Four ecologically conscious artists give the class of “wood-work” a new meaning at the “Ingrained” exhibit at the Evanston Art Center.
“That’s tremendous,” art center visitor Bob Habermann raved of artist Barbara Cooper’s “Brace” sculpture — a seven-foot sculpture of a branching tree trunk wrapped around a ragged stump. “How do you start building that thing?” he asked.
The art center, 2603 Sheridan Road, is temporarily home to several of Cooper’s towering tree sculptures, each built “laboriously” by layering countless tiny wood chips. Each tree sculpture costs $11,000 — a price Cooper quotes without apology.
The eclectic “Ingrained” exhibit — including Cooper’s sculptures, other artists’ paintings, and mixed-media pieces — will be displayed through Nov. 3.
The collection, in part, aims to address society’s inability to experience the outdoors without simulation or man-made interferences, according to art center curator John Brunetti.
“Nature is too often experienced through the window of an SUV or from beneath layers of clothing that shut out wind and cold”, Brunetti wrote in an letter that accompanies the exhibit.
“The emerging and established artists included in ‘Ingrained’ all share the desire and ability to use wood to make works that embrace — and point out — these unnatural transformations by today’s society,” he wrote.
Cooper’s work emphasizes, piece-by-piece, incremental changes in nature.
The artwork by David Lefkowitz, of St. Paul, Minn., portrays realistic cross-sections of wood, showing the effort required to recreate nature.
Dann Witczak contrasts exotic woods with hues and textures painted onto linen in a form of abstract art.
To prompt discussion John Fraser uses word play in his titles and integrates the piece with its surroundings.
In artwork titled “Double Negative Positive,” three raised wood pieces — the “positive” image — use the white wall behind them, while the “negative” image forms two plus symbols in the space between them.
“The work doesn’t have anything outside of itself to proclaim,” Fraser said. “There’s no political agenda, nothing heavily metaphoric. My primary intent is for (the pieces) to be seen.”
The whole exhibit is sparsely arranged, set among white walls, simple flooring and plenty of sunlight. Each piece establishes its own identity while incorporating its surroundings.
The art is “very clever, very joking. Some (are) pretty pointed in their criticism,” said Brett Neiman, the art center’s public relations coordinator. “The craftsmanship of the work is unbelievable and something to be admired.”
Witczak’s “Reflection” — a canvas that uses padnak wood, linen, and oil — prompted Debra Favre of Wilmette to ponder the artist’s choice of blue, purple, and pink against dark wood.
“It evokes wood, but it’s a complete reversal of color,” Favre said. “These are the colors we see, but other animals see different colors. Why should we have just one filter?”
For more information about “Ingrained” or future exhibits, contact the Evanston Art Center at 847-475-5300 or go to www.evanstonartscenter.org.
