Fabric, Clay, Found Objects: The Curious World of Barbara Bean
September 4, 2024 – November 14, 2024
Reception: Sunday, September 29, 1-4 p.m.
Lifelong mixed media artist Barbara Bean of Brunswick, Maine, earned her BFA in art and philosophy from Syracuse University in New York. Known primarily for her botanical illustration, she is equally skilled in stained glass, clay, jewelry, painting, fiber art and assemblage.
Our show at Maine Fiberarts is a retrospective of the artist’s work and includes her pen and ink drawings, fabric paintings, collages, wood works, embellished antique toasters, and found object assemblages.
Says the artist,
“As a child, I examined and collected everything from my backyard and from my father’s salvage company. I loved old and distressed materials which I would save and use in my ‘art’ projects. I loved color and spent hours collecting buttons, coins, jewelry parts, pieces of wood and metals. I had paint and paper to draw, cut, paste and build. I saved everything and longed for more. My mother’s interest in art and antiques was also influential, and she encouraged me to play and to enjoy my creations.”
These days, Barbara loves working across all media and simultaneously. Whether making artist books, collages, paintings or assemblages, she is aware of how much transfer there is from one work to another regardless of its dimension or content.
Says Barbara,
“Whether manipulating paper, paint, wood or metal, I think my works begin to speak to one another and to tell a story of a journey that is still in progress.”
