Hillestad Gallery Exhibition - Complexity

Weaving
Weaving

Complex Weavers announces its biennial international juried exhibition “Complexity”, featuring works employing complex weave structures that interlace threads and fibers in ways beyond plain weave. The opening reception for this touring exhibition, will be Sunday, April 6 from 1-3pm at the Robert Hillestad Textiles Gallery on the east campus of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. According to the show organizers, “complex weaving is defined by the cloth produced and the mind it took to create it, not by the equipment used.” The exhibit runs from through May 9, 2014.

According to Wendy Weiss, director of the gallery and professor of textile design in the Department of Textiles, Merchandising and Fashion Design in the College of Education and Human Sciences, three jurors evaluated ninety-nine works, rating originality, weave structure, technical excellence, aesthetics, and integration of design elements. Work in the show ranges from sophisticated hand constructed apparel made from handwoven fabric to innovative wall hangings and surprising objects. Twelve prizewinners will be announced at the opening reception.

The jurors for the show were: Alice Schlein of North Carolina, Marguerite Gingras of Quebec, Canada, and Wendy Weiss, director of the Hillestad Gallery. All three jurors have published articles and books on weaving and exhibit their work internationally.

Complex Weavers organized in 1978 when a group of weavers at Convergence, a biennial meeting sponsored by the Handweaver’s Guild of America, discussed the need to have a group of weavers who worked with the brand new electronic dobby loom that was becoming available to the home weaver. The organization publishes a full color newsletter three times a year and meets biennially for 4 days in locations throughout the United States, and draws upon an international membership. The primary goal of the organization is to encourage weavers to “develop their own creative styles, to inspire through research, documentation, and the sharing of innovative ideas.”

The Hillestad Gallery is part of the Department of Textiles, Merchandising & Fashion 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 (map at http://go.unl.edu/j5v). Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday-Friday and by appointment. Admission is free. Guest parking is available near the building and metered stalls are located in the Nebraska East Union lot. For more information, call (402) 472-2911 or visit http://textilegallery.unl.edu