Architecture and Furniture are Art at New ArtsWorcester Exhibit

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Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Joe Parello, GoLocalWorcester Contributor

A piece from "Co-Habitat"

Two new exhibits are coming to ArtsWorcester, and each will look to show things we may take for granted in our everyday lives as forms of art.

"These Four Walls" and "Co-Habitat" will each open Friday, November 2nd with a reception in ArtsWorcester's Aurora Gallery. The exhibits and opening celebration are free and open to the public.

"Co-Habitat" is an exhibition of artwork by Steve Butler and Liesl Carlson. Both artists look to give new life to old materials in their work, with Butler inspired by modern movements in furniture design and Liesl creating unique pieces of jewelry.

With the debut of Co-Habitat, ArtsWorcester Executive Director Juliet Feibel believes people will see just how blurry the lines between craft and art really are.

"Steve Butler's half of Co-Habitat is ArtsWorcester's first exhibit of studio furniture," Feibel said. "We're thrilled to have it, and equally excited to show Liesl Carlson's jewelry alongside it. This exhibit allows viewers to see how craft can, and should be viewed as art, and how the divisions between the two are often meaningless."

A picture from "These Four Walls"

"These Four Walls" is an exhibition of different members' artwork, and was inspired by ArtsWorcester's first show of contemporary studio furniture. The different artists in the exhibit explore concepts of interior space and methods through photography.

"Photography is very strong in Worcester, and it's been a while since ArtsWorcester had an exhibit solely of it," Feibel said. "The idea for an open member exhibit of interiors arose from the idea that furniture is generally inside the home, and that Butler and Carlson share a domestic relationship. That said, we opened the call up to ideas of interiors that are not necessarily domestic. Any place where one plays, learns, eats, works, celebrates or mourns have interiors, as do our minds."

The opening reception for both exhibits will run from 6-8 pm on November 2nd. For more information, visit ArtsWorcester's website here.