Sarah Bell creates ‘wearable paintings’ for her new exhibit at Kortman Gallery in Rockford

Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — A new exhibit at Kortman Gallery centers on wearable paintings that artist Sarah Bell has created on silk fabrics.

“Silk Scenes” opens Friday at the gallery, 107 N. Main St., and features 16 scarves created with colorful dyes on silk.

“Even though my scarves are suitable for framing, I really like to see them as wearable paintings on silk fabrics that are flowing and interactive,” Bell said. “I think it’s really fun to take your scarf off and here you’ve had a painting around your neck.”

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Bell is a former art teacher in Rockford Public Schools, initially as an elementary school teacher before concluding her teaching career at East High School. She and her husband, Kurt, also ran a design consulting business.

Doc Slafkosky, Kortman’s gallery director, said Bell has been a creative force in the local art scene since the early 1970s. This exhibit is not her characteristic watercolors on paper, he said.

“We are exhibiting the scarves on the gallery walls as we would traditional paintings,” Slafkosky said. “However, they are unmounted and unframed, allowing the viewer a chance to have not only a visual experience, but tactile interaction with the silk fabrics. Sarah created them with the idea that they are works of art that would be worn.”

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Bell said the transition in technique from watercolor on paper to dyes on silk was straightforward.

“These paintings on silk are a natural transition for me,” she said.  “Applying silk dye to fabric does the same as wet paper, the dyes spread across the surface in the same manner. I begin with white fabric, draw lines using a liquid resist called gutta. The liquid dries and then acts as dams to hold the color in specific places.”

The exhibit runs through April 13 at the downtown gallery.

Silk Scenes | Opening reception

When: 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 2

Where: Kortman Gallery, 107 N. Main St., Rockford

Gallery hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday

Admission: Free

Information: jrkortman.com or 815-968-0123

This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas