The Copper Country Community Arts Center (CCCAC) in Hancock is hosting an exhibition of multimedia freeform stitching art by Peg McNinch inspired by an adventure through Europe around the end of COVID-19 and the beginning of the war in Ukraine titled “Up Close and Personal.” The art exhibit opened in the Coté gallery running from Sep. 3 to Sep. 10 with a reception on Sep. 10 and a slow stitch circle event on Sep. 11.
McNinch’s artwork uses freeform stitching, which is sewing or embroidery that does not follow a specific pattern or rulebook, with materials like felt, cloth, string, beads, and materials found in nature like tree bark, rusted metal, and stones. Her art fills the gallery room with pieces on display ranging from long wall hangings to smaller fiber sculptures with texture and dimension. Many different shapes, colors, and arrangements are present in the display. When asked about the art, Executive Director of the CCCAC Bonnie Loukus said, “When you know how to do a lot of different things, it can be a challenge to make all those things relate to each other, and [McNinch] has done that pretty successfully in each one of these pieces.” When asked about her thoughts on the exhibition, visitor and Hancock resident Georgia Makens said the installation was “lovely and unique.”
In the display room, there are books on the windowsill for guests to write their thoughts on the artwork. Some are written as letter notes by people who know McNinch from her time living here, while other notes are about the impact of the art. One person wrote, “It all sings with such deep feeling and the detail is a feast for the eyes.” Pictures of McNinch’s art process, starting with materials and ending with a final piece, sit alongside a work in progress labeled “feel free to handle!” There were also a limited number of gift bags containing felt, fabric, and beads with instructions for visitors to form their own art provided by McNinch.
Loukus said art exhibitions are typically scheduled “a year or a year and a half in advance.” She also said the art exhibitions change every month. For more information on the current art display or upcoming events, visit the CCCAC in Hancock, MI or coppercountryarts.com.
