Installation view of “Soft/Cover” on loan from the Fabric Workshop and Museum, Philadelphia.
The Art Museum of WVU invites the community to take a last look at our exhibitions
and
enjoy an exclusive gallery talk with "Soft/Cover" co-curator DJ Hellerman, as well
as a discussion with artist Aimee Koran, Thursday, April 30, from 4-7 p.m. Light
hors d'oeuvres and drinks will be served.
“Soft/Cover” surveys the many surprising ways artists have used fabric and screen-printing to create objects that relate to the body. Focusing on the relationship of textiles to fashion and architecture, the exhibition includes new and rarely-shown works from The Fabric Workshop and Museum’s collection—each created by Artists-in-Residence in collaboration with FWM’s Studio team.
The premise of “Soft/Cover” stems from an investigation into some of the Workshop’s earliest residencies in the late 1970s and early 1980s, when celebrated artists such as Richard Tuttle, Lynda Benglis, Roy Lichtenstein, Vito Acconci, Louise Nevelson and many others, benefited from intensive, three-week opportunities to explore the possibilities of screenprinting.
Eight new resident artists were commissioned for this exhibition: Aimee Koran, Julia Chiang, Brendan Fernandes, John Killacky, Mildred Beltré Martinez, Borna Sammak, Jenny Walton and Armando Veve. The cohort worked closely with FWM’s team of in-house studio artists to create new garments, furniture, shelters and more.
“Bringing ‘Soft/Cover’ here to the Art Museum of WVU is such an important programming step for us. Not only is this the first time we have had a fashion-related exhibition, but it also positions the museum as a resource for faculty and students in a variety of disciplines and brings a relatable experience and subject to our immediate and broader West Virginia communities,” said Aaron Garvey, Director of the Art Museum of WVU.
This exhibition is organized by DJ Hellerman, Deputy Director and Senior Curator at MoCa Cleveland (formerly FWM’s Chief Curator and Director of Curatorial Affairs), and Katy Donoghue, Editor-In-Chief of Whitewall Magazine, in collaboration with the artists and the FWM Studio team.
“Soft/Cover” was made possible through the generous support of the Jean J. and Laurence S. DeLynn Foundation.
This exclusive “Last Looks” lecture is free and open to the public, with a $10 suggested donation. “Soft/Cover” will be on display until May 10 and can be visited 12:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. Admission is always free.
For more information about exhibits and events, visit https://artmuseum.wvu.edu and follow the Art Museum of WVU on social media @artmuseumofwvu.