Careful craft meets process in my art, showcased in current and past exhibitions. Explore the interconnected journey of my craft and creativity.
CURRENT AND UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS
October 2023—October 2024 Splinter Cellar Tröegs Gallery Hershey, Pennsylvania
What is life without tradition and a little superstition? Whether you believe in the power of a talisman or just appreciate the beauty of craft, we’re so proud to share our Tröegs Hex Quilt with you.
Measuring 33” square, our hex sign is full of powerful symbolism. The outer scalloped edge represents smooth sailing, the eight surrounding hearts represent endless love. Within the hex quilt you’ll also see the main ingredients for beer—water, grain, and hops. The cycles of the moon represent time. Central to the hex quilt, and the source of light and power, is a sun shape which is one of two eight pointed stars. The first represents fertility and abundance. At the heart of the symbolism is the second eight-pointed star. This time though, it’s a compass. It is there to reflect the ideas of adventure and curiosity. These ingredients are carefully brewed together to create the design of the hex.
The quilting of the hex is not mere ornamentation. The delicate quilting and hand-sewn stitches further emphasize the concepts. Using free motion quilting, the fabric is moved through the machine by hand, using the needle to ‘draw’ the designs with thread. Each and every twist, turn, and stitch is controlled by the artist. High-quality ingredients paired with careful preparation and craft led us to this bold and intricate work of art.
The Tröegs Hex Quilt was made with love by Barb WIlke and Jim Howard.
Barb and Jim taught together for 15 years until her retirement in 2018.
PAST EXHIBITIONS
October 2022—October 2023 Splinter Cellar Tröegs Gallery Hershey, Pennsylvania
Tröegs Gallery Hershey, Pennsylvania August 2021– August 2022 My piece, 'The Elf' was chosen to be part of this year's Art of Troegs. Every year, Mid-october, the north wind begins to blow and with it, the arrival of 'the elf'. Filling the air are notes of cocoa, cinnamon, clove, and allspice. That's his musk. The elf is on his way. Call it mischief or magic, the elf's charms are celebratory and fun, and at times downright incorrigible. Do you feel the north wind blowing?
October 2021—October 2022 Splinter Cellar Tröegs Gallery Hershey, Pennsylvania
I have a thing for Nator. He’s always been there. An icon. He’s such a charmer, and golly, he is strong. While strength may be one of his defining characteristics there’s more depth to his character.
Nator is a big softie and he’s the subject of my submission for this year’s Art of Tröegs. I present to you: Püppchen Nator. He demands attention with his fluffy white head and bready malt aroma. He truly is both sweet and strong. To convey additional layers of meaning, Nator is engulfed in a field full of the German Northern Brewer, and Magnum hops that make up his brew. There’s a symbiosis going on between Nator in the foreground, and the plants trying to announce themselves underneath him, around him, and through him. Who gets to be the star of the show? The story or the legend who inhabits that story?
May 2019 – Jul 2019 Open 10 Juried Exhibition at Brooklyn Waterfront Artist Coalition (BWAC)
My sculpture ‘Sackler Family Recipe’ was selected for this juried exhibition in Red Hook. BWAC’s curators will be using 8,000 square feet for this show.
Ylinka Barotto, Juror, was the Assistant Curator at the Guggenheim Museum. Ms. Barotto has assisted on such large-scale modern and postwar retrospective exhibitions as Alberto Burri: The Trauma of Painting (2015); Moholy-Nagy: Future Present (2016); Visionaries: Creating a Modern Guggenheim, which showcased masterworks from the Guggenheim’s modern collection (2017); and Mystical Symbolism; The Salon de la Rose+Croix in Paris, 1892-1897 (2017, for which she contributed to the catalog with entries on many of the show’s artists.
December 2018 Carlisle Arts Learning Center Carlisle, Pennsylvania Mansplaining makes it's return from a show in Colorado to the Juried Exhibition at CALC! From the Call for entries: Works in this juried exhibit are to interpret the theme of “alterations”: adjustments, modifications, revisions, adaptions, or the process/results of change. http://www.carlislearts.org
Mansplaining makes it's return from a show in Colorado to the Juried Exhibition at CALC! From the Call for entries: Works in this juried exhibit are to interpret the theme of “alterations”: adjustments, modifications, revisions, adaptions, or the process/results of change.
August 2018—August 2019 Splinter Cellar Tröegs Gallery Hershey, Pennsylvania
"Splinter Cellar" A collaboration with Bob Ressel of Lancaster, PA. The winning entry was created by Jim Howard and Bob Ressel of nearby York, PA. Jim teaches art and graphic design, and Bob teaches woodshop and engineering. They’ve collaborated on hundreds of projects over the years, but according to the longtime friends, this one was the most personal. Here’s what they had to say:
“We love Tröegs beer and make regular pilgrimages to the brewery,” said Jim and Bob. “Inspired by the spirit of Tröegs and its community, we created this piece. The Splinter Cellar represents the essence of experimentation and collaboration. What better way to use our talents than to craft a work that exemplifies this concept?”
