Cameron Art Museum - Upcoming Exhibitions

The Cameron Art Museum is housed in a 42,000 square foot facility designed by the architectural firm of Gwathmey Siegel & Associates (NYC).

The Cameron presents changing special exhibitions comprised of fine arts, crafts and design.

The Museum presents changing special exhibitions comprised of fine arts, crafts and design.

Julie VonDerVellen

This exhibition represents the first museum exhibition featuring work by this emerging artist, Julie VonDerVellen, a recent MFA graduate from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. A close inspection of these seemingly pedestrian garments of everyday wear reveal highly crafted, intricate constructions made entirely of handmade paper derived from recycled cotton clothing.

This thoughtful reuse of materials is given additional layers of meaning through the words and sentences found on many of the paper components. They tell stories of identity, status, humanity and memory, of which the artist writes: “Along the way to redefining the commonplace book structure – I have developed a body of work that encompasses everything from posters to newsletters to dresses to shoes.

Garments evoke memories; memories evoke garments. My research expands upon traditional storytelling and memoir presentation. Significant moments — personal stories and those of friends and families — are interwoven into handmade paper crafted from recycled cotton clothing. The paper, acting as fabric, is layered with a narrative specifically tailored to the event. The garments are re-creations of actual attire surrounding each of the significant moments. My paper weaving technique — a process of interlacing objects with memories . . . . Memories evoke garments; garments evoke memories."

Rise Up Wilmington

Charlie Brouwer is an artist from Floyd County, Virginia. Ladders have often occurred in his sculptures and installations. Rise Up Wilmington will be the latest in a series of temporary public art projects he has been creating with communities. These projects are designed to bring the art and artist into closer contact with his audience – especially new audiences. He does this by inviting all parts of the community to help create a sculptural metaphor for itself by lending their individual ladders to be part of the whole – rising up to a magnificent crescendo.

Working together with the museum staff and volunteers he will spread the word through all available media about the need for ladders. They will also distribute flyers, and go door to door in an attempt to invite all parts of the community. The result will be a substantial sculpture made of hundreds of ladders held together with heavy duty cable ties - each one carefully tagged and recorded to ensure that they all will be returned after the month long exhibition.