The Berkeley Arts Council presents “Off the Shelves”, a select collection of hand-made clocks created by Anna Howard, a mixed media collage artist who specializes in clock making. The exhibit will be on display May 4 through June 4 in the Back Space Gallery of the Berkeley Art Works, 116 North Queen Street in Martinsburg. A reception, free and open to the public,  will be on Saturday, May 14 from 4-6pm at the gallery. Gallery hours are Wed 11-5, Thu 11-5, Fri 11-8, Sat 10-5, Sun 12-3.

“Off the Shelves” is a focused look at how unassuming everyday items not only can become artful functioning clocks in a context of a larger story.  Repurposing is still an important part of the design process, but it is no longer the prime motivation of the design.  “Second time round” items have become part of the pallet in eliciting an emotional response.

She has found that she could not get away from her favorite medium, fabric.  The granddaughter of a tailor/farmer and a member of an extended family that “breathes fabric”, her “out of left field” concept has begun redirecting itself with the increased use of fabric.

Though bringing a smile to an individual’s face is the major motivator in her creations  Anna is beginning to integrate subtle story lines into her art clocks.   This exhibit will introduce some of those stories.

Anna is a member of the Berkeley Arts Council and an active member of the local arts community.

The Berkeley Art Works, a project of the Berkeley Arts Council, is the realization of the long-held dream of the arts community in Martinsburg and Berkeley County West Virginia: to have a community-based arts facility that supports local and regional artists, brings quality arts experiences for the members of the public, and provides a wide range of arts learning experiences for local residents, artists, and artisans. The Berkeley Arts Council is on the Web at www.berkeleyartswv.org.