Three New Exhibitions to Open March 13 with Reception at Bradbury Art Museum
JONESBORO – “Marks in Motion,” an exhibition of contemporary drawings, will open to the public on Thursday, March 13, at Bradbury Art Museum (BAM). Also opening will be “There is a Bird in the House,” and “Inspired Tenfold,” celebrating 10 years of the annual “Inspired” program for local high school students.
A reception to open the exhibitions will be held 5 to 6:30 p.m. Admission to both the reception and the exhibitions is free.
In recent years, drawings have moved from being largely a private medium for sketching to being prominent in contemporary art exhibitions. Many artists who concentrate on making abstract drawings use their lines expressively, to create an emotional connection with viewers.
As artist Carlene Muñoz says, “When you’re drawing, it captures your presence . . . You’re there with your own touch – it records your mark.” The exhibition “Marks in Motion” gathers work by seven artists who draw in this way: Yasi Alipour, Carlene Muñoz, Casey Neumann, Sky Pape, Jaanika Peerna, Susan Schwalb and Daniel Zeller. The exhibition also features videos of Jaanika Peerna and Susan Schwalb at work.
The exhibition curated by Ann Prentice Wagner, Bradbury Art Museum director, gathers abstract images by artists whose work emphasizes the evidence of their creative processes. These artists take a variety of approaches to drawing. Florida-based artist Muñoz creates cosmic visions using the familiar media of graphite (pencil) and colored pencil.
Schwalb draws linear abstractions in the historic medium of metalpoint which was prominent during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Alipour’s intricate folded paper forms are inspired by the deep resonances he finds in historic Iranian architecture. The drawn marks in Neumann’s images weave in and out like the threads in woven cloth, a material we spend our lives in contact with.
Pape’s forms in matte acrylic flashe have geometric forms that subtly and meaningful shift as the artist draws. Zeller’s ink and acrylic drawings combine insights from parallels between macro systems like the Earth seen from space and micro systems like cells seen through microscopes. Peerna uses the dynamic lines in her colossal drawings to express anxiety over how climate change is breaking down vital natural forms like icebergs and glaciers.
Events in association with this exhibition will include:
— A conversation with New York-based artist Sky Pape 4:30 p.m. Thursday, March 13, in the Grand Hall of Fowler Center.
— Presentation by exhibition curator Ann Prentice Wagner, at 4:30 p.m., Thursday, April 17, in the Grand Hall of Fowler Center.
— Gallery talk by Florida-based artist Carlene Muñoz at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, May 1, in Bradbury Art Museum galleries.
On view alongside “Marks in Motion” will be “Inspired Tenfold,” celebrating 10 years of the “Inspired” program by exhibiting works created by the regional high school teachers who mentor students featured in the annual exhibition. A third exhibition, “There is a Bird in the House” features photographs by former “Inspired” student artist Savannah Sifford.
Bradbury Art Museum is located in Fowler Center, 201 Olympic Drive, on campus at Arkansas State. The museum hours are noon until 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.
For more details about Bradbury Art Museum or to learn how to support future exhibitions, one may call the museum at 870-972-3687 or consult its website at bradburyartmuseum.org.
