Published: October 15, 2009 04:58 pm         

Rose showcasing works by 24 Valley artists

TERRE HAUTE — The results of the many inspirations behind some of the Wabash Valley’s most creative artists are being displayed this fall in one of the largest exhibitions ever featured at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.

A special fall exhibition by Terre Haute’s Halcyon Contemporary Art Gallery spotlights more than 100 paintings, drawings and photographs by 24 area artists. The artwork covers the top two hallways in the college’s main classroom building, Moench Hall. The exhibition is free and open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, and all of the works are available for purchase.

Artists represented are Karen Bekkering, Rod Bradfield, Christy Brinkman, Philip Dees, David H. Erickson, John Gardner, Edward Gillum, Peggy Hines, Ricardo Hutchins, Martha Kaplan, Mary Kramer, Fran Lattanzio, Rebecca Lynch, Alexandra McNichols, Diane Mann, Nancy Nichols, Petra Nyendick, Evie Ogborn, Simon Peterson, Stephanie Standish, Mike Swagerle, Michael Tingley, Susan Tingley and Crystal Vicars-Pugh.

Many of these artists are planning to attend an exhibition opening reception from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday in Moench Hall.

“The many professional artists who have contributed their works to this exhibition demonstrate the high level of artistry currently available in the greater Terre Haute area,” stated Steve Letsinger, Rose-Hulman’s coordinator of arts programming and art curator. “The wide range of subjects and styles featured in the exhibition, from lyrical to profound to humorous, offer something for everyone to enjoy.”

The ethnic diversity of Terre Haute is featured in McNichols’ photographic sculptures, a concept in which black and white photographs are printed on the flat surface of natural stones (onyx, scrabo and marble) using a liquid photographic emulsion hand applied in the dark room. The unique textures, colors and patterns of each stone intermingle with the image to give meaning to personal roots and boundaries.

“Each stone tells a story that the observer has to discover,” McNichols states. “Each person has been petrified in time and motion as a sculpture. And in some cases, as with the translucent green onyx, the stones can also be displayed against the light and viewed like stained glass.”

Hines used scriptural text as a framing device as she interweaves art and life to create watercolor paintings with substance in the exhibition.

Gardner, an associate professor of Spanish at Rose-Hulman, shares his discoveries of life’s novelties in six photographs from his “Look What I See” collection. He carries a camera while walking throughout Terre Haute, looking for inspiration in windows, marks in the road, the shape of the shadows and other offerings.

Other artworks featured in the exhibit include Petra Nyendick’s exploration of patterns, symbols and shapes in his geometric “Off the Grid Series”; Mike Swagerle’s use of gags, puns and visually interesting graphics in such prints as “Abe Winkin” and “Ponzi”; Philip Dees’ three-dimensional drawings which strive to soar past the mundane; Susan Tingley’s paintings that capture natural, spontaneous scenes of the randomness moments of a person’s life; Christy Brinkman’s pencil and charcoal drawings on paper of surreal shapes that interpret the comparison of positive to negative space and lightness to darkness; and four photographs from Ricardo Hutchins’ series that examines Gulf Coast areas damaged by Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Ike.

The Rose-Hulman exhibition reflects current issues and practices in the visual arts and enhances the cultural enrichment of the Wabash Valley. Guided tours can be arranged by calling (812) 877-8452.