Upper Iowa to host Wartburg art professor
“remnants of varied terrain” by Barbara Fedeler
FAYETTE, Iowa (January 28, 2009) - UIU's Associate Professor of Art John Siblik has invited his colleague from Wartburg College, Associate Professor of Art Barbara Fedeler, to exhibit in the Bing-Davis Memorial Art Gallery, Edgar Fine Arts Hall, on the Upper Iowa University Fayette campus, Feb. 5- Mar. 6.
"I was introduced to the work of Barbara Fedeler at an exhibit at the Hearst Center for the Arts in Cedar Falls; she exhibited an incredible drawing of the Volga River Valley," said Siblik. "Later, I had a chance to visit her on the Wartburg Campus--I was researching various art facilities, as we were planning the renovation of Edgar Fine Arts Hall at that time."
Siblik added, "We are delighted to have Fedeler exhibit at Upper Iowa-in addition, she will conduct studio visits with upper-level art students. As a teacher, I feel it is essential that students experience a wide range of viewpoints, and this cooperative exchange between private colleges accomplishes that objective."
Fedeler earned her bachelor of fine arts from Drake University and masters from the University of Arizona. She taught art at several universities in Arizona before returning to Iowa in the ‘80s. She taught as an adjunct at North Iowa Area Community College, Loras, and the University of Northern Iowa before making Wartburg her home.
Her exhibit, "remnants of a varied terrain," explores two distinct but related bodies of work that reference Iowa's history and culture. Landscapes of Northeast Iowa, a subject familiar to Fedeler since her childhood in nearby Arlington, will be exhibited alongside "The Ladies and Wallpaper Series," nostalgic and allusive mixed media works that combine materials and remnants of text.
"Drawing is my primary response as an artist, and this is the first exhibition to combine my works," said Fedeler. "The old wallpapers were salvaged from my great uncle's home, and the sketches of women are derived from obituary photographs of women with interesting or unusual names."
Fedeler added, "The landscape intrigues me with the revealed geologic history, the cycles of time and season, and the ephemerality and permanence of nature. The use of a panoramic format encourages fluid movement across the vistas and through the sculptural relief of landforms."
An artist reception is planned for Thursday, Feb. 12, from 5 - 6:30 p.m., preceded by a lecture at 1:00 p.m. in Edgar Fine Arts Hall, Room 310.
The Bing-Davis Gallery is free and open to the public from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Contact Siblik at 563-425-5241or e-mail siblikj@uiu.edu.
Contact:
Sheila Miller
Director of Public Relations
Work - 563-425-5326
Cell - 319-610-7108
Fax - 563-425-5701
millers@uiu.edu
www.uiu.edu