Textile artist exhibits works at Gallery 100

The Arts Council of Southeast Missouri announces an exhibit of contemporary works by textile artist Rebecca Bluestone of Santa Fe, N.M. The exhibit will open with a reception for the artist on Wednesday, April 4, and will be on display through April 27 at Gallery 100. There is no charge.

Rebecca Bluestone describes her work as using traditional tapestry techniques with hand-dyed silks and metallic threads woven on a cotton warp. The techniques come from the tri-cultural weaving traditions of the Southwest, American Indian, Spanish and contemporary European influences.

"By using vibrant color and rich textural silks as a canvas and the hard edge of metallic thread, I attempt to find the inherent expressiveness and dimension that is singular to fiber and not found in other mediums," said Bluestone.

"For me there exists in the act of weaving a meditative quality which opens up my more intuitive side and becomes the source that informs my work. In this way the act of weaving becomes an integral part of my creative expression."

Bluestone is a natural teacher and will be doing workshops in the Southeast Missouri area via an artist's residency through the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri. Regarding teaching she says, "A lot of weavers are very proprietary about their techniques. But the technique is not the work; it's just a tool. What really matters is what kind of energy you put into your art."

The Arts Council of Southeast Missouri is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the arts throughout the community and receives financial assistance from the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency. For more information, contact the Arts Council at (573) 334-9233.