UCA’s Baum Gallery of Fine Art announces four upcoming shows: “Swishbone: New Paintings by Julie Evans,” “Under the Influence: New Ceramic Work by Curt LaCross,” “Alternating Currents: A Mixed Media Art Installation by Mario Marzan,” and “Before and After: An Exploration of the Art Conservation Process” opening Thursday, Jan. 17 and on display through Sunday, Feb. 24.
A public reception for the exhibitions will be from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 17.
This set of exhibitions includes solo shows by three different artists, each working in a different medium, plus an exhibition focused on the field of art conservation.
“Swishbone: New Paintings by Julie Evans” is a solo exhibition showcasing the recent paintings on Mylar by the New York City native. These paintings are characterized by organic forms that swish and swirl with color and texture. Evans’s paintings float freely, undefined by frames, and evoke a sense of whimsy and femininity.
• Julie Evans will give a gallery talk at 4:30 p.m., Room 143 of McCastlan Lecture Hall.
before the exhibition reception.
“Under the Influence: New Ceramic Work by Curt LaCross” is also a solo exhibition featuring the artist’s most recent large-scale ceramic busts. The Michigan artist presents individuals hyper-realistically by exposing every pore, mutation and defect. The highly expressive gestures created by LaCross in his work provide an unexpected view of the human form.
• Curt LaCross will give a public lecture at 5:30 p.m., Jan.17 in McCastlain Lecture Hall, room 143.
“Alternating Currents: A Mixed Media Art Installation by Mario Marzan,” also a solo show, will feature mixed media, 3-D installations and drawings by the Puerto Rican artist. Marzan uses different techniques to create intricate and imaginative “miniature worlds” full of vibrant color and devoid of gravity.
• Mario Marzan will give a public lecture on Jan. 15, at 5:30 p.m. in McCastlain Lecture Hall, room 143.
“Before and After: An Exploration of the Art Conservation Process” is an exhibition aiming to illustrate conservation techniques practiced in museums and galleries throughout the world. Art conservation is integral to the preservation of fine works of art. This exhibit will feature a recently restored painting by Arkansas artist, Louis Freund, part of UCA’s permanent art collection. It will be displayed adjoining “un-restored” paintings from the same series. The Smithsonian Museum of American Art in Washington D.C. has also lent images of great works of art both before and after their conservation as examples of different techniques and processes as well as to show the dramatic results of the art conservation process.
• Wendel Norton of Norton Arts, Inc., a respected fine art conservation company based in Little Rock, Northwest Arkansas and San Francisco, will give a public lecture on art conservation on Thursday, Jan. 24 at 1:40 p.m. in McCastlain Lecture Hall, room 143.
“We are thrilled to be presenting the work of three talented and nationally-known artists, each creating distinctive and engaging work in a different medium,” said Baum Director Barclay McConnell, “and I suspect that visitors will be impressed by the “before and after” images in the art conservation exhibition, especially those from the Smithsonian, which are so dramatically different after restoration.”
The Baum Gallery’s hours of operation are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday 1-5 p.m. Entry to the exhibition is free.
WELCOME TO THE BAUM
The Baum will be open for the following exhibition-related public events:
• Lecture by Mario Marzan: Tuesday, Jan. 15, 5:30 p.m., McCastlain Hall 143
• Gallery Talk with Julie Evans: Thursday, Jan. 17, 4:30 p.m., Baum Gallery
• Lecture by Curt LaCross: Thursday, Jan. 17, 5:30 p.m., McCastlain Hall 143
• Art Conservation by Wendel Norton: Thursday, Jan. 24, 1:40 p.m., McCastlain Hall 143
• Lecture by Julie Evans: Tuesday, February 26, 5:30 p.m., McCastlain Hall 143
For more information on the Baum, visit uca.edu/art/baum or contact McConnell at 450-5792 or barclaym@uca.edu.