The exhibition is titled "Out of the Woods," and the signature image by Russell Cothren is intended to evoke "a land of myth and illusion where the Grimm brothers lurk, where myths from other cultures and invented cultures come alive, where fairies and other folk" invite visitors in to Ozark Folkways. As for the art, says Folkways director Rebecca Buchanan for want of grander words, it is "not to be missed."
It all started with "State of the Art," a collection of creations from around on the nation on show at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, says Erin Chapman, one of the "Out of the Woods" coordinators.
FAQ
‘Out of the Woods’
WHEN — Through May, with an opening reception 6-9 p.m. today
WHERE — Ozark Folkways, 22733 N. U.S. 72 in Winslow
COST — $5 individual, $10 family for the reception
INFO — 634-3791
"We thought, 'Wow, that's a good idea,'" says Chapman, a mixed media artist. "We have a large building at Folkways, the upstairs of which is very rarely used, so we decided to develop an installation using as much as the upstairs as possible. So what we have is a very large installation."
It's also as diverse as the woodlands where its roots are grounded. Visitors to tonight's reception will enter through a hallway filled with fiber art -- including an alcove with a fiber art mermaid -- created by artisan Kathy Sparks.
"Kathy Collier and John Collier are in charge of the next hall," continues Chapman. "They are doing a woodlands scene, complete with trees and mushrooms and all kinds of things. He has done a wood mosaic that fills the whole end of the hallway, so it's 8 feet tall, a beehive and a sunburst primarily, made from hundreds of pieces of wood of many different kinds and colors."
In the main room, Chapman and artist John Ford created papier mache trees around the two support pillars in the center of the hall. In one corner of the room, a "decaying Victorian mansion" will be attended by a little girl who "might be a ghost or a child who has wandered in and found toys in an abandoned house." There's also a "really fine woodworking piece" by Randolph Covey, a mobile assemblage of elk bones by Tammy Graham and a "snawfus" -- so named in the Ozark tales of Vance Randolph -- wearing "a gown made out of the pelt from a wild turkey, and her bustle is the turkey fan," says Chapman, co-creator with Ford. "It's beautiful, really."
In all, more than 20 artists are represented, Chapman says, and the show will remain open through May.
"Everyone was invited to enter, and we have not turned any of it away -- and we haven't needed to!"
-- Becca Martin-Brown
NAN What's Up on 05/01/2015