4-H artist's work on display in Lincoln

Wednesday, November 1, 2006
Hailey Esch (center) of Indianola poses with little sisters, Mackenzie, 8, (left) and Hannah, 9, with the marbleized silk pillow top she created as a 4-H project. Her project was selected for a fiber arts and textiles show at the Robert Hillestad Textiles Gallery at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. (Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Daily Gazette, courtesy photo

LINCOLN -- A Red Willow County 4-H'er was among 20 Nebraska State Fair exhibitors whose work was selected for display in a fiber arts and textiles show called "Celebration of Youth XIII: Innovations," Oct. 9-27, at the Robert Hillestad Textiles Gallery at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Hailey Esch, the 13-year-old daughter of Tyler and Darren Esch of Indianola, and 19 other state fair exhibitors were honored at an opening reception Oct. 15 at the Hillestad Gallery. Hailey's marbled silk was featured on invitations to the reception.

Hailey created the piece of marbleized silk during a Saturday morning 4-H project with Donna Kircher, Red Willow County 4-H aide, and Kimberly Cook, Extension assistant for the Southwest Four counties.

Hailey said the process starts with a methyl Cel solution (a heavy laundry powder) mixed in a flat pan with water and ammonia. Color dyes are dropped on top of the methyl Cel and swirled around. The dyes form ribbons of color that, because of the methyl Cel, remain separate and don't blend, Hailey said. Kircher said the methyl Cel and the water are like oil and vinegar -- they don't mix, and they keep the colors separate.

Hailey said that a square of silk laid on top of the water absorbed the color swirls. The silk square was then dipped in room-temperature water and allowed to dry.

Hailey turned her square of silk into a pillow top. The design's greens, yellow and pink coordinate with her bedroom, she said. "The other colors -- blue and purple -- just fit in," she said.

Hailey entered her pillow in the Red Willow County fair, where it won a purple ribbon and reserve champion honors, and was eligible for exhibition at the state fair. At the state fair, the pillow won a purple ribbon from 4-H judges, and was selected by another panel of judges, from the Hillestad Gallery, for participation in the "Celebration of Youth: Innovations" gallery show.

The 4-H artists, ranging from 9-year-olds through college freshmen, were treated to two days of seminars and programs presented by gallery and university officials. One program, Hailey said, taught about Baroque fashions, and how fashion is predictable, depending on the economy. Participants were told, Hailey said, to look for "ribbons and lots of jewels," and they designed bracelets and necklaces with ribbons.

In a program called "Real or Fake?," participants were taught now to look for knockoffs of original designs. She said the presenter told them that an item was purchased in China. "It was not an Abercrombie shirt," Hailey said, "but it was in an Abercrombie bag."

Participants also designed and created fabric postcards using photographs taken in space. "It's a design on a heavy fabric, that can be mailed just like a postcard," Hailey said.

Hailey said she enjoyed her weekend in Lincoln. Although she said she was surprised by her selection for the special textiles program, she'd do it again if she had the chance.

Hailey has been in 4-H for five years, and was in Clover Kids (pre-4-H) for three years.

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