AUBURN - The opening reception of a new exhibit at the Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center gave visitors a chance to twist and contort their own creative minds Sunday.
While the meaning of some art can be straight forward, the pieces in the new “Collage + Assemblage” exhibit challenged guests to search for their deeper meaning by examining how seemingly unrelated objects interact with each other when combined together.
“What strikes me is the tremendous imagination that the artists have shown in their work,” said Robert Bergan, a member of the museum's board of directors. “It intrigues me to see how different objects are put together to transform them into a piece of art. The artists did not just create these in a day, these took a lot of time and effort.”
By combining 3-D artifacts with 2-D drawings or pages from books, Rochester artist Colleen Buzzard said she hoped to make people examine the connection between words and the real world.
One of Buzzard's pieces, a large piece of metal pipe hanging from the wall with a 2-D drawing of an arm extending from it reaching for an on-off switch, drew a steady stream of visitors who walked up to examine it.
“I like to examine how machines, language and thinking all interact- how we rely on machines to help us think,” Buzzard said. “Some people are puzzled by the pieces while others comprehend it pretty quickly. There are a variety of reactions.”
While all of the pieces in the exhibit were similar because they used multiple photos, paintings or items found in everyday life to create a larger idea, Syracuse residents Thomas and Ruth Fonda said they were impressed at the variety of themes presented by each artist.
“Each artist is unique in their interpretation of their art or the world,” Thomas Fonda said. “They all have different views. They all put a lot of effort into their art. I don't think everyone will appreciate this, it's not like landscape photography or paintings, this is a completely different style of art.”
Because the pieces are different from what visitors may be accustomed to seeing when they visit a museum, Bergan said he believed the art would spark the creative spirit in anyone who stopped by to tour the exhibit.
“Everyone has an imagination but all too frequently we don't allow ourselves to use it,” he said. “We're so focused on our life or work. This gives people an opportunity to open up their own imagination by seeing what other people are able to do when their creativity is unleashed.”
Staff writer Nate Robson can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or nathan.robson@lee.net
“What strikes me is the tremendous imagination that the artists have shown in their work,” said Robert Bergan, a member of the museum's board of directors. “It intrigues me to see how different objects are put together to transform them into a piece of art. The artists did not just create these in a day, these took a lot of time and effort.”
By combining 3-D artifacts with 2-D drawings or pages from books, Rochester artist Colleen Buzzard said she hoped to make people examine the connection between words and the real world.
One of Buzzard's pieces, a large piece of metal pipe hanging from the wall with a 2-D drawing of an arm extending from it reaching for an on-off switch, drew a steady stream of visitors who walked up to examine it.
“I like to examine how machines, language and thinking all interact- how we rely on machines to help us think,” Buzzard said. “Some people are puzzled by the pieces while others comprehend it pretty quickly. There are a variety of reactions.”
While all of the pieces in the exhibit were similar because they used multiple photos, paintings or items found in everyday life to create a larger idea, Syracuse residents Thomas and Ruth Fonda said they were impressed at the variety of themes presented by each artist.
“Each artist is unique in their interpretation of their art or the world,” Thomas Fonda said. “They all have different views. They all put a lot of effort into their art. I don't think everyone will appreciate this, it's not like landscape photography or paintings, this is a completely different style of art.”
Because the pieces are different from what visitors may be accustomed to seeing when they visit a museum, Bergan said he believed the art would spark the creative spirit in anyone who stopped by to tour the exhibit.
“Everyone has an imagination but all too frequently we don't allow ourselves to use it,” he said. “We're so focused on our life or work. This gives people an opportunity to open up their own imagination by seeing what other people are able to do when their creativity is unleashed.”
Staff writer Nate Robson can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or nathan.robson@lee.net
Citizen
Hot Jobs
Off the Menu
The Citizens' Say
Post your comment - click hereThere are No comments posted.