‘Artificial Perceptions’ art exhibit showcases beautiful landscapes
From Nov. 1-23, there will be a solo art exhibition in the Wadsworth Relatives Gallery, featuring Art Office Chair Mark Swain’s work titled “Artificial Perceptions.” This showcases the representation of nature and portrays the play of light on a range of distinct surfaces.
“This is the very first opportunity that I genuinely had to paint in a though due to the fact I have been truly hectic with a large amount of other things I do here at Lewis,” mentioned Swain. “I did do some paintings, a number of several years again oil on concrete, like these are, and I seriously savored it.”
In the gallery, there are a complete of 19 oil paintings on concrete that took Swain a minimal in excess of two months to make and every one particular has a sizeable that means to him.
“The paintings are actually intended to sort of be any place the subject is depicting and naturally, there are mountains in some of them,” mentioned Swain. “They’re split about midway between Montana and Illinois.” Both of those of Swain’s small children stay in Montana and go to school there.
Swain mentioned that the paintings are not automatically about Montana or the Rockies. They’re definitely about minimal snippets of photographs. The paintings are all for sale, ranging from $600 to $800, but income is not the cause he created them.
“I comprehend why there are graphic designers for the reason that there is an software to the organization environment,” explained Swain. “They’re hired by businesses and they are compensated for what they do and this get the job done that I have is for sale, but that is surely not the cause why I created these paintings.”
When he appears to be at the photos he takes, he sees the potential of the horizon line above his head or off to the aspect. A whole lot of instances, he finds himself remembering the locations when he frequented himself.
“I bear in mind the really feel and search of the spot, but I usually get my inspiration from tiny areas of the photographs I get for paintings,” explained Swain. “I go again to the photographs and I discover the paintings in the photograph, if that can make sense.”
Right after graduating from Lewis in 1993 with a Bachelor’s in Art, exclusively portray, he went on to total his MFA in painting at Northern Illinois University.
“There’s just a thing about painting and I actually like optics, color, texture and imagery,” reported Swain. “In the extra intricate parts I do, I like the way light-weight hits surfaces, buildings and trees, and just how everyday living has an effect on the way we see factors, so which is a huge portion of what’s in the show much too.”
Everybody in the Lewis neighborhood must get the time to view his get the job done in the gallery for the reason that in the spirit of a liberal arts training and no matter of someone’s job at Lewis, any individual can acquire useful knowledge from viewing anyone else’s perform for a change.
“I believe that they should really arrive to seem at and appreciate what a fellow human staying takes advantage of painting for self-expression,” claimed Swain. “You can add to your selection of experiences that in the long run make you, in my impression, a extra professional and wiser particular person.”
On Nov. 18, from 7-9 p.m., there will be a gallery converse and reception in the Wadsworth Family Gallery that will attribute Swain speaking about his perform. College students who choose to go to it can gain Arts and Ideas credit history.
“The display has impressed me to want to paint extra,” claimed Swain. “I’ve genuinely liked portray and I really like possessing the demonstrate up right now.”
Photo Credit score: Katelyn Leano
