BLANDEN ART MUSEUM

West Gallery

January - December 30, 2023

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About the Exhibit

"We shape our buildings - thereafter, they shape us."

                                                                              - Winston Churchill. 

 

The need to build is a paramount requirement, a fundamental need to survive; it is also about the drive to leave a legacy of beauty and order. Structures of all shapes and sizes are signatures of culture and society. Like frozen music in space, they play for the viewer a song of age, the hopes of a people, and a    record of dreams. They are an art and a requirement. It is through the lens of a culture's buildings and dwellings that helps form historical understanding. Architecture is one way that a society can express itself, presenting a likeness to the world. The foundation of order and beauty that stand the test of time      structures define a longing for understanding.     

  

This exhibit brings together objects and works of art from the collection that     directly reflect these delineations in conjunction with more abstract and   conceptual depictions of structures and the grid. The artwork on display covers multiple periods, cultures, and styles. It is a testament to the excellent and rich assortment contained in the collection. Architectural history is an evolving account of human energy that spans centuries reaching back to ancient times, providing a global perspective. The construction of buildings, structures, and grids is more than the carving of stone or the placement of glass. It is about    understanding something bigger than ourselves, our place in the universe. Expressions of this understanding are witnessed through drawings, paintings, sculptures, and photographs of structures. Artists can reflect the spirit of time locked forever through the talent of the hand and the eye.    

 

Through the interaction of realistic depictions, abstractions, and conceptual forms, viewers can survey how the grid, architecture, and perspective have shaped our understanding of history, culture, and society. Structures are physical evidence of human change. The art inspired by this evidence reflects a          perspective boundary and is a witness to history.   

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Second Floor Gallery

Sept 2 - Nov 25, 2023

 

Curators Statement:

 

“Everything that is visible hides something that is invisible” –  Rene Magritte

 

The invisible becomes visible in an extraordinary manner within Byron Anway's captivating new body of paintings. Through bold colors and enigmatic, yet hopeful, post-apocalyptic compositions, he constructs a surreal reality born from memories, isolation, childhood emotions, and transformation. While his images possess striking visibility, they also conceal a hidden essence, exuding an air of mystique that permeates this remarkable collection.

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Life's enigmatic nature finds profound expression through Anway's artistry. In his works, he fearlessly delves into the depths of his experiences, offering a profound exploration of how paint and canvases can evoke the mystery and existential questions of existence. By   tapping into memories and emotions, he presents "Afield," an exhibition that serves as a resolute affirmation of an authentic voice. This significant showcase marks a transformative juncture in his artistic journey, as his previous paintings depicted crowded masses clamoring for position, while his latest creations embrace openness and a profound connection with nature.

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Within a series of paintings, a landscape featuring a cascading waterfall emerges as a  recurring motif, acting as a reflective symbol. This imagery derives from a vivid memory of a journey experienced by the artist. Waterfalls embody the process of letting go, cleansing, and the unceasing flow of energy and life. For Anway, these paintings embody an ongoing quest for a genuine expression, heralding a new understanding of the world—a vibrant    visual proclamation brimming with optimism and embracing the winds of change.

 

 

Bio

Byron Anway is an Assistant Professor of Practice at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln in the School of Art, Art History, and Design.  Before teaching at the university level, Anway taught art abroad at the International School of Brussels in Belgium and American Academy Casablanca in Morocco.  Among other venues, his work has been exhibited at the Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha, NE, Manifest Gallery in Cincinnati, OH, and the Soo Visual Arts   Center in Minneapolis. His work has been published twice in New American Paintings the West, Manifest’s International Painting Annual, and the Prairie Schooner.

 

Statement

My artwork incorporates personal stories and contemporary historical events to understand the world.  This practice closely mimics the study of Epistemology in that I try to understand the differences between opinion and knowledge.  In “Afield,” I draw from memory and imagination to tell emotionally authentic and personal coming of age stories from teaching and living in Morocco.  Whether showing a disparate world full of kinetic    human energy or an introspective abstraction with space for deep thinking, these new works draw on themes of spirituality, cultural relativism, and adventure. 

East Gallery

Nov 4 - Jan 20, 2024 

 

Artist Statement:

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When I started this "artistic journey", I used a thin coat of paint to cover the small canvas boards that I used. I had the tendency to make my work very 'tight' and detailed.  As  confidence grew, adding more oil to the canvas made my colors more brilliant and lifelike, which encouraged the production of larger pieces of work.  Along with this, I gained the desire to add more freedom to my artwork, letting the viewer "finish the      picture" that they wanted in their own mind.

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Seldom do I go a day without putting some oil on a canvas because of the enjoyment it gives me and a strong desire to produce better work.  The successful artist doesn't depend on the number of years you paint, but how often you hold the brush without the fear of trying something new.

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It is my desire that those viewing my work are able to take a break from their    fast-paced world and find a peaceful spot in one of my landscapes, almost smell the fragrance of the florals, or see the part of my soul that I have on exhibit.

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Bio:

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Jo was born in Sheridan, Wyoming and moved to Rapid City, South Dakota when she was in the second grade. Early on, Jo had a natural interest in art since her father was an artist, utilizing his talent in his business as a sign painter. Upon graduation from high school, she enrolled in secretarial training and secured a position at the local radio/television station. While there, a friend and co-worker introduced her to a fellow airman from Ellsworth AFB and within a year they exchanged vows at the Cathedral in Rapid City.  After devoting her time to raising their five children, she again sought employment outside the home in the retail industry.

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Retirement brought with it the opportunity to return to her love of art when she began taking classes in oil painting with local art instructors. Later, she expanded her knowledge by studying different mediums with Mary Muller, a renowned artist in Des Moines, Iowa. What began as a desire to paint a few pieces for her home and family had blossomed into a passion to create.

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Because of her enjoyment of painting and powerful desire to produce better work, she seldom goes a day without putting some oil on a canvas. She feels that success as an artist is not necessarily dependent upon the number of years’ experience, but upon how often they hold a brush without the fear of trying something new. She always says that she “loves to be in her paintings, to smell the rain, to walk barefoot on a beach, to listen to a waterfall.” It provides her with an escape from a hectic, fast-paced world, if only for a brief time. There are times when she finds it difficult to part with her artwork, because she feels that each of her paintings contain a small piece of her soul.

  

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• Colin C Smith - East Gallery 

  • Soft Geometry - Mix media (February 3 - April 20, 2024) ​

• Joanne Alberda - Second Floor Gallery 

  • Tales From a Ghost Town - Fabric Art (March 2 - April 20, 2024)​

• Margaret Bohls - Second Floor Gallery

  • Italian Studies - Ceramic Art (May 4 - June 22, 2024)​