Ordinary Alchemy
May 9^th – June 14^th, 2008

In the exhibition Ordinary Alchemy artists Cassandra Tondro (Santa Monica, CA) and Christina Yocca (Eau Claire, WI) transform ordinary materials into their artwork. Tondro uses Home Depot's "Oops!" latex paint in her flowing abstract paintings. "Oops!" are house paints that were incorrectly mixed, rejected by the buyer, or simply left behind and are offered at a discounted price.

Inspired by nature, Yocca borrows building techniques from past cultures and the contemporary natural building movement to form vessels and wall pieces.  Her work derives color from Earth clays that she purchases or digs locally. 

Blue
March 21st - May 3rd, 2008

Join us for the opening of Blue, a contemporary art exhibition about the literal, abstract, and non-objective representations of the color blue, its symbolism and color theory.  Thirteen artists will be displaying their ideas on the color blue in unique art forms including mixed media, silk, collaged canvas, and furniture.  Help us celebrate the beauty of blue, a color that often surrounds us in nature. Artists: Bob adams, Deborah Fell, Ali Pate, Katherine Allen, Jo Fitsell, Jason Pollen, Betsey Sterling Benjamin, Kevin McCarthy, Virginia Spiegel, Anne Bossert, Angie Nordstrum, Sue Hammond West, Luanne Rimel, Cory Cason.

Deborah Kruger
February 15 - March 15, 2008

Deborah Kruger graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York with a degree in textile and surface design. Her newest textile paintings evoke ideas of contemporary feminism and West African culture. In a deliberate effort to blur and possibly eliminate the dichotomy of art and craft, Deborah Kruger has invented a unique blend of fiber and encaustic. Although these materials are rarely seen together, Kruger has paired them to create a body of work that is both contemporary and archetypal. The visual vocabulary of these triangles conveys come aspect of her sensation and experience of being female in this culture. Although this work is abstract, it is evocative of indigenous art from West Africa and the tribes that inhabit the rainforests of Brazil. 

James Koehler
January 1st, 2008 - February 8th, 2008

James Koehler is one of the most sought after weavers in the southwest. His vibrant tapestries attract the attention of important collectors and museums around the world.  His work can be found in The Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian in Washington D.C., the Denver Art Museum and the U.S. Embassies in La Paz, Boliva and Reykjavik, Iceland.  This year, he was named "American Artist Abroad" and received the New Mexico "Governors Award for Excellence in the Arts".  Koehler finds inspiration for his work in the extraordinary landscape and the unique cultures of New Mexico. His tapestries often include pan-cultural motifs and evocative symbolism which stem from his monastic background and work in anthropology.

Off the Wall - Surface Design Association
August 31, 2007 – October 27, 2007

Off the Wall is a show of innovative three dimensional fiber and textile creations by Surface Design Association members in the Southwest Region.  The show was conceived as an opportunity for the members to showcase the creativity and experimentation of dimensional fiber art works that are breaking the boundaries of flat wall work, challenging us to incorporate spatial relationships within our surface designs.

Flow, Regional SAQA Show
July 20, 2007 – August 25, 2007

SAQA Mountain Region presents FLOW, a show juried by Marilyn Dillard.  The show will present interpretations of FLOW through its various definitions and applications, from fluids, to conversation, to energy. FLOW def. -to move gracefully; the feeling of complete energized focus; hang loosely in an easy manner.

Maximo Laura
June 15, 2007 – July 14, 2007

Peruvian artist Maximo Laura weaves a world that reflects his personal and cultural views. His works are three-dimensional representations of Andean mythological themes drawn from Peru's rich history of pre-Columbian cultures such as the Incas and their modern day descendants the Quechua Indians.  He uses historical textile techniques of the Andes combined with innovations in the international field of tapestry to create vibrant and dynamic images.

Under the Skin

Under the Skin examines what lurks under the human’s largest organ, probing cultural responses to the mechanisms of the human body.  Does this visual dissection reveal a Frankensteinian horror or a series of delicate patterns?  Is beauty only skin deep?  Cloth is frequently referred to as a “second skin” for the same protective qualities it offers as the epidermis.  The artists exhibiting engage with traditional and non-traditional fiber materials and processes, from video to beadwork and fake fur to animal skin.  They utilize fibers many metaphoric references and its sensual, tactile and subversive qualities to query presumptions and reveal possibilities.  Artists: Samantha Bennett, Jeff Hand, Christine LoFaso, Lindsay Obermeyer, Adrienne Outlaw, Laura Splan

Fiber (R)Evolution by the Front Range Contemporary Quilters

Front Range Contemporary Quilters is a membership organization that began in 1988. The group consists of more than 200 members, and is devoted to contemporary innovative quilt and fiber art. It is a forum for exchanging ideas and methods, for encouraging creativity and broadening the horizons of art quilters.  FRCQ serves its members by extending their exposure to contemporary quilt making through nationally known speakers, workshops, exhibitions and sharing.

Four Fours

Ever wonder about the personality type of an artist?   "Four Fours" is an insightful art show at Translations Gallery beginning March 1st, 2007.  Fiber artists Michelle Lundquist, Kathy Hunter, Diane Swenson and Jo Fitsell offer an innovative presentation of how one’s temperament is intimately woven into what and how we create.

Transformations by SAQA

The Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA) has a traveling exhibit of work by international artists. The exhibit premiered at the National Exhibition Center in Birmingham, England before coming to Translations Gallery.