UI spotlights Kentridge art
The bold, striking images of South African artist William Kentridge will dominate the University of Idaho’s Prichard Art Gallery beginning Friday.
“This multifaceted artist creates work with an uncompromising vision,” says gallery director and show curator Roger H.D. Rowley.
“To me they are expressions of the South African psychology that developed around apartheid,” he says.
Kentridge is known for his powerful imagery and innovative use of charcoal drawing, prints, collages, stop-animation, film and theater.
The Prichard show, “William Kentridge: Works on Paper,” includes a series of original drawings, small prints and etching, and large-scale prints – all from Pacific Northwest collectors.
“I’ve seen his work in several exhibits,” says Rowley, “and it is absolutely amazing.”
Kentridge’s work has toured the world with exhibitions in Barcelona, Brussels, Graz, London, Munich and Marseille. In the United States his work has traveled to museums in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York and Washington, D.C.
“His work is not just the straight indictments of racism that you might expect,” says Rowley. “It is much more complex and involves the reverberations, the repercussions out two or three layers, to how people get twisted by that social structure.”
“In the balcony gallery is “From Piano Bench to Jazz Standard: Sheet Music Covers, 1915-1950.”
“The display illustrates the evolution in cover design,” says Rowley. “It shows how art traditions overlap with musical ideas.”
The covers come from the Lionel Hampton School of Music and the International Jazz Collection at the University of Idaho, and The Institute of Jazz Studies at Rutgers University.
“An opening reception for both shows is Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. in the free gallery, 414/416 S. Main St. in Moscow.
The work is up through April 1. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
For additional information call (208) 885-3586 or www.uidaho.edu/galleries.
Unitarian art show
Nearly 50 artists and crafters will have their wares up for sale in the “Artists’ Show” at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Spokane on Saturday between noon and 5 p.m.
“We really wanted to have an event that supports the artists, as well as benefits the church,” says Barbara Fausaas, co-chair of the event.
For every dollar artists receive for their work, they will donate 30 cents back to the church.
“It’s a win-win for both the artist and us,” says Fausaas.
The fundraiser features artists from Artisan Wares, GoodWorks Gallery, River Ridge Fine Art Association and Papier Mâché Guild.
Look for:
“Paintings by Ellen Blaschke, Vicky Cavin, Irene Dahl, Dan Eacret, Pamela Galloway, Jody Gear, Julie Griffin, Dee Gumengberg, Marsha Marcuson, Judy McMillan, Dorothy Mehl, Danzell Milam, Karen Mobley, Robert Morrison, Sally Perone, Emma Randolph, Bruce Suckling, Ilsa Tan, Olivia Waterman and Diane Zahner.
“Photography by Michael Folsom, Linda Lowry, Del Lusk and Nathaniel Morse.
“Papier mâché by Jan Moulder and Lisa Conger; Japanese paper sculpture by Patti Reiko Osebold; and cut paper and Quaker boxes by Diane Chelf.
“Blown glass by Steve Adams, stained glass by Ken Norris and glass objects by Ann Glynn.
“Fiber arts by Linda Anderson, Jo Anne Bailey and Louise Kodis.
“Other mediums include prints by Lorraine Krank; quilts by Cindy Phillips; assemblage wall pieces by Dan McCann; dolls by Wendy Zupan-Bailey; furniture by Bill Simmons and Karma Lloyd; ceramics by Fran Limber; and jewelry by Bobbie Armstrong and Nan Drye.
The Unitarian Universalist Church of Spokane is at 4340 W. Fort George Wright Drive, west of Spokane Falls Community College.
Whitworth’s ‘Crisis’
“Communities in Crisis” opens Monday in the Koehler Gallery on the Whitworth College campus.
The mixed-media works on exhibit were created by associate professor of art Gordon Wilson following a January 2006 Whitworth study program he took with other college staff and 18 students.
The program, “Communities in Crisis: Service and Learning in the Gulf Coast,” involved working alongside community members in Gulfport and Jackson, Miss., repairing and renovating homes.
“Mostly we were putting roofs on houses,” says Wilson.
Along the way, the group learned about the effects of crisis on individuals, families and communities.
The trip “provided numerous visual examples of how issues such as ethnocentrism, racism, religion, civil religion and economic disparity support and influence oppression and dehumanization,” says Whitworth public information officer Julie Riddle in a news release.
“After spending time with people in these communities,” says Wilson, “I feel very connected to these places.”
Proceeds from all art sales will be donated to organizations in the regions Wilson visited.
“I think it would be a very special thing that if art about those communities actually brought money back to them,” he says.
An opening reception is Tuesday from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Koehler Gallery. Wilson will present an artist’s talk at the conclusion of the reception.
For more information call (509) 777-3258.
Sacred Grounds
“Loving the Palouse” opens Friday at On Sacred Grounds: Art & Book Gallery in Valleyford.
Painter Ellen Sparrow Blaschke “grew up loving the rural, farming communities that dot the Palouse,” says gallery owner Elaine Rising in an e-mail. “She captures that warmth and love in her paintings.”
An artist reception and free palette knife painting demonstration will be Feb. 17 from 1 to 4 p.m. The work is up through March 8.
On Sacred Grounds is located at 12212 E. Palouse Highway (corner of Palouse and Madison) across from the Valleyford Community Church. Call (509) 747-6294 for directions or information.