Exhibition highlights “Constructed” nature of sculptors’ work

Eastern Oregon University’s Nightingale Gallery presents “Constructed,” an invitational exhibition opening Friday, Feb. 6 with a reception from 6-8 p.m. in the gallery in Loso Hall.

“Constructed” presents the work of 11 artists whose methods of construction underscore the varied properties of clay to imbue their work with meaning.

Peter C. Johnson, EOU professor of ceramics, and Cory Peeke, Nightingale Gallery director, are curators for the exhibition.

The sculptors, all with a background in ceramics, embrace an aesthetic that emphasizes the works’ constructed nature. This is done in several ways by highlighting a form’s structure and process of creation, as well as through an employed aesthetic that emphasizes its manufactured or artificial nature.

In many cases the work may be constructing an alternative reality, examining artificial constructs, or emphasizing the process of construction as metaphor. In all cases, the constructed nature of the work fuels the meaning drawn from the objects.

Participating artists include Dylan J. Beck, of Portland, Zimra Beiner, of Lancaster, Pa., Andrew Casto, of Manhattan, Kan., Chad Curtis, of Glenside, Pa., Christopher Dufala, of Helena, Mont., Lauren Gallaspy, of Salt lake City, Utah., David Katz, of Bennington, Vt., Ryan Labar, of Enterprise, Linda Lopez, of Fayetteville, Ark., Mathew McConnell of Fayetteville, Ark., and Matt Ziemke, of Kearney, Neb.

While on campus to position his site-specific installation for the exhibit, Katz will present a public talk about his work at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 4 in Huber Auditorium in Badgley Hall. The presentation is free and open to the public.

“All of these artists are linked by their thoughtful engagement of process and material. In each case, the construction method emphasizes an attribute of the clay, which is central in supporting and expanding the conceptual considerations behind their works,” Johnson said. “This connection between material, process and idea is central to the discussion of contemporary sculpture and ties directly to the strength of the work in this exhibition.”

Nightingale Gallery has produced a full-color catalog to accompany the exhibition with funding provided by the EOU Foundation. The catalog includes an essay by Johnson and images of each of the artists’ work. Catalogs will be available at the gallery for the duration of the show.  A PDF version of the document can be found here: Constructed Catalog

See “Constructed” through Friday, Feb. 27. Gallery hours are 12-4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

For more information visit www.eou.edu/art or follow the gallery on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NightingaleGallery.