Artists to show at Black Butte Ranch

The art of local artists Jean Wells and Judy Hoiness will be on display through the months of May and June at the Lodge Gallery at Black Butte Ranch. An artist reception will be held for both artists this Saturday, May 11, at the Lodge from 4 to 6 p.m.

"I have been a fan of Judy's work for some time," said Gallery Coordinator Katie Williams. "When I asked Judy if she would be interested in having an exhibit she mentioned that she had been doing collaborative work with Jean wells, and if we would consider a joint exhibit. I of course said 'yes,' and we're very excited to be exhibiting the work of these two great artists."

Wells, a long-time Sisters resident and owner of Stitchin' Post, is renowned as a quilt artist and writer. Her interest in fabric art began at a very young age, followed her through college at Oregon State, and continues to grow both as an artist and a teacher.

"From a very early age I was in love with fabric and making things and would just make up stuff.

My college degree was in clothing and textiles/education from Oregon State," said Wells.

"Then I taught for eight years until we moved to Sisters.

After a year of teaching community education, I opened the Stitchin' Post in Sisters in 1975.

The idea for the store was to have supplies for my students so the basis of the store was education and inspiration from the very beginning.

I have taught quilting worldwide as well as in my own backyard.

I love to see people learn, it feeds my soul.

I am mostly self-taught when it comes to quilting and have been a leader in the quilting movement since the beginning of its resurgence in the late '70s."

Hoiness, a fourth-generation Oregonian, has been a resident of Bend for 42 years. Holding two degrees in art, a bachelor's degree and a fifth-year from Portland State University, and a masters degree from Syracuse University. She recently retired as an adjunct art faculty from Central Oregon Community College (COCC). Like Wells, Hoiness has spent much of her career teaching.

"I have been painting seriously since 1977," said Hoiness. "I have a bachelor's in art education and a master's in illustration. I taught middle school, high school, and the last 30 years of teaching was at COCC where I was adjunct art faculty. There I taught painting, design, and calligraphy."

The exhibit has an abstract landscape theme. In the collaborative process, Wells and Hoiness work with paper, textile, thread, and paint, and pass the pieces back and forth several times until they feel the work is finished.

"We have enjoyed the joint process and have learned more about the materials and how to manipulate them for the results we want," said Well. "The fun part for me has been in our conversations about process and composition realizing that we both make decisions about our work in the same way. I own several of Judy's paintings, so I was a little nervous when we first started working together but that did not last long. I have so much respect for her as an artist."

Both Wells and Hoiness see Central Oregon as a burgeoning art mecca that will continue to grow and impact the area both culturally and economically.

"I love the art community in Sisters as well as greater Central Oregon. I see it as growing in the future," Wells said. "Because of all the nationally known art quilting teachers we bring into the community to teach workshops, Sisters is nationally known as a center for the arts. I think cultural tourism is something that has growth potential in Sisters in terms of economic

development."

"Central Oregon is a very special place to me," Hoiness added. "It gave me my start in art and education. It is a great place to live and to paint. We have a very supportive art community today in Central Oregon."

For more information call Katie Williams at 541-549-1510.