Jim and Bob re-created the exterior of the brewery using 6-pack cardboard from a variety of Tröegs favorites, including Mad Elf, Nugget Nectar and Hop Knife. Through the cutout panel of windows and set back a couple of inches are 14-inch renditions of our 21-foot tall wood-aging foeders that the artists crafted out of corrugated caseboxes and strips of aluminum cans.
“We are so thankful that our local beer is also our favorite,” Jim and Bob said. “Our Splinter Cellar was crafted carefully and thoughtfully, leading to a deliciously tasty piece.”
February 2019 State of the Union, Pool Art Center Gallery Drury University Springfield, MO
This national juried exhibition asks artists to reflect upon and present their views of our nation to gallery patrons. My piece, also entitled 'State of the Union' explores the United States in it's current political standoff. I challenged myself to create an image that truly reflects on my feelings...stranded and sad in the middle of unproductive and unnecessary debate.
November 2018, 100 under 100, Creative York Gallery York, Pennsylvania There's a very nice 8" x 8" Two color screenprint up in the gallery on Beaver St. Tezcatlipoca, the Aztec God is ready to say hello! Hand-drawn and cut silk screen. Two color print in yellow and black on chipboard.
NOVEMBER 2018, The Parliament Arts Organization The Bond Building/Gallery York, Pennsylvania I'm getting 'Decked Out' for this show at the Parliament Gallery, York PA. Art exhibition and silent auction that benefits the Reid Menzer Memorial skate park. This year's piece is called 'Grady Girls' Attend, bid, and win! This year Decked Out will take place over the course of three days at the Central PA industrial-chic venue, The Bond on 134 E. King St in Downtown York. Doors open at 10am on November 7th and will be open Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 10am-10pm.
April 3, 2018–April 29, 2018 Oz Gallery Thornton, Colorado. Mansplaining, My illustration, Mansplaining Mansplaining (digital illustration screen printed on canvas) was chosen for this juried exhibition in Thornton CO. 9209 Dorothy Boulevard Thornton, CO 80229 720.977.5881
man·splain /manˈsplān/ verb informal It’s what occurs when a man talks condescendingly to someone (especially a woman) about something he has incomplete knowledge of, with the mistaken assumption that he knows more about it than the person he’s talking to does.
Apr 2017 – Apr 2017 Houston, Texas. The First 100 Days: Artists Respond. My illustration, Yo! Not so Silent was chosen for this juried exhibition in Houston Texas! Join the voice that will be heard on Trump’s 100th day as president. April 29, 2017 is when both sides are going to acknowledge their progress. On that day, artists should have their voices heard by holding exhibits, shows, reading, performances, etc. This is the time for artists to reflect on what is happening in the world using their art!
Dec 2016 – Dec 2016 York, Pennsylvania. Monster Drawing Rally. Dec 2016 – Dec 2016 York, Pennsylvania 2016's Rally was super More than 45 participating artist will create their artwork right before your eyes! Spacious new venue at Marketview Arts (37 W Philadelphia St, York, PA 17401), third floor ballroom. King Brät Gourmet Hot Dogs will have food and beverages available for purchase, including vegan and gluten-free options!
October 2016 York, Pennsylvania. Decked Out: 5. I'm getting 'Decked Out' for this show at the Parliament Gallery, York PA. Art exhibition and silent auction that benefits the Reid Menzer Memorial skate park. This year's piece is called Boom Breakin' Attend, bid, and win!
November 2015. Monster Drawing Rally. Featured Illustrator. Monster Drawing Rallies were initially conceived by Southern Exposure in San Francisco, and have been recreated by nonprofit organizations in cities like Richmond, Brooklyn, Cleveland, Los Angeles, and now YORK! Part performance, part art-bazaar, the Monster Drawing Rally offers a rare opportunity to watch artists work and then purchase their completed pieces!
September 2015 York,Pennsylvania. Decked Out: 4. Art exhibition and silent auction that benefits the Reid Menzer Memorial skate park. This piece: Derek Smalls sold to a local restaurateur.
September 2014. York, Pennsylvania. Decked Out: 3. I'm getting 'Decked Out' for this show at the Parliament Gallery, York PA. Art exhibition and silent auction that benefits the Reid Menzer Memorial skate park. Two pieces made the cut and both sold.
June 2013—July 18 2013 LCAA National Juried Exhibition 2013, Strasburg , Pennsylvania. My Illustration was selected for the National Juried Exhibition,
June –July 2013 Roco 6x6x2013 Show. Roco Gallery 2013 Show, Rochester NY Five different illustrations were chosen for the show. ALL sold.
August 2013–September 2013. YorkFest Juried Show at YorkArts. YorkArts Gallery. York, Pennsylvania. An illustration was chosen by jury as part of YorkFest 2013.
October 2013, 100 Miles of Illustration Parliament Gallery, York, Pennsylvania. Two pieces selected for this show to help promote this gallery. All of the artists that were selected live and work within 100 miles of the gallery.
Copyright © 4thbest.com, Jim Howard, WEGG LLC. All rights reserved.