Experimentalart
opposes traditional art, youth meets longevity and simplicity confronts
complexity in a new exhibition opening March 14 at the Tory Folliard
Gallery. It includes “Ink Paintings” by Boris Ostrerov, winner of the
thirdannual Tory Folliard Gallery Project.
Initiated by the
gallery, this project provides an opportunity for an advanced-painting
student at the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design (MIAD) or the
UW-Milwaukee’s Peck School of the Arts to exhibit undergraduate
artwork. The project also allows emerging artists to experience the
business side of art from the gallery’s perspective, part of Folliard’s
desire to demonstrate how professional artists are able to survive in a
competitive economic environment.
The faculty of the chosen
college hand-picks five to nine finalists for review. Before
determining a winner, Folliard and manager Nicole K. Reid interview and
visit all of the finalists at their studios, searching for unique
artistic statements along with a cohesive body of artwork. This year
the gallery selected the sophisticated and innovative paintings of MIAD
senior Ostrerov.
Ostrerov, born in the Soviet Union, came to
America with his family in 1992. He credits his grandmother for
inspiring his ambitions. Over the last year he developed large-scale
India ink pieces he describes as “serendipitous balances between chance
and
calculated precision.” By pouring ebony liquid into curled pieces of
white paper, the resulting paintings represent a spontaneous expression
of art. Sparse and stark, these images recall the simplified and
monochromatic visions of Paul Klee. Ostrerov says the project award
reaffirms the direction of his art.
“As an artist, you work in
isolation, but a show is releasing the work to the public for
understanding,” he says. “When you show your work, you come into
existence as an artist.” From the unknown to the well known, “Anne
Miotke: Stilllifes from the Pabst Mansion” displays the newest and best
work of this Milwaukee artist. Miotke’s 15 paintings were produced from
photographs collected at the Pabst Mansion, often in rooms closed to
the public. Her richly colored and layered still-lifes showcase her
precise mastery of light, shadow and detail.
These exquisite
watercolors include Pabst Mansion: Dining Room Buffet with Tureen, a
serene and complicated composition that highlights a gold-gilded soup
tureen, teacup and Battenberg lace napkin against the curve of a Rococo
sideboard.
Miotke’s depiction of dimension and ornate elegance
with every object develops the tactile qualities in the picture,
creating a breathtaking snapshot of this historic interior. By
displaying these same qualities in a humble setting, The Pabst Mansion:
Kitchen Preparations mixes Miotke’s proficiency with the pure beauty of
watercolor.
Along with those works, another artist, Mark
Horton, offers his oils on linen in “Cityscapes.” You can contemplate
the divergent styles of these emerging and established artists at an
artists’ reception on March 15, from 1 to 3 p.m.
*/?>
