Art Event 3 of 3

Sheppard Contemporary
(A) Muse
11/26/2013 - 1/26/2014
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Robert Morrison
Morrison's work isn't titled. It's made up of 10 pieces of installation / sculpture work - wax heads cast in bronze, which then act as some sort of lid for their corresponding bronze jar like bottoms. Though the heads are all different, the jar like bottoms are the same; and all are placed upon square slabs that are balanced on 4 tall skinny wooden legs that bring the sculptures to about chest height. The whole effect appears to be really tall tables meant for only one cup - or small head sculpture.

According to Morrison however, these pieces are NOT art. Instead, they are work from the late 90's where he was in a period of "quitting art" / working "mindlessly." Though Morrison admits he was possibly "playing" during this period, he also point out that it was not "fun." He is also adamant that any concept / meaning / theme behind the work came after the works completion.

None of this lack of direction is apparent whilst just looking at Morrison's work. Without reading the artist statement, the 10 pieces are obviously tied together, appearing very purposeful. I appreciate Morrison's abrupt honesty however. I am guilty of starting projects with no direction (at least conscious), only to discover my concept at the completion of the project (or in unfortunate cases discover weak concepts). Though it may not be the best method of making art, I disagree with Morrison that his work isn't art. Unplanned creations have just as much potential to be great as planned creations do - the only difference is there's a little less control and a little more mystery.

Jeffrey Erickson
Erickson's work is comprised of 6 photos, displayed on 3 dimensional canvases with a aluminum like appearance (the reason I specifically say aluminum is because I've had some automotive photography engraved into aluminum by aluminize.com, and the prints I've received  appeared very similar to Erickson's). The title of the series is "There's a Certain Shade of Light" (a reference to the Emily Dickinson poem), and is part of larger body of work called "Landscape of Absence."

I try not to be to negative when looking at art in galleries. The art wouldn't be in a gallery if it was no good right? More than likely I just don't like the work. However, Erickson's work is one of the gallery works I don't like. Three of his six photos are sorely underexposed, which is fine if you have a reason for underexposing them, however none are apparent to me. Furthermore, in absence of his artist statement (which is very moving as the series is in response to the death of his first born child), his photographs are simply very weak. 

Michael Sarich
Sarich's work is composed of a painted, wood, box filled with fake red and white flowers. Four large, painted, wood, petal-like structures protrude from each of cube's sides, and the whole thing is all in stark red, white, and black (with the exception of the inside of the box which is painted blue, and the stems of the fake flowers which are green).

In his artist statement Sarich focuses on the importance of wood in his piece, and the inspiration he finds from other artists who also work with wood. To me, Sarich's piece is somewhat underwhelming and lacking in meaning. However, it was the only piece I walked away from still not quite understanding what the artist was trying to say - so perhaps if I had better understood the concept I'd enjoy the piece a bit more.

Tamara Scronce
Scronce's body of work is made up of both "images and objects." Titled "Object of My Affection," the whole concept began with Scronce manipulating a grainy black & white photo of Joseph Beuys - placing herself within the image so that while he faces sternly to camera, she is profile (to camera left) licking his cheek. She claims the entire series is  in part an "overtly romantic gesture," and in part her yearning for a "mentor."

I am very fond of the two images present in her work, and somewhat ambivalent to the objects in her series. They seem weak in comparison to the images with the exception of her chair "object," which I very much enjoy. The chair's seat is lined with rows of  red roses, the chair itself worn and waiting.