Art Gallery

Quad City Arts presents stitched textiles by Barbara Schneider, woodblock prints by Gabrielle Boros, wood sculpture by Jay Stratton and wood reliefs by William Hatchet

April 27 – June 28

From April 27-June 28, 2023, Quad City Arts’ Art at the Airport presents stitched textiles by Barbara Schneider of Woodstock, Illinois, woodblock prints by Gabriella Boros of Skokie, Illinois, wood sculpture by Jay Stratton of Bettendorf, Iowa, and wood reliefs by William Hatchet of Ankeny, Iowa.

Barbara Schneider is a textile artist with ongoing interests in the Japanese concept of Wabi-Sabi; finding beauty in things that are imperfect, impermanent and incomplete. Her current series of stitched textiles are an interpretation of traditional still life paintings through creating small, intimate interpretations using personal objects and Schneider’s collection of boro fabrics (boro is essentially the practice of using a simple running stitch to reinforce a textile item using spare or would-be-discarded scraps of fabric.) Each artwork is an exploration of color, texture, and form in a way to make the viewer see nature with new eyes.

Gabriella Boros is a Jewish-American artist whose work focuses on the ties between humans and plants. Her woodblock prints use the stark contrast between the white and black of the prints to convey her message. This series in particular focuses on the complex role of plants in the microcosm of this world. It depicts plants acting as healing agents, as a reflection of human societies, and expands ecological needs to the animal world. Boros states, “I have a fascination with the simplicity of woodblock printmaking, its stark imagery, the beauty of line and pattern are challenges that I embrace.”

Jay Stratton is a wood sculptor of over 30 years who began in construction and later became a full-time woodworker. His work is often described as wood ribbons as his sculpture captures the feel of ribbons in the breeze. Alongside the ribbon sculptures is high polish sanded furniture with natural edges. Both styles aim to bring out the natural beauty of the wood he uses to heighten its aesthetic qualities. Jay explains, “When someone asks me how long something took to make, like my ribbon forms, it can’t be measured in hours or days. It has taken a lifetime of experience, developing skills and techniques, as well as failures, to create a work of art.”

William Hatchet is a self-taught wood artist, originally from Chicago. His wall-mounted wood reliefs explore a balance of somber and subdued with sleek and sharp. Inspired by the textures, character, sense of weight, and history of man-made objects, Hatchet’s work utilizes different carving, painting, and staining techniques to create his textured and geometrical designs. Will is fascinated with the various, non-verbal ways that humans have documented the collective knowledge from their daily lives and significant events. Documenting, for the well-being of future generations and to be remembered by them, is a significant and emotional process. Through his work, Will aims to recognize this process and honor how collective knowledge impacts human development.

In addition to the airport gallery, the artist’s works can be seen and purchased online: https://www.quadcityarts.com/art-at-the-airport.html.