First Friday Art Opening: Textures + Textiles with Meg Laughlin

May 1, 2019

Come see us at the Depot this Friday for the First Friday Art Opening.

Each month we host a new artist in our building’s 2nd floor gallery at the Chesapeake Western Depot at 141 W. Bruce St. (second floor entrance is on Chesapeake). Artwork will remain on exhibit through the month. Come view the show and get a tour the Depot! We will have food and drink available!

Meg Carpenter Laughlin First Friday Art Opening

April 5, 2019

5:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Gaines Group Architects – The Depot Gallery (second floor)

ART OPENING INFORMATION

Show title:

Textures + Textiles

Exploring the contrast of textures and textiles created in nature and by the human hand. The fabric of the elephant’s skin is coarse and rigid, filled with lines and wrinkles, and infinitely detailed. It’s a landscape that reads to the life of the animal. By contrast, the quilt has a unique texture with a palette uniquely its own. The stippling is as purposeful to the quilt as wrinkles to the elephant. In this case, each quilt depicts an abstracted landscape of their own. The purpose of each piece of art is to explore the visual textures that forms the fabric of the subject. Textures and textiles can be more alike than we think, the beauty is when all of it can live in harmony.

Artist:
Meg Carpenter Laughlin

Hi, I’m Meg Laughlin! I’ve filled my studies and my career path with various architecture and construction practices. Having studied architecture at the University of Virginia, taking architectural history and landscape design courses, and working professionally as an architecture intern and currently as a construction project coordinator; the underlying theme of my creative endeavors and pursuits is the exploration of “making.” I’m constantly curious about what invites people and nature to grow and thrive. I’m a hands on learner and producer, feeling a greater connection to my surroundings when I’ve had a hand in making their form and function. I love to dream and explore new ways to study my surroundings and develop a greater connection to it. Drawing and quilting are avenues in which I more deeply explore what makes me curious and becomes a language in which I reflect what I learn. Thank you for taking the time to observe these works and my hope is that it inspires you to delve into your own personal exploration.

Read about our previous First Friday Art Opening shows here:

From the Valley to the Bay: a book in the making

Eastern Mennonite School Artists

As always, this event is free and open to everyone, and refreshments will be provided by Gaines Group Architects.

Series Name: An Interlude of Water

Medium: Hand-cut Montage

Artist Statement: “An Interlude of Water

The stillness of a hot, lazy summer evening broken by the laughter of good friends as fishies bite and the sun slowly slips towards the horizon.

The pond collection swirls and twirls like the eddies at the shoreline. Developing slowly to capture the quiet aspects of what creatures could quietly inhabit a pond within the Shenandoah landscape.

The past eight months have been a creative frenzy of exploration, joy, and personal contentment, from envisioning a cohesive grouping of collages that share a color palette to letting my imagination play. The resulting collection has stretched my artistic skills and broadened my perception of interpretation and idea development.

My Process:

Each collage starts as a line drawing, creating a detailed map of the imagery to be included within the work. Moving the drawing to the wooden panel entails many bits of hand-cut paper, acrylic mediums, and acid-free paste. A sticky mess, but it so satisfies the need for detail my brain requires. All papers used are colored with acrylic paint applied with painting tools or a Gelli plate. A lot of time is spent pressing (lever press, heavy books, etc) and drying the glued papers before and after mounting on the wooden surface. Acrylic varnish provides a protective sealant for the completed collage. From concept to finished work, the process takes, on average, four weeks.”

Artist Bio: I’ve always been one to dabble in new trends and techniques. Treading water, seeking the thing that would capture and devour my imagination. In 2018, when life was overwhelming and my soul needed an escape, I fell back in love with collage. Over the intervening eight years, my artistic practice has settled into an obsession, forcing a growth in style and technique with results that personally bring me joy. A relocation to Harrisonburg, Virginia, has allowed me to establish a permanent studio space, adding momentum to my artistic journey.

*Accessibility Note: This building was previously restored from a fire. The elevator shaft is currently not functioning and there is an absence of ramps in the space. Because the show is on the 2nd floor, this may pose an issue for those who have mobility challenges. We are aware of this need and we apologize greatly if this changes your ability to attend.

This event is free and open to everyone. Snacks and refreshments will be served and we look forward to seeing you there!

Each month we host a new artist in our building’s 2nd floor gallery at the Chesapeake Western Depot at 141 W. Bruce St. (second floor entrance is on Chesapeake). Artwork will remain on exhibit through the month. Come view the show anytime and get a tour the Depot!