Art at the Airport

SHOWCASING CULTURAL VIBRANCY OF OUR COMMUNITY
TO THE NEARLY ONE MILLION VISITORS EVERY YEAR

ART AT THE AIRPORT

Schussheim-Anderson, Buckles, and Hanson

March 3 - April 29

Rowen Schussheim-Anderson
Textile artist, Davenport: Color Field Tapestries

The tapestries along the main wall were woven over the past year, many during a recent much appreciated sabbatical from teaching at Augustana College. My goal was to create a new body of work entitled Color Field Tapestries. The objective was to produce color field tapestries, a term to my knowledge that has not been applied to tapestry art. During the art movement known as Abstract Expressionism, artists Mark Rothko, Barnett Newman, Clyfford Still and several others developed the concept of color field painting at the end of the 1940’s. Their canvases, devoid of figurative forms, used color to express emotion. Producing large painted fields of color, they strived to balance hue and value. Rothko thought of color as a means to an end: colors were spiritual and emotional.

Like the color field painters, I wanted to work with fields of blended color. Blending with fiber is very different than with paint, which is very fluid. Subtle transitions are possible to achieve through tapestry weaving methods, in which surfaces are built row by row, fiber by fiber. I also decided to add accent areas of line and pattern, to contrast with large areas of colored shapes, or “fields.”

The works in the other cases are not part of the Color Fields in Woven Tapestry series. They draw on organic grids, nature, collage, and travels to West Africa as inspiration and/or structure.

These tapestries are woven of a variety of fibers including wool, linen, cotton, rayon, nylon, and silk, and occasionally beads are utilized. Works were produced in my studio on a 56” wide four harness floor loom.

Brian Buckles
Painter from Waterloo, Iowa: Art for the Sea

I have had lifelong fascination with marine life and in particular, sharks. At an early age, I became aware of the overfishing and cruel shark finning practices that are threatening the survival of many species, worldwide, which will have devastating consequences. Most people won’t see these animals in their natural habitat, so my work aims to bring the sea to the viewer, focusing on the beauty, variety and power of sharks and marine life. Dynamic compositions and dramatic lighting are brought to life through the use of oil paint, canvas and graphite. My mission is to create Art for the Sea, with the goal of using art to inspire others to learn more and engage in protecting these amazing animals.

'Art for the Sea' is more than a tagline; it’s a mission statement. It is a reminder to me of why I am creating art in the first place—that my art should serve a purpose beyond mere wall decoration. My art serves to show sharks and marine life in a different light, moving beyond stereotypes and sharing the beauty and truth of creation. All creatures serve a purpose and deserve our respect and responsible stewardship.

Kelly Hanson
Woven basket maker from Moline, IL

I have always liked working with different fibers and creating pieces that were also useful. I was introduced to the coil stitch weave at a class set up by a friend and loved it. I love the different layers of patterns that can be created by weaving in beads that shine or ribbon that changes the texture. I try to build unique baskets with color schemes that can either pop against the natural jute or complement it and play with different shapes. Coil stitch woven baskets have been utilized by many different cultures throughout history. Though the methods have changed a bit with different tools being available, I like being able to connect to history while also creating something different and new.

BROWSE & SHOP THE GALLERY

We offer curbside pick-up or shipping. For more information contact Visual Arts Director Dawn Wohlford-Metallo.