Artists dive deep for inspiration; 16th Aquarium exhibition challenges
The soothing sound of gurgling water and the blue-ish tint of overhead lights greet you as you enter the “Aquarium” at the Cape Coral Arts Studio.
It’s a welcoming sensation following the glare of the world “above” the water’s surface, out where the heat and the noise of Coronado Parkway feel as if it might truly be some other universe.
The 16th annual Aquarium show has become a tradition for artists in the Cape, as well as around the county, providing a unique challenge that sees seasoned and new artists alike try their hand at developing an underwater-themed work.
Many artists are repeat offenders, so to speak, returning year after year to renew the studio’s test of inventing brand new underwater works. Then there are the new arrivals, the first-timers, those who have chosen to heed the studio’s unique aquatic call.
“Whether its realistic or imaginary, people can interpret the work any way they want as long as its beneath the waves,” Arts Studio’s Alicia Schmidt said. “We want people to feel they’re in an underwater environment.”
The “underwater environment” is a true mix of mediums, as artists use traditional approaches like painting and photography, along with glass, fiber, and scratch-art to achieve their particular goals.
Rose Young is one of the artists who not only returns to the Aquarium from past years but also works closely with the Arts Studio, as a teacher.
Along with partner Rickie Howie, Young created an interesting three dimensional piece for the exhibition, a paint and fabric mermaid that stands (or hangs) roughly 6 feet tall.
“The Aquarium is a just a great idea, and I think the studio is a great thing for the community,” Young said. “Its a great place to meet like-minded people. Just being around there and getting to know the people, you really get the chance to learn from them.”
The “Mermaid’s Lair” relies heavily on fiber art, a somewhat newer movement in modern art. Leaning heavily on the time-tested methods of quilting, fiber art is a style of fine art that uses textiles such as fabric, yarn and natural and synthetic fibers. It focuses on the materials and on the manual labor involved as part of its significance.
Fellow fiber artist Joyce Grande thinks the fiber art movement has really started to take off in the last few years, following a long period of anonymity.
According to Grande, the sheer number of people now involved in fiber art has involuntarily pushed the new movement into the spotlight. Grande has two pieces, “Under the Water” and “The Mermaid” on display in the Aquarium.
“Fabric art is where photography was 10 years ago,” Grande said. “There are so many more of us now. The baby boomers are retiring and looking to the arts for fulfillment.”
Normally a very precise practice, the act of quilting is turned on its head when approached as fiber art. Grande said that is the appeal of the medium — to explore outside traditionally conceived boundaries.
“The boundary setting was for the typical quilter,” Grande said. “The whole idea (of fabric art) is there are no boundaries. We have so much more freedom.”
Though Rose Young started her artistic career 30 years ago as a painter, in recent years she has gravitated toward fabric art.
“I started out as a painter but became more interested in weaving and quilting,” Young said. “I really enjoy pushing the envelope of quilting.”
The “Mermaid’s Lair” is the perfect example of pushing that envelope, using a unique combination of painted fabric and early attempts at what Young described as the “encaustic method,” a form of hot wax painting.
As the encaustic method proved cumbersome, the duo of Young and Howie took a traditional approach to the desired effect.
“We were trying to do something to get holes in it, using the encaustic method,” Young said. “It took a little long to take the fabric, burn a section of it and pass it through liquid wax. Then we found better way, just plain burn it.”
Both artists are members of a local group call Art Quilters Unlimited, a collection of fiber artists from around Lee County who come together to network and push the boundaries of fiber art.
“Just this last year there’s been so many more local avenues for fiber art and we’re just thrilled about it,” Grande said. “A lot more of us are displaying locally.”
Grande said there are at least four local guilds that deal exclusively in fiber art, with the Art Quilters Unlimited boasting upward of 300 members.
For Rose Young, its all part of a much larger picture, one that hopes her skill as an artist — fabric or otherwise — will help to effect change and inspire others.
“I really want to utilize and encourage creativity in others,” Young said. “I love being expressive and bringing it out in others.”
The artists and their work will be featured in a special reception from 5 to 7 p.m., Friday, Sept. 12, where the work will receive special recognition at the Arts Studio.
The Aquarium runs through Sept. 25. Hours are from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday thru Friday. For more information, call 574-0802.