"Emerging" exhibit at Michigamme Moonshine Art Gallery through Dec. 8

MICHIGAMME -- "Emerging" -- Pottery and Mixed Media by Paula Kiesling and Mary Anne Kublin is on exhibit at the Michigamme Moonshine Art Gallery through Dec. 8, 2012.

Mary Anne Kublin: "Emerging" Pottery. (Photo courtesy Michigamme Moonshine Art Gallery)

A Sunday Afternoon Reception will be held from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Nov. 4, 2012, in the Gallery. Refreshments will be served.

Delicate masks, amulets, and necklaces grace the new exhibit. Both Paula Kiesling and Mary Anne Kublin draw inspiration for their art from feminine principles and qualities.

Paula Kiesling is drawn to ideas from a variety of cultures and traditions. Her works include fittingly elaborate necklaces that evoke tales and oral traditions from around the world. Kiesling’s message is a celebration of womanhood in all times and places.

"I want to retrieve the woman’s narrative -- to bring justice, sensitivity, and beauty back to all of humankind," Kiesling says. "Sharing my take on woman’s gifts reminds us of how central they are to civilization."

Beyond the political aspects of her message, Kiesling strives for beauty above all.

"Simply put, beauty is needed," says the artist.

Her art includes carefully arranged commonplace materials including beads, fiber, and even rusted metal. The result is a visual and tactile creation for the viewer’s personal reflection.

Mary Anne Kublin uses ancient symbols as a feature in her quest to promote the ideal of "love over hate." Subtle, fragile-looking shapes give an ethereal quality to her artwork. Thin, nearly weightless  mandalas and hauntingly beautiful masks round out her ensemble of functional pottery.

"I enjoy making things that people can use," Kublin explains, "but it is my sculptural work that allows me to express how women are held back in different ways in different places."

Wall hangings that suggest veils, burkas and masks tell a story of societal repression. Nevertheless, Kublin takes pleasure in the artist’s credo that permits exploration and experimentation in search of beauty. Overlapping glazes and fused glass are a hallmark of her work.

The Michigamme Moonshine Art Gallery is at 136 E. Main, HC 1 Box 3477, Michigamme, MI. Gallery Hours: Sunday - Friday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Saturday by chance. Call 906-323-6546 for more information.