FMAAA to split up May exhibits

FORT MADISON The FMAAA Art Center located at 825 Avenue G in Fort Madison generally has stuck to the formula of one main exhibit for the month in its Main Gallery Oil and then work by the member artists for sale in the Member Gallery.
By reconfiguring the Member Gallery with some newly acquired portable display walls, the FMAAA will now be able to accommodate more frequent and shorter duration shows while the Main Gallery continues to host a range of artwork from within the region and beyond. The new walls, along with some additional display space added on other walls has not sacrificed the FMAAA’s ability to showcase their artists. In fact, the new space should increase the ability of local artists to share recently developed work and fresh concepts in mini exhibitions. The Art Center also will continue to range out to source artistic work for local consideration during the month-long exhibitions.
Paintings by Janice Rockwell of Macomb, IL, will be on display in the Main Gallery during May. Rockwell’s exhibition entitled Familiar Figuresopens on Thursday, May 2nd with an Opening Reception from 5pm to 7pm. This exhibit is a series of oil paintings in vivid color based upon old family photos juxtaposed against more recently taken shots. They are thoughtfully composed records of teachable moments, memorable firsts, and some of the many milestones’ families enjoy together. These timeless images could be anyone’s family and the resulting paintings are easily relatable. This exhibition will be on display beginning May 2 and continuing through May 30 during regular viewing hours Tuesday through Saturday from 10am to 5pm. The FMAAA Art Center is grateful to Connection Bank for their generous support and sponsorship of this month’s exhibition.
Rockwell’s early interest in art as a child had led her to become an art teacher. She received her degree from Western Illinois University. Rockwell’s career began as an educator and later included school counselor. While raising a family at the same time, painting she so loved was relegated to moments of leisure. During that period, Rockwell primarily used watercolors as a medium and landscape as subject. She developed an accomplished control and an ability to express her imagery through dynamic washes and intensely colored imagery. After she retired, Rockwell took additional figure drawing and painting courses at WIU. Of her current art practice Rockwell states,“Though I now work in both watercolor and oil I am drawn to the rich surfaces oil paint produces and love the experimental element of collage I often use with both.” Rockwell further muses about this exhibition, “The paintings in this exhibit are created from black and white family photos taken from my childhood as well as from more current photos of grandchildren. Though the subjects inspire me it is the relationships, the use of colors and textures, that excite me. As I apply paint with palette knives, textures are revealed that seem to create themselves.” Janice Rockwell works out of her rural Macomb home studio Earth, Air & Water. She will be on hand for Lunch ala Art and a gallery talk about her artwork on Friday, May 24 at noon where she will describe her process and artistic ideas in more detail. Later that evening Kent Strabala will be playing during FINALE, a free performance evening, as the FMAAA closes out the main exhibit for the month.
The other two exhibitions this month will be in FMAAA Art Center’s new Pop-up Gallery created with the portable display walls. The recent Winter and Spring Plein Air exhibition will be on display from April 26 until May 11 with work for sale from the thirteen artist that participated in this recent plein air event. The competition was excellent with artists placing as follows: First Place went to Jessica Kirby, Second to Rebecca Vorkapich, Third Kristin Doney, Honorable Mention to Gin Lammert, with overall Best of Show awarded to Deb Baughman. The public is encouraged to select their favorite with a People’s Choice award being awarded to the winner on May 11. The work is produced from visuals within a 30mile radius of Fort Madison leaving it open to the artist to choose landscape, riverscape, architecture, flora or fauna. There is a wide variety of imagery from landscape to streetscape in an array of mediums. On Wednesday, May 15 a photography exhibition by Beth Steeples, a member and regular volunteer at the Art Center, opens featuring local imagery to fantastic moments found in faraway places. Steeples work will be on display until May 29th. If you are an artist yourself looking for gallery space for an exhibition, please contact the FMAAA Art Center to discuss your options.