Woven Narratives and Mystique of Silk, May 17-August 27, 2016; Opening Reception, May 20

Manchester, Conn. (May 11, 2016) — The Dehn Gallery at MCC on Main, the Manchester Community College Arts and Education Center, presents Woven Narratives. An opening reception will be held Friday, May 20 from 6 to 8 p.m. There will be a Q & A with the artists from 7 to 7:45 p.m.

A special exhibit of Cheney Brothers Silk Manufacturing’s vintage fashion ads, Mystique of Silk, will be on display concurrently. The reception and exhibitions are free and open to the public. Visit mcconmain.org for more information.

Seven textile artists will be featured in Woven Narratives — Colin Burke, Peggy Dembicer, Leslie Giuliani, Ed Johnetta Miller, Constance Old, Barbara Solomon and Rita Valley — using both traditional and nontraditional materials to create textile-based artworks. The Mystique of Silk features fashion ads from the 1910 and 1920s from the Cheney Brothers Silk Manufacturing Company, which was based in Manchester.

Colin Burke, of New Haven, works with antique photographic processes on fabric, exploring the elasticity of time, plasticity of memory, and the consistent rhythm of nature.

Peggy Dembicer, of Avon, includes beads and specialty papers in her constructions. The work takes its shape through the versatility of weaving, gluing, embroidering, stitching or combining the beads and papers with each other or with paints, fabric and polymers. Her playful, nostalgic and “pop art”-inspired interpretations are sure to delight the viewer.

Leslie Giuliani, of Weston, says that when people view her work they are surprised by its individuality. The work is intriguing in many different ways: the structure – how it’s shaped and built; the imagery – light hearted and darkly primal simultaneously; textural – utilizing a variety of materials; the interplay of color; and good design. This way as people look deeply into the work it changes with each viewing – the piece evolves, never settling into one specific interpretation – works that invite visit after visit.

Ed Johnetta Miller, of Hartford, quilter, teacher curator and lecturer, is acknowledged to be one of the most creative and colorful improvisational quilt makers in the U.S. Widely exhibited in the U.S and internationally, Ed Johnetta’s quilts can be found in many important museums, and corporate and private collections. 

Constance Old, of New Canaan, uses the traditional craft of rug hooking to make three-dimensional wall pieces. Constance creates wall hangings with contemporary materials; primarily recycled paper and discarded plastic. Old said, “Paper and plastic interest me as abundantly available fibers that not only reflect our time, but with imagination and coaxing, can be made into ‘rugs,’ or at least wall pieces. Living in an era of material excess, it intrigues me to work in a medium that originated from need and a scarcity of materials.”

Barbara Solomon, of Manchester, said of her work, “My baskets are a product of who I am. They are containers for my soul. The sculptures become a recorded history of my inner life. Ultimately, it is vital that the viewer be able to have a quiet intimate dialogue with the pieces.”

Rita Valley, of Southbury, has often used fabric and sewing as materials for expression. She grew up with a mother who sewed, in a house filled with fabric remnants. One day she rediscovered fabric as an art-making material and many series of work have followed since. Her humorous interplay with traditional quilting and social justice concerns are thought provoking.

Special Exhibit –The Mystique of Silk: Cheney Brothers Ads in the 1910s and 1920s

Cheney Brothers Silk Manufacturing Co. (1838–1955) had a profound impact on the growth of Manchester, Connecticut. At its height, the company employed 4,700 workers and was the largest producer of silk in the country. The Cheney Brothers brand is captured in beautifully composed advertisements of the day, using fine art and colorful copywriting to express fashion trends as part of Cheney’s marketing strategy.

Dehn Gallery hours: Monday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. ; Closed Sunday