Downtown Art Gallery Opens “In Her Closet,” Works by Clare Murray Adams on Aug. 29

Exhibit focuses on metaphorical interpretations of the physical architecture of clothing
Kent State University’s School of Art Galleries presents “In Her Closet,” works by mixed media artist and Kent State alumna Clare Murray Adams, from Aug. 29 – Sept. 29 at the Downtown Gallery. An opening reception will take place on Thursday, Aug. 30, from 5 – 7 p.m., and is open and free to the public. The Gallery is located at 141 E. Main St. in downtown Kent. Free parking is available behind the gallery. For more details, visithttp://galleries.kent.edu.

The title, “In Her Closet,” references the way in which individuals often keep hidden certain aspects of their personality. The exhibit features manipulated digital prints on cotton with stitching and embellishment, as well as dresses made of silk organza with stitching and found object embellishments. This exhibit challenges the viewer to interpret the dresses, shadows and the deeper meanings that clothing can suggest.
 
"Ideas of family, feminist concerns, elements of time and universal emotional issues are continual themes for exploration. Earlier work was strongly rooted in quilt making and surface design. More recent work relies on the processes involved in making 3-D constructions, in collage and in encaustic painting or working with wax. My long interest and attraction to fibers is still evident in my work, if not in process, then certainly in concept," says Murray Adams in a description of her work on her website, www.claremurrayadams.com.

“This body of work challenged me structurally and conceptually as I interpreted emotional qualities of identity metaphorically in the physical architecture of the clothes I created,” says Murray Adams. 

Murray Adams currently serves as a professor of art and is former chair of the visual art department at Malone University. She received her Bachelor of Fine Art in 1993 from Kent State University, and a Master of Fine Art with a concentration on fibers and mixed media from Vermont College of Norwich University in 2001. Her artwork has been exhibited regionally and nationally in fiber and mixed media exhibits where she has often taken home honors or awards. During the past two years, she has had five one-person exhibits in Ohio, Indiana, New York and California.
 
The Downtown Gallery’s hours of operation are Wednesday – Friday, noon - 5 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. The gallery is located at 141 East Main St. in Kent. For more information, call 330-676-1549.