The public is invited to view a free exhibition showcasing the work of seven talented instructors who will lead this year’s Newport Paper and Book Arts Festival (NPBAF). The “Instructors’ Show” will be on display in the Upstairs Gallery at Newport Visual Arts Center from March 4 – April 15, 2023.
Now in its 26th year, the NPBAF celebrates papermaking and manipulation, surface design, book arts, collage, and mixed media. The festival’s instructors are often most well-known for their teaching techniques, but their artwork – and the mediums they work in – are often far more varied. “It’s thrilling to see so many styles and pieces on display,” said Sara Siggelkow, who helms the festival. “Our instructors are incredibly talented, and the work they submit to the show is often vastly different from what one might expect after attending one of their classes.”
This year’s instructors include Connie Stricks – a paper and book artist from Fairbanks, Alaska; Margo Klass – a book, box, and mixed media artist also from Fairbanks; Iris Sullivan Daire – a fiber artist and natural colorist based in Astoria, Oregon; Moe Snyder – a book and box artist who resides in Seal Rock; Pietro Accardi – a book and marbling artist out of Gardnerville, Nevada; Randi Parkhurst – a book, box, and mixed media artist from Olympia, Washington; and Shawn Sheehy – a book artist from Chicago, Illinois. Festival committee members (including Siggelkow, Cheri Aldrich, Fanny Drews, Margaret Paz-Partlow, and Sandi Williams) have also been invited to showcase their work.
An opening reception for the exhibit will take place on Saturday, March 4th, from 1:00pm – 3:00pm, and the show will conclude on Saturday, April 15th with an hour-long closing reception beginning at 5:30pm.
While you’re at the VAC, don’t forget to join the conversation!
Through May of 2023, we’re measuring the impact of non-profit arts and cultural institutions in Lincoln County, as part of Americans for the Arts’ Arts & Economic Prosperity Study 6—the nation’s largest, most comprehensive study of the Arts & Culture sector…and you can help! When you attend this event, please complete an “AEP6” survey before you leave the building (and every time you attend an event or exhibit at the VAC). 3 minutes, 13 questions, totally anonymous. Look for the iPad located in the lobby, or ask a volunteer or staff member for a paper copy.
To learn more about this incredible study, and what makes it so important, click here.