Nancy Loorem AdamsMy work includes references to concepts of serenity, wisdom, contemplative awareness, subtle emotion, paradox and beauty. I am drawn to these aesthetic themes for what I perceive in their capacity to express what haunts me. Drawing from a strong visual sensibility, I seek to integrate these elements to create contemporary sculptures and some 2-dimensional mixed media work that evokes narrative and response. Recent work embodies references to issues surrounding our life and times. I love to use random weave and coiled basketry techniques, and materials such as wood veneer, metal, cane, reed, beads, pigment, sumi and walnut ink resist designed and altered mulberry papers; silk, found objects, repouseed metal, and bronze. I especially enjoy incorporating materials with an eye to expressing their intrinsic beauty and their relevance to the concept of the piece.
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Bio |
My career has spanned both education and art production running in a parallel trajectory — one career as a public school teacher, principal and senior administrator, and a concurrent path as working artist. I first created jewelry that incorporated hand-made warm glass beads and medallions with world beads I had collected. They resulted in small scale wearable sculpture. My current focus is primarily medium scale sculpture, and some paintings.
During my years in pubic education I wove my love of art and art eduction into the development of school based art programs. I served on the Board of the Bellevue Art Museum— a museum dedicated to contemporary craft, for seven years becoming Board President and Liaison to the Capital Campaign to build the stunning Steven Holl design museum in downtown Bellevue. After retiring from the public schools I became Head of School at the Bellevue Art Museum and then went on to found Art’s Cool! a company offering after school art classes and summer art camps for elementary children in 12 schools in the Bellevue and Mercer Island schools of Washington. I employed outstanding producing artists to engage children in creative experiences that culminated in an exhibition of student work at the end of each session. Over the past 5 years I have turned my full attention to the development of my sculptural craft and exhibiting. Recently I curated and co-curated two gallery shows. I serve on the Board of Northwest Designer Craftsmen as the Museum Liaison and I am also active in the Whidbey Island Surface Design organization. |
Exhibitions
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Great Basins Basketry Exhibition HGA Convergence Conference 2018 Reno NV
Manga Artifact, Second Place: Made It, Honorable Mention "Shuttle Spindle & Dyepot" Fall 2018 Issue Front Cover Image Manga Artifact, and article Handweavers Guild of America, Inc. Whatcom County Musuem Gathered Together Group Show NW Basketry Guild 2018 Nancy Loorem Adams One Woman Show Skagit Community College 2018 All Things Considered 9 Basketry in the 21st Century National Basketry Organization International Show Tacoma WA 2017 In Response to Baskets Art Stop Gallery Northwest Designer Craftsmen Juried Exhibition Tacoma WA 2017 Interwoven LaConner Fiber and Textile Museum LaConner WA 2017 NOW Beauty and Paradox Exhibition Museo Gallery 2017 Curator Bellevue College Northwest Designer Craftsmen Juried Exhibition 2017 Museo Gallery Garden Show April 2017 Crafting Community Inaugural International Exhibition in Print Surface Design Journal Winter 2016/2017 Karla Matzke Fine Art Gallery, Earth Elements Exhibition 2017 Co-Curator Vashon Art Center Northwest Designer Craftsmen Exhibition 2017 Museo Gallery Beach Party Exhibition February - March 2017 Fiber Fusion Juried Traveling Exhibition, Jurors' Award Winner, Schack Art Center Everett, March -April 2017; North Winds Gallery Port Townsend, WA February 2017,;Vala Art Center November - January 15th 2017; Allied Arts Richland WA June, 2016 Museo Gallery Gift Show November - December 2016 The Garden Show, Museo Gallery April, 2016 Mardi Gras Invitational Exhibition, Museo Gallery 2016 Langley, WA Beyond the Surface 2016 Juried Exhibition La Conner Quilt and Textile Museum, La Conner WA Craft Forms 2015 International Juried Exhibition of Contemporary Craft, Wayne Art Center, Wayne, PA Entwined Invitational Exhibition Museo Gallery, 2015 Langley, WA Expressions Northwest 2015 Juried Exhibition Northwind Art Center Port Townsend, WA Whidbey Island Center on the Art’s Group Show, 2015 Langley, WA The Grid Show, invitational Artist Exhibition Museo Gallery, 2015 Langley, WA Pop Art Exhibition Museo Gallery 2015 Langley, WA Schack Art Center 2014 Juried Exhibition, Everett, WA I Can’t Believe It’s Fiber Invitational Artist Exhibition Museo Gallery, 2014, Langley, WA Medieval Exhibition Museo Gallery 2014 Langley, WA Out of the Blue Juried Exhibition Northwest Quilt and Textile Museum 2014, LaConner, WA White on White Invitational Exhibition Museo Gallery 2013, Langley, WA Whidbey Island Center on the Arts Lobby Exhibit 2013, 2014, 2015, Langley, WA Dancing Surfaces Juried Exhibition, Surface Design Association of Washington Phinney Ridge 2014 Publications: Shuttle Spindle & Dyepot Fall 2018 Issue Front Cover Image Manga Artifact, and article Nation Basketry Organization Inaugural Exhibition In Print 2018 Basketry A Way of Life Whidbey Life Magazine Winter 2017-18 Crafting Community Surface Design Association Inaugural International Exhibition in Print Surface Design Journal Winter 2016/2017 |