March-April 3/1 - 4/28, 2019
Meet the Artists
Opening Reception Saturday, March 9, 4 - 7pm
More than Meats the Eye
Amber Maurer Farran & George Maurer
Amber Harte Maurer Farran
Beauty and Loss
I grew up at my father’s butcher shop and living on my grandfather & uncle’s dairy farm. I have always felt very passionate about local agriculture, its importance to American culture, and its survival for future generations. I draw and paint what I know, and what I think is important to our society. When I’m not at work as a graphic designer, drawing, painting, or taking photos, I enjoy taking ballet lessons and hanging out with my husband, family, and corgis.
I display the destruction of nature and agriculture and its importance to American culture. My art depicts both Mother Nature and the local agriculturalist, along with the difficulties both face competing with the corporate man. Destruction of nature is represented by the omission of the environment; farm and forest animals are rendered on a white abyss. Counter to the removal of naturally occurring art, the pieces focusing on agricultural skills and trades, specifically butchery, bring to light these disappearing artisans. This catalog of endangered Americana is my attempt to remind us that what we have may not always be if it is cast aside.
Off Track Art Gallery
A Fine Art and Gift Gallery in Westminster, Maryland owned and operated by the artists.
Gallery Hours:
Monday through Thursday
by Appointment*
Friday 12 - 4
Saturday 10 - 4
Sunday 12 - 4
Stop by to see our
show "Life in Focus" in October
*offtrackartgallery@gmail.com
443-821-7355
Toni Marquez
I discovered felting five years ago and jumped in with two hands, and a lot of hot water. Always a sewer of clothes, decor, and then quilts as a hobby, I discovered the wonders of wool at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Show. Since retirement I have explored the ways wool can be manipulated. Best of all, I don’t have to meet seams.
Felting is an ancient craft. The key property of wool that creates felt is its structure. Wool has tiny barbs that hook onto each other when wet felted or needle felted. To wet felt, wisps of wool are laid out in several layers on a textured surface, often a length of bubble wrap. Then the whole lot is sprinkled with hot soapy water, rolled around a tube, a dowel or other implement and rolled for hundreds of times until it is a whole cloth. Needle felting is what is used to create three dimensional figures. Using barbed needles punched repeatedly into unspun wool locks the fibers into the form one is aiming for.
