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From the desk of the Keokuk Art Center Director, Barb Edler:
November 1st is sure to be a special experience for art and jewelry lovers as the Keokuk Art Center will celebrate two amazing and talented individuals: Erika Wolfe and Dan Ferguson for an extra special dual exhibit. Erika’s “Persona Expressions” and Dan’s “Retrospective” opens on November 1st with a public reception from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Keokuk Art Center Round Room Galleries.
There is jewelry – and then there are Erika pieces. Easy to spot and clearly recognizable when you are familiar with her work. Buyers know they have found something special and collectors can’t stop at buying just one of her pieces.
“The human body is the most intimate gallery that I can think of and the challenges of making beautiful and timeless jewelry- art that is personal, to be displayed in public as a personal statement of individual taste-deeply appeals to me, “says Erika.
Everything begins with a detailed drawing and takes three-dimensional form and space from that point on. Many of the pieces for this show come from her special collection of long treasured and saved up stones or work requiring a particularly challenging process of assembly and construction. Everything that she creates is fabricated from sterling silver sheet, wire or tubing and can require a truly dedicated amount of time and patience to bring to its final and completed form.
Over the years, Erika has donated auction pieces of her jewelry to the Keokuk Art Center, “Festival of Trees and Gifts Gala,” the FMAAA Expressions auction and the Main Street, Keokuk “Summer Street Festival” events.
With a masters degree in silversmithing from California State University, Erika taught high school students until early retirement in 1996. Leaving California for Keokuk brought her closer to her family and gave her the opportunity to devote more of her time to her creative work. “My talent is a God given gift,” Erika concludes, “and as long as He continues to guide my hands and my mind I will go on using the special ability that has been given to me.”
Local artist Dan Ferguson’s exhibit is aptly named “Retrospective” as he will demonstrate work from various decades.As he said, “He’s been a part of this school we call life” so he will show his various perspectives throughout the ages and with a variety of mediums. His artist statement says, “When I’m creating a composition, I strive to stress emotion through form, color and composition.”
Dan graduated from Quincy University with a bachelor’s degree in studio art. He went on to receive his master’s degree in visual art from the University of Illinois. His exhibit will display a combination of artistic media and techniques to achieve a variety of visual effects.
Erika Wolfe’s and Dan Ferguson’s work will be exhibited throughout the month of November at the Keokuk Art Center Round Room Art Galleries located at 510 N 5th Street.
Written by: Leah Jones
Dan Ferguson Erika Wolfe Keokuk Art Center Keokuk Public Library Local art
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