New Art Shows Lacking in Harrisonburg

Claude Monet

To any of you out there who have been keeping up with my posts, I'm sure you have noticed it has been a while since anything new has been posted up on my blog. There is a good reason, I swear! Of the five galleries in Harrisonburg, VA all but one (artWorks Gallery) have one semester long exhibit on display. This has limited the amount of new artwork has, in turn, limited the amount of new entries I have been able to post.
Currently, I am looking into interviews with student artists and professors. Hopefully, that will add some increased curiosity and excitement for this blog. However, if it is still not doing it for you as a reader, I am currently working on launching a second blog. More details regarding this blog will be posted (with a link of course) shortly.
So for now, I will leave you with a beautiful, timeless piece from impressionist painter, Claude Monet.  It hangs at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. If you're interested in other pieces like this one, look more into visiting this amazing museum at http://www.nga.gov/. I've visited on more than one occasion and I promise you, it's worth it!

2 States/4 Dimensions

Beginning on October 11, 2010 until December 10, 2010, James Madison University's Sawhill Gallery will be hosting Washington D.C. based artist Renee Butler. Butler is a graduate of the University of Maryland with a degree in Art History. She has won several fellowships and numerous grants in the arts. 

This exhibit, entitled 2 States/4 Dimensions, is an example of creating art using multiple mediums. This installation was designed by Butler to incorporate sound and transform space. Butler used many different materials in creating this piece, including transparent scrim, monofilament and Plexiglass. To finish off her interactive piece a large mirror lines the wall behind, while smaller mirrors dangled from the ceiling. The final, most important, addition to this piece was the video monitor that projected beautiful, flowing images of nature. 

I was drawn into the dark room by the soothing, peaceful sounds and bright lights flickering in the back. When I entered I found myself in front of a gorgeous display of vibrant color and image. Clouds blew passed me and snow fell. I could almost sense the blades of grass moving in the cool breeze and the heat of a volcanic eruption. Butler uses our environment to create one of her own. 

My next post will include additional pictures from her exhibit. It requires a better camera then I had originally brought along to achieve good photographs of her installation in the dark. 

If this post spiked further interest in Renee Butler's work you can check out her website at www.reneemarcusbutler.com