CARSON CITY, Nev. — Artist Sarah Lillegard works in what she calls second skin — fabrics that explore group identity, belonging and symbols; garments sometimes called clan jackets. An exhibit of Lillegard’s work, Second Skin, will be on display through April 17 at the OXS gallery inside the Nevada Arts Council, 716 N. Carson St. in Carson City. Lillegard will discuss her work at a reception from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 18 at the gallery.
“Clothing bears the mark of its owner,” Lillegard said. “Over time, the conscious and unconscious moments make themselves known through holes and frayed edges. Through these processes, the garments often become more than passive objects. As much as belonging comes from identifying within a group, it also comes from imbedding personal histories into a greater storyline.”
Lillegard is a mixed-media artist whose work draws on the traditions of handcrafts and western icons. She comes from a family of quilters and craftsmen, and her process relies heavily on touch. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from Walla Walla University in College Place, Wash., before coming to Nevada. Working in the Reno arts community, she co-founded the Go For Broke Zine Collective and published a DIY Guide to Reno. She is the former director of the Holland Project Gallery.
In addition to working in fiber arts, Lillegard is also a zine maker, writer, curator and graphic designer. Her work has been exhibited throughout the Northwest. She recently was awarded a Nevada Arts Council 2015 Artist Fellowship Award in visual arts.
For more on Lillegard or to purchase her work, visit thriveandthicken.com.
Managed by the Nevada Arts Council’s Artist Services Program, the Office eXhibition Series Gallery features artists who have been recognized by the agency through its artist fellowships and exhibits from the agency’s Nevada Touring Initiative—Traveling Exhibition Program.
The Nevada Arts Council, a division of the Nevada Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, is the agency charged with ensuring that state and national funds support cultural activity and encourage participation in the arts throughout Nevada. In addition to providing hundreds of grants to arts- and community-based organizations, schools, artists and local municipalities throughout the state, the NAC coordinates a variety of statewide programs and activities such as the annual Poetry Out Loud recitation competition for high school-aged students; traveling exhibits; artist residencies; workshops; and cultural assessments. For more information, call 775-687-6680 or visit the website nac.nevadaculture.org.
