James Arendt explores the shifting paradigms of labor and place. Influenced by the radical reshaping of the rural and industrial landscapes he grew up in, he investigates how transitions in economic structures affect individual lives. The body of work in the exhibition is made from reclaimed denim-often donated by those depicted-to bring a stronger bond to Arendt's content and the people portrayed.

Arendt received his BFA from Kendall College of Art & Design and his MFA from the University of South Carolina. He has studied art in England and Spain and participated in residencies at The Fields Project, Illinois, and Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, Tennessee. Recently, his work was awarded the $50,000 top prize at ArtFields 2013 and Best in Show at Fantastic Fibers 2012. Arendt's work has been exhibited internationally in numerous group and solo shows, including Fiberarts International 2013 and the 2013 Museum Rijswijk Textile Biennial, Netherlands.