Friday, August 31, 2012

A Retrospective Exhibit


I always resisted the idea of mounting a "retrospective art exhibit". 
For me, a retrospective is a show for artists who are either very famous...or very old
I haven't achieved "fame".  And call me vain, but I'm still resisting "old". 
So why now? 
Well here's the story:
This "Retrospective Exhibit" allows me the opportunity to clear my studio for some newer work, and at the same time to make a contribution to the institution of my primary loyalty. Proceeds from the sale of these works go to Northland College.

 
Northland College's Dexter Library in Ashland, Wisconsin

Over recent years I was blessed with the use of this wonderful well lighted, semi permanent hanging space...and unlike commercial galleries, it's open on Mondays!


Now however, we in the art department have decided to resume our former program of rotating public art exhibitions and I need to move my work off these walls. 
Losing my free "parking place" is daunting.  I can't possibly fit all those large paintings back into my studio storage bins. 


So the retrospective now becomes the solution!

Below are some candid snaps from the opening:

 
 
 
 
As the fall semester gets under way, the exhibit will be open daily until September 30th.   
In the meantime, the paintings can be viewed on this page of the college website:
 

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Minneapolis: Sunday in the Park

With fall in the air we decided to take advantage of the nice weather for another Sunday afternoon stroll in the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden across from the Walker Art Center.


The Claes Oldenburg /Coosje van Bruggen ever popular installation "Spoonbridge and Cherry" was surprisingly devoid of photo-op wedding parties today.  The early fall breeze and spraying mists may have kept some at bay.


I’ve never been totally at home with Minimalism but Sol Lewitt’s “X with Columns” a concrete and cinder block temple in the snap below, is nicely softened by its environment.  Today however, no one was climbing on or through it.


One of my favorite works in the sculpture garden is this interactive sculpture below by Dan Graham   titled “Two way Mirror” a labyrinth of steel, glass and arborvitae hedges.

Graham's punched steel mirrors plays with reflection and transparency.  The images are affected by the sunlight and change during the course of the day. 


In this second snap, I went around to the other side of the wall and although we seem to be together ...we are actually looking at each other from opposite side

The Sculpture Garden sadly, has some serious accessibility issues with their sidewalks and paths.  But I understand they hope to address that problem soon.
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