Animal Inspirations At Brookfield Craft Center

BROOKFIELD — A unique new multi-media exhibition of contemporary artwork by 22 craft artists is on view in the Lynn Tendler Bignell Gallery at Brookfield Craft Center. “Muse Of The Wild: Animal Inspirations,” curated by Brookfield Craft Center education director Kristin Muller, will continue through March 25.

Gallery hours are Monday through Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm, and Sunday, noon to 5 pm. The craft center is closed all major holidays.

According to Ms Muller, “This wild and woolly multi-media invitational group show will stretch the concept ‘animal imagery’ to its limits.”

Judith T. Russell, gallery director, added, “For this lively show, Kristin has invited artists working in clay, wood, fiber, glass, metal and other media whose work is highly sculptural.”

The work in the show speaks to the powerful influences animals have on everyone’s personal lives, dreams and even virtual lives. The pieces reflect both the classical influences of animal imagery and some very modern artistic points of view.

The artists were selected for their freedom of form and color and their creative usage of modern craft materials. The imagery of the work includes the purely organic, the mythological, the influence of fairy tales, of great literature, and various “real world” animals the participating artists have known, loved and feared.

Much of the work in the show is whimsical. Some is environmental. Much is political or satirical; and all is definately “on the wild side,” according to John I. Russell, the executive director of BCC, who points out, “Ms Muller’s goal in putting together this ‘untamed’ show is to demonstrate how animals can inspire and powerfully influence out attitudes and views.”

The exhibiting artists are Karen Copensky, Ron Meyers, Stephen Fellerman, Washington Ledesma, Avery Anderson, Phyllis S. Clarke, Theodora Elston, Missy Stevens, Tommy Simpson, Anna Siok, Jack Larimore, Louise W. King, Jody Bishel, Gloria Helfgott, Steven Ford, David Forlanao, Brad Story, Wendy Ellsworth, Marjorie Simon, Mary Lou Alberetti, Katherine Wood and Geri Boggs.

The Lynn Tendler Bignell Gallery at Brookfield Craft Center is located in the historic mill building on Route 25, just east of the four corners intersection with Route 7 and 202. For further information call 775-4526 or log on to www.brookfieldcraftcenter.org.