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

Visit a Local Gallery!

The Ship c.1943 by Salvador Dali

Looking for something to do around Harrisonburg on a rainy day, or really any day for that matter? Check out one of James Madison University's local galleries! There's no better way to get you in then supply you with all the information you could ever imagine right here.

Sawhill Gallery

Hours: 

Monday-Friday 10am-5pm

Saturday 12pm-5pm

Closed Sunday

Located in Duke Hall, rm 101

From October 11, 2010 until December 10, 2010 artist Renee Butler will have her work on display in an exhibit titled, "Resonant Environments".

Sawhill Gallery Website

artWorks Gallery

Hours:

Monday-Thursday 12pm-5pm

Friday and Saturday 12pm-4pm

Located at 131 Grace Street

Opening receptions for new exhibits are held on the first Monday of each show from 5-7pm.

* Opening Receptions: October 25, November 1 and November 15

artWorks Gallery Website

Madison Art Collection

Hours:

Tuesday-Friday 10am-4pm

Located in the Festival Conference and Student Center, rm 1000

From September 7, 2010 until December 10, 2010 the exhibit "Tools, Trade, Technology: American Indian Contributions" will be on display. 

Madison Art Collection Website

New Image Gallery 

Hours:

Monday-Thursday 12pm-5pm

Friday and Saturday 12pm-4pm

Located at 131 Grace Street, in a separate room off of the artWorks Gallery

Following an October 25th reception, Pam Fox's photography exhibit will be on display until December 10, 2010. 

New Image Gallery Website

Here is all the information you could ever want to know (including websites) for every JMU gallery available. So please, give these exhibits and artists your consideration and come check it out! Until next time, I'm going to leave you with a piece from another one of my favorite artists, Salvador Dali. I'm sure I'll be devoting a full post to him in the near future. 

Cartoonists in the Forbes Center

Artist: Ryan Orr

As I walked down through the Forbes Performing Arts Center as I do every Monday, Wednesday and Friday for class,  I noticed a new exhibit, titled Cartooning Project; Student Works, set up in the main lobby. Six large cartoons from current JMU students were prominently on display. Unfortunately there was no one around to ask about this interesting class project, but I was able to gain some information on the class.

These artists come from Theatre 303 Introduction to Scene Painting taught by Professors John Burgess and Richard Finkelstein. According to the course outline, Theatre 303 is a study of current topics and issues in theatre with an emphasis on contemporary themes.

This display was a great tribute to local student artists and a great, unexpected surprise. I look forward to finding similar exhibits throughout the year as the Estes Center continues to support art and theatre majors.

Artist: Taylor Faulkinberry

I'll be on the lookout, so enjoy this photos until the next time I'm lucky enough to come across a great display!

Artist: Patrick Gordon

"I Don't Know Where the Craziness Comes From"

Last week at the artWorks Gallery new exhibits from local artists went on display. One of those displays was created by JMU student and mixed medi artist, Kaitlyn Digangi. Digangi's art is unlike anything I have ever seen before. Her art included cartoon like animals in dark, scary places. Creepy and twisted are the words that comes to mind when I recall her display, and it was absolutely amazing. Her pieces spoke volumes as to the amount of talent she possessed.

I approached Digangi immediately after seeing her collection. I HAD to meet the artist capable of creating such disturbing work. But she was not at all what I expected. Her friendly personality quickly diminished any thought I had previously conjured up about the dark, brooding artist I thought I'd meet. So I asked where she possibly could have pulled this inspiration and these images from and she did not hesitate. It wasn't some big elaborate story, just a bunny from her childhood that she couldn't have hated more, a love for the bizarre and a desire to draw the reaction, "WHAT is that?!"

Digangi discovered this style of art her senior year in high school alongside an art teacher who supported her darker side. She explained her use of thick and thin stylized lines for black and white drawings. "It's sloppy, but in an artistic way," she said. But I quickly noticed much more to her work than paper and pen. "I'm just bored with paper. So, I grab things off the side of the road to use," said Digangi. Looking closer at each piece, I see window screens, yarn, a shade.

She was obviously passionate about each piece, quickly pointing out her favorite of the pieces and making sure I not only checked out, but tried out her interactive piece. She knows her work falls into the shock and awe category and enjoys every minute of the different reactions.

"My friend was joking that you could drop my art and it actually add to the look."

This display is not one too miss! To check out Kaitlyn Digangi's work visit the artWorks Gallery located on 131 Grace Street, Harrisonburg.

Young Artists Fill artWorks Gallery With Talent

I have been to the artWorks Gallery several times throughout my time here at James Madison University, but never have I been there during a new exhibit's opening reception. It was very exciting! The gallery itself is a great, open space; the perfect setup for a display. Refreshments were served as the place bustled with other people like myself, who were eager to see the presentations and meet the artists.

Several JMU students were there showing their latest work. During this Monday night reception I wandered around the gallery viewing their pieces, taking photographs, listening to the artists discuss their work and eavesdropping in on other onlookers critiques. The verdict is in: Incredibly Impressive! The work I saw literally stopped me. I spent much more time viewing their work than I had originally intended when I arrived. Not that I was surprised, but their level of talent and experience neared professional.

The great thing about a gallery such as artWorks is its desire to showcase a variety of technique, style, form and genre. There were photographs, paintings, cartoons, even interactive art involving a window shade (photographed above). Each artist is able to bring their best work forward and show things they are proud of, that they worked hard to accomplish. Even more exciting is that the gallery changes its exhibits frequently and hosts opening receptions for new artists every several weeks.

If you are interested in visiting a gallery artWorks is a great option. It is very professional without being incredibly overwhelming. Check out the website artWorks Gallery for daily hours and upcoming reception dates!

And check out my follow-up post where I let you in on my one-on-one conversation with artist Kaitlyn Digangi!

From An Amateur's Perspective

"Mick Jagger 1975"

This is the first of many posts designed to give an amateur perspective of local art to the other amateur artists or any art enthusiasts out there. Each week I'll be bringing you background and photos of local galleries showcasing artists' work and one on one interviews with their featured artists.

This week I will be visiting the local artWorks Gallery where a handful of talented James Madison University student's are displaying their pieces. Great pictures and an interview will be quick to follow! 

Finally, for my first post I thought I would share one of my favorite artists (which I'm sure I'l do from time to time) and this week its..... ANDY WARHOL! I don't think my passion for art would be at the level it is today if it wasn't for his incredibly vibrant portraits. His portrait "Mick Jagger 1975" can be seen above. Warhol was the leading figure in the visual art movement, Pop Art. Pop Art came onto the scene in the late 1950's and challenged traditional art by focusing on visual commodities of popular culture. Warhol was tremendously creative, dabbling in painting, print, filmmaking and music, to name just a few of his successful ventures. Andy Warhol is remembered through the work he has left behind which maintains a large amount of public interest. His pieces are constantly showcased in galleries across the country, such as the Museum of Modern Art in New York City and The Seattle Museum of Art in Seattle, Washington.

If you're interested in more information or works done by Andy Warhol, I've attached the link to The Andy Warhol Museum located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania below.

The Andy Warhol Museum