The Prendergast Library Art Gallery will feature fiber art by Medis Kent in an exhibit called "Melange of Memories" from Sept. 17 through Oct. 15. The opening reception will be held at the library from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 24, to meet Ms. Kent and discuss her work.
The Findley Lake resident approaches fabric with a combination of sewing and painting. Her pieces may include hand painting, batik, and mixed media such as pastels, colored pencil and block printing.
"You start to personalize the fabric and make it your own. You might hand touch it by painting over it or bleaching it out," she said.
Ms. Kent will have a solo exhibit of fiber arts and demonstrate felting Sept. 25-26 at the Chautauqua Institution during Quilting Around Chautauqua, an event she has participated in for four years.
This fall she is also part of "Juxtaposed - Expect the Unexpected," the Cattaraugus County Arts Council member show on the Jamestown Community College campus in Olean.
"I gather up the scraps of time and rearrange the past, the whole-cloth of my memories stitched new and colorfast," the artist said.
She recently won best in show in a juried photography exhibit sponsored by the Meadville Council on the Arts. She has also been chosen for the Lily Festival juried art show at Stonewall Gallery at Campbell Pottery in Cambridge Springs, Pa., for the last three years.
Ms. Kent has offered lectures and demonstrations for groups in Corry and Erie on topics such as fabric origami and batik. She also spoke about her experiences as an immigrant at the Alexander Findley Community Library during The Big Read, featuring "My Antonia" by Willa Cather.
Ms. Kent earned a bachelor's degree and master's degree in art education from Edinboro University and taught art for 33 years in Erie at the elementary, middle and high school levels.
"I enjoyed having children understand they can all be successful. I remember how much they enjoyed art. As they got more hands-on, they'd get really interested. There was a moment when they'd go 'Wow!' " she said.
Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesdays; and 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturdays.
The next library exhibitors will be Elliott Hutten and Robin Zefers Clark, who will display ceramics and watercolors.
Prendergast Library is located at 509 Cherry St., Jamestown. For more information, call 484-7135, ext. 225.
