Bellevue Arts Museum Announces 2012 Biennial Artists

More than 40 artists were selected to be part of the Bellevue Arts Museum's biennial, the museum announced today.

The show, "BAM Biennial 2012: High Fiber Diet," focuses on fiber, which the museum describes as "one of th emost thriving yet underexposed media in contemporary art."

During the run of the show, two of the artists will receive $5,000 cash prizes and one artist will be offered the chance to have a solo exhibition at BAM in the future, the museum reported.

The show will be on view from Oct. 25, 2012 to Feb. 24, 2013.

The following 44 artists were chosen from a field of 300 applicants:

Polly Adams Sutton, Howard and Lorraine Barlow, Dina Barzel, Lou Cabeen, Vanessa Calvert, Michael Cepress, Christine Chaney, David Chatt, Joanne Circle, Celeste Cooning, Scott Fife, Rob Folendorf, April Marie Hale, Jo Hamilton, Luke Haynes, Carolyn Hopkins, Jan Hopkins, Rock Hushka, Jiseon Lee Isbara, Ann Johnston, Christine Joy, Patti King, Sheila Klein, Paul Komada, Barbara Lee Smith, Margie Livingston, Allison Manch, Amanda Manitach, Sherry Markovitz, Heather McGilvray, Dorothy McGuinness, Rachel Meginnes, Robert Mertens, Moxie, Tiffany Pruitt, Patricia Resseguie, Lesley Richmond, Maggy Rozycki Hiltner, Scott Schuldt, Maria Shell, Shelley Socolofsky, Nate Steigenga, Claire Taylor, and Tamara Wilson.

The show will be the second edition of Bellevue Arts Museum's biennial. According to the museum, proposals were reviewed by a panel of four jurors including of Elissa Auther, an author and an Associate Professor of Contemporary Art at University of Colorado, Colorado Springs; Elizabeth A. Brown, a former chief Curator and Director of Exhibitions & Collections at the University of Washington's Henry Art Gallery; Stefano Catalani, BAM's director of Curatorial Affairs/Artistic Director; and Marci McDade, author, artist and editor of Surface Design Journal.

"To see the quality and diversity of submissions was an immensely gratifying experience," BAM's Catalani said in a prepared statement. "It speaks volumes about the vitality of fiber art in the Pacific Northwest. I couldn't be more pleased with the final selection and only wish we had more space to showcase the incredible talent within our region."

Each edition of the BAM Biennial focuses on specific medium, technique, process or theme. The show emphasizes current and new work, according to the museum.

The first show was "" in the fall of 2010. 

"BAM Biennial 2012: High Fiber Diet" is intended to recognize the innovative and extraordinary work being produced by contemporary Northwest makers and continues BAM's commitment to fostering Northwest artists and the region's distinctive character, according to the museum's press release.

"BAM Biennial 2012: High Fiber Diet" is organized by Bellevue Arts Museum. Made possible in part by Friends of Fiber Art International, John & Joyce Price and Samuel & Patricia Smith.

-- Information from the