'Beyond the Veil' Exhibition Features Hand-Sewn Artistry

"Beyond the Veil," featuring new work by Old Dominion alumna Domenica Arcuri Webb, of Chesapeake, opens with a reception from 7-9 p.m. Saturday, May 21, at the Baron and Ellin Gordon Art Galleries. The exhibition continues through July 3.

Webb's heritage is a fundamental contributor to her work. With "Beyond the Veil" she gives visual form to her grandmother's memory, recognizing and honoring her influence. Examining the lineage from mother to daughter where ritual and traditions were passed down from generation to generation, her images build a narrative about heritage highlighted by personal possessions. These possessions serve as metaphors for women and memories.

"My maternal grandmother, Antoinette Leone, acquired superb skills in fine hand sewing, and proudly passed her knowledge on to her daughters and granddaughters. She introduced me to tatting and lace making, crewelwork, bargello, trabunto, cutwork, needlepoint and embroidery. I ultimately realized that they were not merely skills for sewing, but avenues to problem solving, patience, craftsmanship and ways of manipulating tools to produce articles by hand," Webb said.

Webb earned a B.F.A. with a major in drawing and a minor in art history from ODU in 1999. She expects to graduate from the Joint Graduate Program of Visual Studies at ODU and Norfolk State in 2011. Her primary medium of interest has been printmaking. Recent work has focused on cyanotypes, collagraphs and book art. Webb has taught drawing and design at Tidewater Community College and recently has taught color, design and letterpress at ODU.

The Gordon Galleries, located at 4509 Monarch Way, are open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday. For more information call 683-6271 or visit http://al.odu.edu/art/gallery/index.php.