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Colorful beadwork
debuts at Haydon
By Emily Pyeatt
Staff writer
Tiny objects with holes in the center have had a presence in
culture and art for around 40,000 years. Beads have served as
decoration and even as monetary units in the past.
Today, the craft of utilizing beads is viewed as a major form
of artistic expression, i
Because of this, Anne Pagel, director of the Haydon
Gallery, 335 N. Eighth St., and her co-curator, artist Rebecca
Williams, brought together a collection of bead work from .
artists across the nation.
“(Bead work) is an active field with enormous interest,”
Beadwork in
America 2000
. v WHERE: Haydon Art
Gallery, 335 N. Eight S
WHEN: Feb. 4 - Feb. 26
COST: free
THE SKINNY: Exhibit
showcases beadwork of
all forms.
raget said.
The Exhibition,
“Beadwork in America
2000” took Pagel and
Williams almost two
years to organize,
t. Each year, the
Haydon holds a national
exhibition that runs
through the month of
February. After viewing
last year’s weaving show,
Williams expressed
interest in creating a bead work show on the same level.
“The energizing process began from attending a national
bead work conference,” Williams said.
Together, Pagel and Williams contacted artists from across <
the country. After slides of artists’ work were submitted, the co- '
curators selected 33 artists to exhibit.
The exhibit brings together artists who collectively repre
sent the numerous forms bead work art can take.
The bead work displayed in the exhibition differs in size,
color, content as well as in other artistic elements. But the ideas
behind the works may perhaps be what are most engaging
about the show.
“We traditionally think of bead work as jewelry, but these
pieces have different and complex content,” Pagel said.
The abstract and symbolic elements of bead work possess
meaning for the artists.
Many of the artists arc influenced by nature and humanity,
while others express cultural ideas and contemporary themes.
“There is no universal meaning. Each artist and meaning
varies - some are very personal statements, and others are
interested in form, shape, color and even humor,” Williams
said.
Williams own piece that is part of the show, “Metapattem
Attractor V,” is a loom-woven wall construction expressed
through pattern and symbols.
“I am influenced by the art of Paleolithic cultures and find
interest in the symbols of the time that held meaning,” Williams
said. “I then blend those symbols with my own symbols.
Each of the Haydon pieces demonstrate the unique and per
fected intricate detail that is possible with bead work.
Composed of diverse methods such as loom work, string
and needlework stitching, the artists’ work have one thing in
common for each of the 33 selected artists - the appreciation of
artistic intricacy.
“Today, bead work is being done in an innovative way,”
Pagel said. “It varies from the traditional decorative form to a
form that artistically motivates and interests artists, collectors
and viewers.”
fcj;- ,r ’ % ■■■ >' ■ ■
Courtesy Photos
Above left: Mimi Holmes’ “The Challenging.” Above: Laura Leonard’s “The Mother-in-Law Cometh.” Both works are part of the
‘Beadwork in America 2000” show at the Haydon Gallery. The work will be displayed throughout February.
Nebraska artists contribute work
to beaded jewelry show at Noyes
By Emily Pyeatt
Staff writer
Lincoln is getting its fair share of bead
work this month. And with all the bead
brouhaha, the Noyes Gallery also pro
vides a display of bead work that is
uniquely Nebraskan.
The Nebraska Bead Society collected
numerous examples of beaded jewelry
and artwork to display throughout
February.
The Noyes’ exhibition consists pri
marily of jewelry rather than artistic
sculpture.
“The majority of the show (is) pieces
of jewelry such as earrings,” said Shelia
Downey, a co-op artist for the Noyes and
member of the Nebraska Bead Society.
“But we do, in fact, have some small wall
hangings such as a set of four oriental
style scrolls that are complete with intri
cate twigs, leaves and dried roses.”
*
The emphasis of the Noyes Gallery’s
bead show is to display the “prolific and
creative” work that Nebraskan artists are
creating with beads, said April Stevenson,
president of the Nebraska Bead Society.
The society originated about two
years ago. Today, there are about 45 mem
bers.
“Most of our members create jewelry
- not to say it’s not self-expressive (when
compared to other art), because we still
use color and design,” Stevenson said.
The bead society is anticipating the
Noyes exhibition in order to show and
perhaps sell its work.
“The Noyes Gallery tries to look for
things (that are) a little different, and we
haven’t had anything like this before,”
Downey added.
Jessica Intermill, a member of the
Nebraska Bead Society and a UNL
sophomore, has work in the Noyes exhibi
tion that includes things such as beaded
barrettes and bracelets.
Beadwork at the Noyes
Gallery, members of the
Nebraska Bead Society
WHERE: Noyes Art
| ' Gallery, 119 S. Ninth St.
"Jp: WHEN: Through the month
t * A; of Febuary
tetok COST: free
m p THE SKINNY: Nebraskan
^ beadwork lends new
|*' perspective to traditional
tom art form.
“I have been beading since forever
and have had this interest throughout my
life,” she said. “I figured this is what I
want to be when I grow up.”
Similar to the other members of the
Nebraska Bead Society, Intermill said she
“absolutely considers beading as an art
form.”
; ; ;