'Celebration Threads' gala reception Aug. 24 at Hillestad Gallery

A gala closing reception honoring the artist of the exhibition, "Celebration Threads: New Twists by Robert Hillestad" at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Robert Hillestad Textiles Gallery, will be 2 to 4 p.m. Aug. 24 in the Home Economics Building on UNL's East Campus.

Live models dressed in garments and accessories created by the artist will greet guests. The event is free and open to the public.

The festivities will begin with a two-part lecture. Hillestad will speak about the underlying creative process of his work on display in the exhibit and textiles scholar JoAnn Stabb will discuss Hillestad's work from the perspective of the Art-to-Wear Movement. Additional remarks will be made by Victoria Kovar, president of Friends of the Robert Hillestad Textiles Gallery and Marjorie Kostelnik, dean of the UNL College of Education and Human Sciences.

A newly published book titled "Robert Hillestad, a Textiles Journey," published by Friends of the Robert Hillestad Textiles Gallery, will be available for purchase during the festivities. The 96-page monograph on the artistry and career of Hillestad was designed by Dika Eckersley. It is lavishly illustrated in full color with photographs by John Nollendorfs, Roger Bruhn, Richard Hay, Eckersley and John Spence.

Friends of the Robert Hillestad Textiles Gallery, a not-for-profit organization, will offer one-of-a-kind accessories for sale as a fundraiser commencing at 1 p.m. and continuing throughout the festivities. The collection will include items created exclusively by Hillestad as well as a grouping made by volunteers working under his supervision. One hundred percent of the proceeds will support the mission of the gallery.

Special parking for the event is available in the NET lot at 1800 N. 33rd St. Enter the lot via 33rd Street and walk east across the lot adjacent to Burr Hall to reach the Home Economics building on 35th Street.

The "Celebration Threads" exhibition continues through Sept. 5. The Hillestad Gallery ( http://textilegallery.unl.edu) is part of the Department of Textiles, Clothing and Design in the UNL College of Education and Human Sciences. The gallery is on the second floor of the Home Economics Building on East Campus, on 35th Street north of East Campus Loop. Hours are 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday and by appointment. Admission is free. For more information, call Wendy Weiss, gallery director, (402) 472-6370.

The links below are to color JPEG images of works in "Celebration Threads." The first two are to details of "More Threads of Thought," 2005, 19 inches by 17 inches. The third is to a detail of "When All Is Said and Done," 2008, 16 inches by 29 inches. All photographs by John Nollendorfs.