Artwork by Emily Steele
September 28-November 2, 2019
- Artist Reception Thursday, October 17, 5:30-7:30 pm
- Lunchbox Artist Talk, Thursday, October 24, 12 noon
The Art Center is honored to unveil the masterwork of artist Emily Steele, with a special reception on Thursday, October 17, 5:30 pm -8 pm. The show features sculptures of exquisite movement, detail, and composition last exhibited over 30 years ago. The Steele family has endowed The Arts Center to care for this exquisite collection for public exhibition and long term loans. The exhibit also coincides with the gala fundraising event ”Art for the Heart”, Saturday, October 5, at CH2M Hill Alumni Center on the OSU Campus. The Arts Center will honor Emily and Bob Steele. Her family’s commitment to The Art Center and the Corvallis creative community are an inspiration.
Emily developed a unique form of sculpture for free-standing, three-dimensional art forms in antique stained glass. She expanded the traditional techniques with the use of steel support frames. Steel frames were locally constructed by Finstead Steele and several craftsmen remember the projects and Ms.Steele fondly. Ms. Steele sourced her material from the then starting Bullseye Glass, and far as New York where she had access to imported hand-blown glass from throughout Europe and the United States.
Emily’s first exhibit at The Arts Center was with Boyce Lundstrom, founder of Bullseye in 1975 . The current exhibit will consist not only her glass sculptures and wall pieces, but also paintings, drawings and preparatory sketches.
Ms. Steele has been involved with The Arts Center for over 40 years. She served on the Board of Directors and on the Exhibition Committee member. She and her family have a passion for the arts, and have put an emphasis on art being accessible for everyone. The Steele Family Fund and the Steele Collection Fund are helping to make that possible. Her family wants to assure the work in the Steele Collection can be shared with the public, both at The Art Center and by arrangement of long-term loan to museums, galleries and public art exhibits.
For more information about the collection >>
A companion show by the Fire and Light Glass Guild will be on display October 8-November 9 in the Corrine Woodman Gallery.