West Gallery

January - December 30, 2025

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Curators Statement:

“Even in stillness, there is movement.” – Anonymous

 

Visitors can embark on an artistic odyssey with "Harmonizing Dimensions," a curated collection delving into the intricate interplay of motion, time, and rhythm. This transformative exploration shapes and defines the creative landscape, leaving an enduring imprint on the ever-evolving art world.

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As we navigate the swift tapestry of the 21st century, our understanding of motion, time, and rhythm in art undergoes a profound transformation. Technological advancements and global connectivity dissolve traditional boundaries, providing artists with new realms to explore.

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Step into this odyssey at the Blanden, where artworks come alive dynamically, transcending conventional expressions. Let the masterpieces converge in your mind, facilitating a harmonious dialogue between motion, time, and rhythm. Across diverse mediums, artists showcase how movement breathes life into their works, time influences narratives, and rhythm orchestrates unique artistic experiences.

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Working in varied mediums, these artists share a profound grasp of the interplay among fundamental forces. Witness how motion is captured in brushstrokes, time in sculpture, and rhythm in the arrangement of forms and colors. The exhibition encourages an exploration of the dynamic relationship between the static and kinetic, tangible, and ephemeral, finite, and infinite – offering profound insights into the role of motion, time, and rhythm in shaping artistic expression.

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"Harmonizing Dimensions" invites you on a transformative journey where motion, time, and rhythm converge, unlocking uncharted realms of artistic expression. Celebrate the visionary contributions of artists worldwide as they entice us to delve into the profound mysteries within these elemental dimensions.

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May this exhibition inspire you to embrace the ever-shifting dynamics of life, fostering a deeper appreciation for the interconnected dance of motion, time, and rhythm in the realm of art.

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East Gallery

Aug 3 - Oct 19

 

Curators Statement:

Endless Summer, emerges as a fascinating discourse between Erika Navarrete and Brett Anderson, inviting viewers on a visual journey through the transformative landscape of pandemic-related lockdowns and isolation.

Navarrete's masterful paintings in this exhibition resonate with emotional depth, delicately capturing the interplay between melancholy isolation and fleeting moments of hope. With each brushstroke, she constructs a world tinged with uncertainty yet imbued with a vibrant pop art aesthetic, offering a poignant reflection on our shared human experience.

Contrasting with Navarrete's introspective works, Anderson's pieces, notably The After This, immerse viewers in a nightmarish realm reminiscent of a post-apocalyptic society. Through vivid imagery and biting satire, Anderson delves into the notions regarding the collapse of civilization amid the chaos of COVID lockdowns, weaving together intricate narratives that compel viewers to confront the fragility of societal structures and the absurdity of the human condition.

As visitors traverse through this captivating exhibition, they are confronted with myriad perspectives, each offering a unique glimpse into the complexities of existence amidst our current civilization's timelines. Together, Navarrete and Anderson's artworks serve as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, urging us to navigate the infinite choices presented by life's perpetual dance between opposing forces and making us all think about our own endless summer.

 

 

 

Erika Navarrete:

Bio:

Erika Navarrete was born and raised in the town of Visalia in the San Joaquin Valley of  California. She received her BFA in Painting and Art History from the Kansas City Art Institute in 2003 and her MFA from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2008. Navarrete is currently an   instructor at the University of Evansville and the University of Southern Indiana in Evansville. She maintains an active studio practice investigating relationships between people and the   structure of the home through the mediums of painting, drawing and printmaking and exhibits her work locally and nationally.

Brett Anderson:

Bio:

Brett Anderson is an Assistant Professor of printmaking at the University of Southern   Indiana in Evansville.  Brett grew up in central Missouri, earning his Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Missouri in 1999.  He received his Master of Fine Arts from the    University of South Dakota in 2002.

Second Floor Gallery

July 13 - Sept 21, 2024

 

Artist Statement:

Painting for me continues to be about connections – connecting with nature, the specific scene or subject, and the community of artists, both near and far, that share in this endeavor that I love. These connections add richness to the experience of painting and offer rewards that far exceed those of just painting another picture.

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The title, “A World Observed”, references the role of observation in the painting process. I would describe my work as falling in the school of Traditional Realism. As such, my aim is to see and capture the beauty that exists all around us. Sometimes it’s found in scenes that would typically be regarded as beautiful, but other times beauty is found in everyday items, the banal, the overlooked. By observing the subject deeply and not relying on pre-conceived notions of what a tree looks like, the color of the sky, etc., real beauty can be found and, hopefully, reflected in the painting. Rather than imposing my own attempt to improve on nature’s beauty, I seek to translate my observed experience into a work with the goal of communicating the experience to the viewer.

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I am grateful to the Blanden Art Museum and staff for this opportunity to return to my birthplace and share this body of work. My wish is that visitors come away with a new appreciation for the rich variety of beauty that surrounds us every day.

 

Bio:

Jack Dant is a St. Paul, Minnesota artist whose painting subjects range from landscape and still life to portrait and figures.  He is drawn primarily to realism in the style of the American Impressionists; however his technique and style continue to evolve. Jack enjoys painting outside on location (plein air) as well as painting in his studio.  He has studied Flemish techniques in still life and portrait with Jeff Hurinenko, and spent many years studying landscape painting with Joe Paquet, using direct painting methods and the prismatic palette.

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In addition to painting, Jack has been exploring the intaglio process (prints produced from etched copper plates), sculpture, and casting in bronze. He has developed a home casting studio where he completes all aspects of the sculpting and casting process. Jack is a Principal Product Engineer with Heraeus Medevio in Fridley, Minnesota where he   develops medical devices for a variety of interventional procedures. 

Jack was born in Fort Dodge and enjoys many happy memories of childhood friends, Duncombe Elementary (the old one), and growing up on 8th avenue. Having moved to Minnesota in 3rd grade (1974), the memories are fading, but still warm. Jack looks forward to  reconnecting with some long-lost friends!

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• Jave Yoshimoto - Second Floor Gallery 

  • Isolated Microcosm - Mix Media (Oct 5 - Dec 14, 2024) ​

• Bill Stamats - East Gallery

  • Two of a Kind - Paintings (Nov 2 - January 18, 2025) ​

• Michael Moore - Second Floor Gallery 

  • Breaking the Grid (Jan 4 - March 22, 2025) ​

• Dave Jordano - East Gallery 

  • Duck Blinds (Feb 1 - April 18, 2025)