In D’art Gallery’s East Wing: “Bast” by featuring works by Jill Powers and Lisa Miles

Jill Powers and Lisa Miles use the inner bark, or bast, of the paper mulberry tree as a central material in their art. Connecting with ancient paper-making traditions, this show explores two distinct, innovative approaches for using bast fiber to convey a deep connection with the natural world.

Jill Powers is an artist primarily working with hand cast and beaten bark fiber. Her work takes the form of sculpture, installation art, and book arts, to focus on environmental themes. Powers has an MEd/Fiber from Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia, with additional studies at University of the Arts, and Pyramid Atlantic. She lives in Boulder, Colorado, where she taught at Naropa University for 20 years, founding courses in 3D Ephemeral Media and Eco Art.

Lisa Miles is a papermaker and book artist who creates one-of-a-kind, hand-beaten bark paperworks. Originally from New England, Miles is based in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She holds an MFA in Book Arts from the University of Iowa Center for the Book, a BFA in Graphic Design from the New England School of Art & Design, and an AA in Printmaking from the Santa Fe Community College. In 2016, she researched papel amate in Mexico, with support from a University of Iowa Stanley Graduate Award for International Research.

Reception for “Bast” will be on Third Friday Collectors’ Night, October 18th from 6:00-9:00pm

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Art above by Jill Powers