FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- 11/16/09
Morgan Arts Council • Berkeley Springs, WV
www.macicehouse.org

Press Contact only : Susan Feller • 304-496-8073 or rugs2wv@yahoo.com

PHOTOS AVAILABLE


GALLERY OPENING OF ARTIST CONTAINERS AND GIFTS

BERKELEY SPRINGS, WV ---- Original containers in various media are
featured in Out Of The Box, a special curated art show opening at the
Ice House Gallery in Berkeley Springs on Friday, November 20 at
7:30pm. The opening follows an Artwalk that starts at Mountain Laurel
Gallery at 5pm filled with two floors of ideal holiday gifts.
Produced by the Morgan Arts Council (MAC), Out of the Box is on
display through January 3, 2010.

Curator Susan Feller of neighboring Hampshire County selected the work
of more than half dozen artisans to feature in the show. "I wanted
artists to push their own medium “out of the box” while creating
containers and gifts for the holidays," says Feller expanding the
notion of box to include everything from frames to a casket. "All the
artists were very eager to create something unusual," she said. She
points out that the remarkable containers may be a gift, or can be
used as an extravagant box for something more.

Among the artists featured are four from Berkeley Springs: Jane
Frenke, fiber artist; Lynn Lavin working in clay and Ralph Gonzales
offering stained glass. Ellen Kardell showcases her felted vessels
both in the show and at her Pocket Meadow Farm shop on Washington St.
Hampshire County has three artists represented. Jim Lilly and Feller
live on Ruckman Mill Farm in Augusta, WV. Lilly used found objects to
enhance or change gilded containers while Feller created elegant
jewelry from wool hooked pins as well as using her hand dyed wools in
small tote bags. Anne-Renee’ Livingston from Glass House Studio in
Romney, is featuring stained glass boxes as well as pottery.

Rounding out the group of artisans is Daniele Piasecki from
Martinsburg, who has prepared a variety of one-of-a-kind containers
using collage.

With many people looking to create their own gifts this holiday
season, MAC is offering a special, limited registration workshop on
Saturday, December 12 at 10am. “The Art of the Gift”, is conducted
by noted designer, Michael Dennis for adults. Register by calling
304-258-2300 or email art@macicehouse.org.

The curated gallery exhibit produced by the Morgan Arts Council is
funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, the West Virginia
Commission on the Arts and hotel/motel tax revenues. The Ice House is
located on the corner of Independence and Mercer. Gallery hours are
Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 5pm. For more information call
304-258-2300 or check online at www.macicehouse.org.