ArtJAM - 6 Artists, 6 Media

Six Virginia artists and friends come together to create a new group exhibition. These artists Martha Dillard, painter; Jennifer Lovejoy, architect and stone carver; Martha Olson, paper collage and sculpture; Ann Reardon, textile artist; Judy Schwab, mixed media and metals; and Ali Wieboldt, jeweler gather once a month to share food, books, art information, opportunities, and encouragement.

The director of exhibitions from the Piedmont Arts Association in Martinsville, VA, shares her thoughts on the artist group. "Although each of the women approach their craft with an individual artistic sensibility based on her personal experiences, an unexpected cohesiveness is present throughout the exhibit. The resemblance between the works, which is enhanced by a harmonious color palette and by strikingly similar themes, appears to be a spontaneous result of their years-long friendship, rather than concerted efforts to collaborate on specific projects. The tone of the exhibit in uniquely feminine, yet the works demonstrate an evolution from methods traditionally denigrated as 'woman's work' to relevant, contemporary art."

To view images of the exhibition visit our Installation Album on Flickr.

About the artists

Martha Dillard

Dillard uses acrylics for abstracts and landscapes, which she has exhibited for over thirty years. Her work is in public and private collections throughout the United States. A graduate of Austin College and VA Tech, her studio is on the Virginia farm where she lives with her husband.

Jennifer Lovejoy

Jennifer Lovejoy is an architect and stone carver living in Blacksburg, Va. She received her degree in architecture at the University of Pennsylvania. She studied sculpture under John Mcintyre at the Memphis College of Art and Bob Lockhart, Jr. at Arrowmont in Gatlinburg, Tenn.

Martha Olson

Martha Olson has immersed herself in exploring the art world through altered paper. Her work has an intuitive approach that belies formal training. She has arrived at the point where life and art are in balance. Martha's creativity flows from a rich curiosity and an absence of conventional boundaries.

Yolonda Ann Reardon

Ann Reardon was born in rural Ohio. Art was a major part of her life while growing up. From drawing to designing doll clothes and sewing 4-H projects she was constantly creating. Living in Africa and Asia has greatly influenced her art. She also devotes some of her creative time to the study and writing of haiku poetry.

Judith Love Schwab

Judy's first art was writing but a search for hands-on creativity while teaching English led her to the jewelry and metalsmithing department at the University of Maryland. Through the years she has supplemented her artistic education with graduate work in metals, painting, and art history, as well as numerous workshops.

Ali Wieboldt

Ali received her undergraduate degree from UNC-Charlotte as a ceramics major. She taught art for two years before returning to school, this time at James Madison University for her MFA in Metal and Jewelry. She has been working as a studio jeweler since, and has taught college-level classes and workshops. She lives in Newport, Va. with her botanist husband, teenage daughter, four cats and a dog.