles, Clothing and Design courses in the past two years and students completing projects in the Undergraduate Creative Activities and Research Experiences program were able to submit original design coursework or projects developed from spring 2005 to the present. Each student could enter up to four pieces. While the entries were primarily in the apparel category, students also submitted textile designs on board and fabric including hand woven, digitally printed and screen printed. Each type of work is represented in the exhibition.

Fenner is co-author of "Dress Smart," published by Fairchild Press, and coproducer of "Wearable Art Shows" with Jo Anderson of Anderson O'Brien Fine Art Gallery. Fenner said she was impressed with the talent, creativity and energy shown by the designers. She said, based on her work marketing contemporary wearable artists, individuals who develop exceptional functional clothing and wearable art have a viable future as professional designers.

The Hillestad Gallery is part of the Department of Textiles, Clothing and Design at UNL and is located on the second floor of the Home Economics Building, north of 35th street and East Campus Loop. The gallery is open to the public without charge Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. and weekends by special request. Call (402) 472-2911, to request weekend opening. It is closed university holidays and between shows.

There will be an opening reception for the exhibition 5-7 p.m. Jan. 12, with an awards ceremony at 6 p.m. The Friends of the Robert Hillestad Textiles Gallery make it possible to provide the winning students with cash awards for their work.

Following is a list of participating students by hometown.

NEBRASKA

Beatrice: Megan McGhee, graduate student.

Elkhorn: Lindsey Solomon, undergraduate.

Lincoln: Brittany Clymer, undergraduate; Mary Pattavina, graduate student; Tracy Rosenbaum, undergraduate.

North Platte: Andrew Boettger, graduate student; Cassidy Vineyard, undergraduate.

Omaha: Shannon Hopp, undergraduate; Sabrina Jones Stapp, graduate student.

Palmyra: Hannah Rood, undergraduate

Plymouth: Rachael D. Weichel, undergraduate.

ELSEWHERE

Ann Arbor, Mich.: Emma Lehman, graduate student.

Yelm, Wash.: LynDee Lombardo, graduate student.

CONTACT: Wendy Weiss, Director, Hillestad Gallery, (402) 472-6370