Pictured is Jena Oke and one of her recycled subjects. (Photo Provided)

By Darla McCammon
Columnist

WARSAW — Another non-crowded, free entertainment event will be available at the Lakeland Art Association gallery from Oct. 7 through Oct. 30. The gallery is located at 302 Winona Ave., Warsaw and is open from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays. This non-profit organization offers many exciting exhibits each year where visitors can wander and enjoy virtually undisturbed moments viewing excellent award-winning artwork.

Retired school teacher Sherri Johnson and I met when she was still teaching and I was privileged to visit her classroom and enjoy the student work picturing our pets from the Animal Welfare League before I retired as the executive director. Johnson taught the students very well and we both enjoyed our mutual love for animals and art. We displayed much of her student’s artwork.

Johnson is known for her lovely batik work, an interesting Indonesian technique of wax-resit dyeing applied to whole cloth. Johnson studied art and graduated from Manchester College and began her teaching occupation in Warsaw spending most of her career at Edgewood Middle School, which is where I visited her classroom and saw her talent in art as well as her terrific talent with the students. She passed on her love of art to the students who loved her.

Using her gifts and creativity, Johnson has done murals, custom artwork and even landscape design. She loves the outdoors and says, “My love of the outdoors may occasionally take me away from my artwork, but it is a source of great inspiration that I can later apply to a variety of art projects.”

The artist sharing the spotlight in this exhibit is Ejenobo “Jena” Oke, who is also a fiber artist and an associate professor of art at Manchester University. Her works are varied from intricate weavings using a loom to batik quilts to unusual sculptures that may incorporate not only ceramics but paper, felt and basketry materials.

A Nigerian-America, Oke moved with her family to the United States in 1987. Oke graduated with a bachelor of arts degree from Manchester University in 1997. Further studies at Norfolk State University and Old Dominion University resulted in her master of fine arts degree. In 2006, Oke returned to Manchester University and now teaches courses in studio art and art history. Other positions are using her talents as the director of galleries and chair of the department of art at Manchester University.

Oke has a diverse talent as she is a weaver, quilter and recently a ceramic artist. She has grown in her enthusiasm of various art mediums and says, “A large part of me loves the connection to the past in fiber art. I find immense satisfaction in being mindful about the things I create. I find fulfillment in the idea that as I tough the fibers, they touch me.”

In recent work, Oke uses recycled textiles, remnants and rags, overdyed fabrics and incredibly, even broken fragments of dolls. You will enjoy the creativity and use of broken and aging parts in Oke’s work. Recycling becomes true art in her nimble fingers as she brings things back to life in the most intriguing way. You will enjoy this exhibit.

Future events include:

• Christi Ziebarth at Warsaw City Hall through October
• Oke, Johnson at LAA Oct. 7-30
• LAA Fall member show Nov. 2-30
• LAA Christmas Boutique Dec. 1-19
• Whitko Art Gallery, 130 N. First St., Pierceton, is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and from 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays.