Mary Merkel-Hess is a genius with paper and fiber. The Dubuque Museum of Art was honored to exhibit the sculptures of this Iowa City fiber artist. Her brilliantly colored basket forms recall the soft movement of fields of grass on a windy summer day as well as the strict lines of a manicured lawn. Contained in a precisely arranged package, they are the epitome of natural beauty in their form and material.

Image: Mary Merkel-Hess, Haven, 2005, reed, paper, and acrylic paint, 19x14x6 in., courtesy of the artist