BOONE—The Looking Glass Gallery in Appalachian State University’s Plemmons Student Union is presenting “Softly Pointed,” an exhibition of eight artists working in fibers, through Oct. 14. The exhibition is free and open to the public.

The eight artists are Jordan Cook, Garrett Hawkins, Belle Hissam, Shelby Kremer, Hannah Malone, Rebekah Richardson, Erina Schultz and Samantha Womack. All are studying in the Department of Art in Appalachian’s College of Fine and Applied Arts, with the exception of Womack, who is a 2016 Appalachian alumna.

Each of the pieces in “Softly Pointed” represents different ideas through embroidery, piecing, screen-printing and the altering of found objects. Ariel Moran, a senior art management major and the show’s curator, has sought to find the threads that connect them.

“Problems are riddled throughout our lives, whether they be social, political or emotional,” Moran said. “The eight artists in this exhibition explore what they know as truth through textiles. Each stitch is a stride toward understanding what they know within themselves, and how it relates to the world.”

“Softly Pointed” explores such social justice issues as the fast fashion industry and animal cruelty as well as intrapersonal problems surrounding depression and anxiety.

The exhibition also includes an interactive piece titled “Discarding the Misconceptions on Becoming a Public Educator” by Kremer, who is pursuing a B.F.A. in art education. In “Discarding,” Kremer demonstrates her love of teaching by inviting viewers to use scissors to cut away a layer of fabric meant to symbolize “the apprehensions that many students feel about becoming educators.”

About the artists

Jordan Cook is a senior from the Winston-Salem area pursuing a B.F.A. in studio art with an emphasis in fibers. His work reflects interests in gender studies and queer issues. Cook continues to seek out ideas and portray thoughts about what identity and individualism mean to him through various surface-design approaches to fiber.

Garrett Hawkins is a junior from Winston-Salem pursuing a B.F.A. in studio art and a B.A. in art management. His father inspired and pushed him at a young age to draw and make. Hawkins’ art reflects the art classes he is enrolled in at the time he makes it. His work is also inspired by current events and the global implications they have on humans.

Belle Hissam is a senior from Wilmington pursuing a B.F.A. in studio art. Their work explores the different facets of drawing, graphic design, surface design and illustration. Hissam’s most recent work investigates the ambiguities and dichotomies within mental health and gender issues.

Shelby Kremer is a junior from Pittsboro pursuing a B.F.A. in art education. She has interests in many art media, including mixed media, acrylic paint and printmaking. During her time at Appalachian, she has become interested in fiber arts, particularly how surface design techniques can be incorporated into the high school art curriculum.

Hannah Malone is a junior from Wheeling, West Virginia, pursuing a B.F.A. in studio art with a focus in painting. Although painting and illustration are her passions, she has been using her time at Appalachian to dabble in other media, especially fibers. Her current work primarily explores animal rights issues.

Rebekah Richardson is a senior from Greensboro pursuing a B.F.A. in studio art. She experimented with a wide range of media while attending a magnet arts high school, but finally found her calling when she started making embroideries. She loves the intimate nature, tactility and familiarity of fabric. Her fibers practices have expanded to include soft sculpture, wearables and quilting. Richardson’s work comments on the expectations of women through recontextualized objects.

Erina Schultz is a senior pursuing a B.F.A. in studio art. An artist and printmaker originally from Jensen Beach, Florida, she creates work structured around personal memories and a sense of place. When Schultz was young she lived in Japan with her grandparents, so she likes to combine Eastern and Western styles within her work and lifestyle. Her preferred process is relief printing, but she also dabbles in other printmaking processes and fibers.

Samantha Womack ’16 is a native of Richmond, Virginia, who recently completed her B.F.A in studio art with a minor in entrepreneurship. She has explored a range of media in her work, including drawing, painting, printmaking and fibers. Her work reflects interests in the social and moral qualms of society, the recurring themes of animal rights, the fragility of nature and the notion of identity.

About the Looking Glass Gallery

The Looking Glass Gallery at Appalachian State University aims to exhibit, communicate and support the visual arts by offering students and the university the opportunity to become involved and experience artwork produced at Appalachian. The gallery is located in Appalachian’s Plemmons Student Union, 293 Locust St., in Boone. Hours of operation are 7 a.m. – 11 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. – 11 p.m. Saturday; and noon – 11 p.m. Sunday.

About Appalachian State University

As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, cost-effective education. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.

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