New Leadership and Bold Wearable Art at Valley Art Center This Fall

Valley Art Center will usher in a dynamic new chapter with both the appointment of Austin Wieland as executive director and the upcoming exhibition Crafted Couture: A Wearable Art Showcase, opening September 12.

Wieland brings a strong foundation in studio practice, community engagement, and arts leadership.

Originally from Bryan, Ohio, he holds a BFA in ceramics from Miami University and an MFA from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. Austin has completed prestigious residencies at Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts (ME), Cub Creek Foundation (VA), and Medalta International Artist-in-Residence Program (Canada). His work has been exhibited at The Clay Studio in Philadelphia, Charlie Cummings Gallery, LUX Center for the Arts, the Erie Art Museum, and the Hudgens Center For Art & Learning, and it has been featured in Ceramics Monthly, Studio Potter, and World Sculpture News Magazine. Most recently, Austin served as Chair of Fine and Performing Arts at LaGrange College in Georgia, where he was known for his collaborative leadership and support for emerging artists.

His arrival coincides with Crafted Couture, a juried group exhibition that reimagines fashion as fine art. On view from September 12 through October 22, the show features artworks that were created to be worn.

From handwoven textiles and reimagined streetwear to sculptural accessories and embroidered garments, Crafted Couture explores how what we wear can express who we are.

One highlight is Coat of Sheer Empowerment by Judi Krew, under her fashion label Hoard Couture. Crafted from layered sheer fabrics with stitched imagery and text, the piece speaks to the strength and resilience of women. Both elegant and evocative, it exemplifies the emotional power of wearable art.

The exhibition’s free opening reception will be held from 5 to 8 pm on Friday, September 12, with a sensory-friendly quiet hour from 5 to 6 pm.

Presented in partnership with the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities, a companion show, Accessibility in Fashion: Sketches for Inclusive Design, will appear in the Patron Gallery. Featuring work by Kent State University students, the exhibition showcases adaptive, accessibility-minded fashion concepts for all bodies and experiences.

Together, both exhibitions champion inclusion, imagination, and self-expression. Join Valley Art Center this fall for a season of creativity without limits. For more information, visit valleyartcenter.org.

VALLEY ART CENTER
155 Bell StreetChagrin Falls, Ohio 44022valleyartcenter.org440.247.7507
Instagram: @valleyartcenter
Facebook: Valley Art Center

EVENTS:

Crafted Couture, September 12–October 22. Opening reception 5-8pm Friday, September 12, with sensory quiet hour 5-6pm

Accessibility in Fashion: Sketches for Inclusive Design, September 12–October 22 in the Patron Gallery