City Hall gallery presents fiber art work of Maki, Willard

Textile alteration, manipulation and arrangement of various elements create artwork of delicate detail and intricate structure by Seattle artist Ann Maki and Edmonds artist Grace Willard.

Their beautiful creations now are on display at Auburn City Hall, 25 W. Main St., until July 31. The exhibit is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Admission is free.

Maki’s work consists of hand-dyed fabrics, colorful threads and yarns and the use of machine stitch to create two-dimensional abstract assemblages of embellished and manipulated cotton fabrics. High contrast color relationships and textured surfaces are expressive on multiple levels.

Maki began quilting in earnest in 1993, making traditional bed quilts. Fiber art and wearable art have been her focus since 1997, and her current line of framed pieces began in early 2004.

Willard, meanwhile, combines unlikely and seemingly conflicting mediums, materials and imagery to create artwork that forces the viewer to take a closer look. One area of artwork represented are the small delicate ink-drawn representations of sea urchins and sea life on homemade paper. More recent work, many of which were created for the exhibition in Auburn, include monumental papier mache sculptures adorned with paint, quilted fabrics and crocheted thread.

The Auburn City Hall Gallery is presented by the Auburn Arts Commission and Auburn Parks, Arts & Recreation. For a 2009 Gallery Brochure or for information on other cultural arts programs, go to www.auburnwa.gov/arts or call 253-931-3043.