May Issue 2001
Folk Art Center in Asheville, NC, Features Works of Karen Hoffman and Ron Mayhew
Through May 23 the Folk Art Center's Focus Gallery in Asheville, NC, features the work of two members of the Southern Highland Craft Guild who have reached outstanding accomplishments in their chosen fields. Karen Hoffman (Newland, NC) brings an exciting new line of woven wearables, and Ron Mayhew (Canton, NC) shows some of his dramatic woodcarvings of NC wildlife. Through a love of their media, these two artists have taken their craft to extraordinary heights, developing inspired methods which surpass the customary.
Ron Mayhew has lived in Western NC for 25 years, and although he loves the mountain setting, he has a strong attraction to coastal wildlife for his woodcarving subjects. The long beaks, legs and wings of saltwater fowl, and the textures of amphibious plants and animals challenge him when he sits down with a special piece of walnut, cherry or maple.
The composition of these coastal scenes evolve mostly from his own memory. Mayhew prefers designing his sculptures from his imagination rather than from a sketch. His pieces are not merely studies of birds or animals extracted from nature; within the same block of wood the seaside grasses wave, the twigs and cypress knees rise from the water, the waves ripple and splash, providing a setting where Mayhew's subjects are captured in the midst of the natural dramas of daily survival.
Although the tensions, balance and elegance told through his carvings are extremely true-to-life, he doesn't see himself as a realistic sculptor. "When I compare myself to realistic bird carvers, what I see in them is that there is not much left to the imagination." It's true that our imagination is welcomed into every curve of his carvings. Mayhew leaves his work unpainted, often highlighting the wood's grain or spalting. The accuracy in his subjects' poised expressions outweigh the absence of any exacting detail, allowing us freedom to fill in our own particulars.
As a daughter of a dress designer, Karen Hoffman worked in her mother's clothing store and received a first-hand education on the value of fine fabrics. She discovered a love for the weaving process early in life and made scarves, shawls and ruanas for family and friends. Along with a formal education in weaving, Hoffman also earned a degree in environmental design and architecture from the University of Colorado. Her move to the mountains of Western NC in 1987 connected her to a supportive crafts community, allowing her weaving to evolve to a professional level. Since the founding of her studio, Fiber Matrix, in 1992, Hoffman's work has grown from primarily scarves and shawls to handwoven yardage used in her one-of-a-kind clothing. She has participated in a number of juried craft shows around the country, many of which are sponsored by the prestigious American Craft Council.
In 1996, when Hoffman became a mother, her craft career took a less demanding path to allow time for her new baby. Handwoven throws and matching pillows have become the dominant fruits of her craft labors. Making these unique and functional pieces has kept her connected to her art, and continue to be a source of heartfelt esteem for the craft. In 1999 she became a member of the Guild, and this new exhibition is an opportunity to carry out some fresh new ideas. This body of work is introduces new handwoven wrappings, a totally new flavor of shawls, ruanas and ponchos. The complex weaving on some of these wearables combines a rayon yarn with a clear, nylon monofilament that is finer than hair. They are woven with a special "Theo Moorman" inlay technique named for an influential British fiber artist. A pattern is woven into the cloth that only appears on one side. The fabric is slinky and ethereal, with solid blocks of saturated color, embellished with cords and tassels. The designs are reminiscent of the work of a favorite architect, Charles Rennie Mackintosh, featuring repeated geometric patterns. Other pieces are constructed using an applique technique with more curvilinear forms resembling those found in nature.
For further information check our NC Institutional Gallery listings or call the gallery at 828/298-7928 or at (http://www.southernhighlandguild.org).
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