Finlandia University Gallery to hold closing reception for Finnish textile artists' exhibit Sept. 8

HANCOCK -- The Finlandia University Gallery will host a closing reception for the exhibit "White Forests, Blue Sky: Two Generations of Art Textiles, Paper and Metal Constructions" from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. TONIGHT, Thursday, Sept. 8, with an Artist Talk beginning at 7:15 p.m.

Finnish artist Anna-Riitta Haavisto talks about the "White Forest, Blue Sky" exhibit with visitors to the Finlandia University Gallery in June 2011. She will return to the gallery for the closing reception tonight, Thursday, June 8. (Photos by Keweenaw Now)

Finnish textile artists, mother and daughter Riitta-Liisa Haavisto (1930-2009) and Anna-Riitta Haavisto, transform the traditional methods and materials of the textile arts in markedly different ways. Riitta-Liisa employed an expressive, painterly approach to embroidery, using jewel-toned fabrics and threads to create scenes inspired by nature, folklore, and current events. Riitta-Liisa’s daughter, Anna-Riitta, stretches the boundaries of fiber art in thought-provoking, three-dimensional sculptural objects constructed of sand, stones, steel, plastic, fiber, silk, cotton, paper, wood -- and even water. Since 1998, the Haavistos’ work has been featured in more than 22 joint exhibitions in Finland, England, Scotland, Norway, Germany, Spain, the United States, and Canada, and dozens of group exhibitions.

Leena Vanni, Finnish journalist, who contributed articles to both the Finnish American Reporter and Keweenaw Now this year, admires some colorful textile art by the late Riitta-Liisa Haavisto during the opening of the "White Forests, Blue Sky" exhibit last June.

More information about the artists is available in Fiber Art Today, by Carol K. Russell; Schiffer Publishing Ltd., 2011.

The Finlandia University Gallery is located in the Finnish American Heritage Center, 435 Quincy St., Hancock.

Click here to read more about the "White Forests, Blue Sky" exhibit, which opened June 20, 2011.

Finlandia University Gallery announces extended hours

Starting immediately, and through the month of April 2012, the gallery is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., as well as on Thursday evenings until 7 p.m., and on Saturday afternoons from noon to 4 p.m.

Featured at the gallery starting Sept. 22 will be an exhibit of fiber art sculptures titled "Explorations: The Flexible Linear Element," by artists Tracy Krumm and Carol Lambert.

An opening reception for the artists will take place at the gallery from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 22.

For additional information, please call 906-487-7500 or visit www.finlandia.edu/finlandia-gallery.