Four Voices in Silk
Montserrat Library Gallery
23 Essex St., Beverly, MA
August 20 - September 24

Opening Reception: September 8, 6–8pm.
Artist Talk: September 11, noon, H101
Wearable Art Sale during both events.

Artists: Allyson Christopher, Christine Gauthier-Kelley, Sue Niemi, Leslie Pearlman

Four Voices in Silk presents a vibrant and colorful array of hand-painted silk works by four expert silk artists of Ten Pound Studio, Gloucester, whose practices are rooted in the preservation and continuation of original silk-painting techniques.

Working directly on silk with traditional resist and dye methods, these four artists bring distinct artistic voices to a richly expressive medium. Together, these Ten Pound Studio artists form a unique collective in the United States dedicated to practicing and preserving the original serti steam-set techniques of hand-painted silk. Their work represents a rare repository of specialized knowledge, craftsmanship, and skill in original design and hand-painted silk techniques.

The exhibition reveals the remarkable versatility of silk as an art form, featuring elegant wearable art, wall displays, decorative works, and home décor. Each piece demonstrates the luminous color, fluid movement, intricate pattern, and extraordinary depth that can emerge when dye and silk meet through the hands of a skilled artist.

At its heart, Four Voices in Silk is a celebration of both tradition and individual expression. While the artists share a commitment to traditional technique, each brings a distinctive visual language and creative perspective to the medium. The result is an exhibition that honors the history of silk painting while demonstrating its vitality as a contemporary art form.