May / June 2009

Main Gallery: "Apple Pie", acrylic paintings by Gwenn Seemel

 

Gwenn Seemel's Apple Pie exhibit challenges its viewers on many levels. It's the contemporary manifestation of an old-school genre as well as an activist inquiry that leaves those leaning both left and right discussing their understanding of the United States. It's a series of images that starts a conversation about what it means to be American Apple Pie: a scrumptious dessert; the descriptor of all things American; and a series of provocative paintings.

 

Apple Pie challenges its viewers on many levels. It's the contemporary manifestation of an old-school genre as well as an activist inquiry that leaves those leaning both left and right discussing their understanding of the United States. It's a series of images that starts a conversation about what it means to be American.

 

Gwenn Seemel's exhibit "Apple Pie" will be featured on Oregon Public Broadcasting's ArtBeat in the fall.

Gallery 1 "*Eyes, Hands, Hair, Bones, and Meat", mixed media by Micah Weber

 

Essentially Micah Weber would like the viewer to see this series in its totality as a singular work that reflects patterns and elements that are evident in the individual pieces.   Rather than moving towards a direct straightforward conclusion, each piece is to be seen as a lateral shift; a continuation of the same thought from different vantage points.  The idea being that each drawing/painting/book is a part of a larger concept (a concept that is only realized by its absence.)

Gallery 2 "Altered Landscapes" abstract paintings by Jacqueline Lukowski

 

This is the first showing of Jacqueline Lukowski's abstract paintings.  She notes that she found that she could "really escape" into the painting process while creating these images.  Are they fun? Dark? Confusing? Ethereal? Maybe.  The viewer will be the judge.

 

The concept for these paintings originated about a year and a half ago.  Lukowski have been primarily a landscape painter, however after a particularly unsuccessful afternoon of plein air painting, she carted the painting back to her studio and started covering the surface with black. 

 

As she was slashing on the black paint her eye was caught by the wonderful pieces of color that still remained.  She began playing with those colors and shapes and what emerged was no longer a landscape.  She continued this process with other failed landscapes, but as her plein air paintings improved she ran out of failures to transform. 

 

Lukowski now begins each of her abstract paintings with a concept that grows from a series of lines and blocks of color on the canvas.  Her objective is to allow the painting to speak to each individual.  She notes that she knows what each painting says to her, but she knows it doesn't say the same thing to everyone.

Gallery 3 "Maybe there will be Sound" sculptural installation by John Paul Gardner and Sam Jeibmann

 

This artist duo have created a sculptural installation that incorporates existing architectural elements within the gallery space.  Viewers will become active participants within the created immersive environment.

 

John Paul Gardner and Sam Jeibmann began collaborating in 2007.  Utilizing elements ranging from living vegetation to lights, sound and a multitude of other materials they investigate sculptural installations through immersive environments.

         

John Paul Gardner is currently an MFA candidate in sculpture at the University of Oregon. Sam Jeibmann will receive his BFA in sculpture from the University of Oregon in 2009.

Gallery 5 "Everyday Travels" Woodblock landscapes by Charles Dougherty

 

The work of Charles Dougherty consists of woodblock landscapes printed in a grey scale.  The subject of his prints is his everyday surroundings in both Eugene and where he grew up on the southern coast.  The prints he makes are simply about appreciating where he live and his enjoyment of printmaking.  Dougherty's imagery is composed of scenes that he has become accustom to in his daily life.

Members’ Gallery - MAY "Messages from the Mystery" ceramics by Judy Alison

 

‘Messages from the Mystery' represents transitional new works that are a departure from the pinched vessels that have dominated Alison's work for the past 19 years. A recent injury has limited her ability to make pinch pots, opening a space for her to explore other techniques and media. This exploration has given her a kind of permission to work again with materials and forms from old loves, including words and paper, which have been with Alison from childhood. As a graphic artist she has missed handling paper, and loves indulging in the delight she finds in seemingly odd  juxtapositions.

Members' Gallery - JUNE "Painted Bellies" photos by Phillip Lynch

This is a black & white photo collection of pregnant bellies. What makes this different from most colored black and white photos is the selective use of the medium.   Where most hand colored photos are done in their entirety I have applied the color selectively.