Sacramento: inspire * collaborate * create

              There is A LOT going on around campus this week! I'm looking forward to UNITE tonight at the Crocker Art Museum and the Art History Symposium going on at Sac State this Saturday from 1-5pm. Just recently I had the opportunity to visit the current exhibition on view in the Robert Else Gallery at Sac State. It is a collaborative show of artists from Sacramento. The catchy title Sacramento: Inspire * Collaborate * Create, says it all. It was curated by John and Carol Brewer, Marie Dixon and Virginia Chavez; they did an excellent job displaying the work and providing info on each of the artists. One of the featured artists, Kenneth Potter's, sculpture is artwork displayed on the flyer and it definitely caught my attention in the exhibit.
              Brainwashed Man, is a bust that combines a completed half of a man's face and an uncompleted half of a man's face, although when looking at it, it doesn't appear to be uncompleted at all. It just appears as two different styles or an asymmetrical bust. It's not like any sculpture I've seen and it allows you to see inside this sculpture, allowing for the viewer to see what I assume is the inside of this Brainwashed Man's mind. It's a very intriguing piece and I can see why they chose to feature it on their flyer.

Kenneth Potter, Brainwashed Man, cast alloy (lead) welded steal

               Another artist who really grabbed my attention was Margaret Pollan with her water color paintings. I was totally in awe with her painting, Counter Point. It was the first one that really made me stop and stare and even say, I really like this! So naturally I took a picture of it and then stood there for a few more minutes staring at it and reading about her and some of her other works. The colors of the wire are by far my favorite. It does exactly what I would like to do as an artist, keeping the subject realistic, but adding a contemporary touch to it by exploring outside of the object's true color. Margaret Pollan has been a founding member of the Sacramento Fine Arts Center since 1985, serving the board as President, Past President and recently Facility Chairman. Her husband Gene and her both work together making huge contributions while also enjoying making art, which stands out in her painting.

 

Margaret Pollan. On Point, 1990, watercolor.

 

               Another water color artist who caught my attention was Jan Miskulin, an award winning water color artist who believes that the subject matter of art is not nearly as important as important as the feeling towards it. Her paintings Mendocino View and Mendocino Mist are both landscapes, but instead of filling the entire canvas she paints them almost as of they are an abstract splatter of paint. As you look more closely you begin to see a landscape appear. This aspect of her work along with her vibrant colors makes her work another favorite of mine.  

 Jan Miskulin, Mendocino View 42, 2013, watercolor

Jan Miskulin, Mendocino Mist, 1995, watercolor

 

            Overall, I very much so enjoyed seeing the collaborative work of these Sacramento artists, and I have apparently come to the realization that I am a huge fan of watercolor art. I look forward to seeing and experiencing more of the art and art events that will be at or around campus within the next few days and I hope to see some of you there as well!