Bellevue Arts Museum 2012 Biennial "High Fiber Diet" Starts

The Bellevue Arts Museum's BAM Biennial 2012, with a focus on fiber arts, starts today. 

BAM Biennial 2012: High Fiber Diet celebrates both tradition and innovation in art, craft and design in the Northwest, according to the museum. The exhibition will be on view at Bellevue Arts Museum from Oct. 25 to Feb. 24.

Nearly 300 artists applied and 44 artists who live or work in the Northwest have been selected to participate in the exhibition.

Participating artists:
Polly Adams Sutton (WA), Howard and Lorraine Barlow (WA), Dina Barzel (WA), Lou Cabeen (WA), Vanessa Calvert (OR), Michael Cepress (WA), Christine Chaney (WA), David Chatt (WA), Joanne Circle (BC), Celeste Cooning (WA), Scott Fife (WA), Rob Folendorf (WA), April Marie Hale (MT), Jo Hamilton (OR), Luke Haynes (WA), Carolyn Hopkins (WA), Jan Hopkins (WA), Rock Hushka (WA), Jiseon Lee Isbara (OR), Ann Johnston (OR), Christine Joy (MT), Patti King (WA), Sheila Klein (WA), Paul Komada (WA), Barbara Lee Smith (WA), Margie Livingston (WA), Allison Manch (WA), Amanda Manitach (WA), Sherry Markovitz (WA), Heather McGilvray (WA), Dorothy McGuinness (WA), Rachel Meginnes (WA), Robert Mertens (OR), Moxie (WA), Tiffany Pruitt (WA), Patricia Resseguie (WA), Lesley Richmond (BC), Maggy Rozycki Hiltner (MT), Scott Schuldt (WA), Maria Shell (AK), Shelley Socolofsky (OR), Nate Steigenga (WA), Claire Taylor (WA) and Tamara Wilson (AK).

The majority of the works are specifically created for the exhibition, according to the museum.

The artworks range from traditional to new expressions of fiber art, where ideas and materials create a unique synergy, offering a glimpse into how artists continue to transform and re-invent fiber’s already rich tradition in the Northwest.

Visitor participation
BAM visitors can also participate by voting for their favorite artist through Jan. 27, 2013. The winner of the Samuel and Patricia Smith Peoples’ Choice Award will be announced during a special ceremony on Free First Friday on Feb. 1, 2013.

As part of the exhibition, Seattle-based artist Rock Hushka will perform "Counter-Practice (Candlemas), 2012-13," in the gallery every Friday from 1 to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Hushka's performance includes embroidering inside a re-creation of his own studio, accompanied by music from his collection.

The BAM Biennial exhibition is accompanied by two awards: the John & Joyce Price Award of Excellence, selected by BAM’s curatorial team and accompanied by a $5,000 cash prize,  plus the opportunity of a future solo exhibition at BAM; and the Samuel & Patricia Smith Peoples’ Choice Award, chosen by Museum visitors and awarded with a $5,000 cash prize. With its geographic focus and emphasis on new works, BAM Biennial fills a unique niche in the Northwest arts community and demonstrates the Museum’s commitment to fostering regional artists, according to the museum.

BAM Biennial 2012: High Fiber Diet events

• Free First Friday Lecture: Pacific NW Fiber with Rock Hushka: Nov 2, 6:30 - 7:30pm
• Teen Workshops: Felting with BAM Biennial artist Moxie: Nov 10, 3 - 5pm
• Members Celebration: Nov 16, 6:30 - 8pm
• BAMignite: Nov 16, 8pm - midnight
• David Chatt Workshop: Nov 17 & 18, 10am - 4pm
• NW Designer Craftsmen Tour + Lecture Series: "Tradition and Creativity: Innovations in Fiber Work" with Layne Goldsmith: Nov 18, 2 - 4pm
• NW Designer Craftsmen Tour + Lecture Series: "Wearable Art as Kinetic Sculpture" with Lynn Di Nino and Rebecca Maxim: Dec 16, 2 - 4pm
• Teen Workshops: Papercutting with BAM Biennial artist Celeste Cooning: Jan 12, 3 - 5pm
• Symposium: BAM Biennial 2012: High Fiber Diet: Feb 9, 10am - 4pm

-- Information provided by the Bellevue Arts Museum