John Tuomisto-Bell, Tempe Center for the Arts, 2014
Mary Hood, Tempe Center for the Arts, 2014
Tempe Center for the Arts Juried Biennial: Copper Review
The Tempe Center for the Arts is a building that could be described as an art sanctuary. Sitting on the edge of Tempe Town Lake, this building boasts not only a combined seating capacity (of both the Studio and Theater) of 800 people, but acts as a public space that can be rented out for special events. Other features of this building include a gas fire pit along the northern infinity pool, a gift shop selling local art, and a gallery supporting local artists (some professors from ASU as well) with both indoor and outdoor viewing areas.
The most recent show in this gallery is the juried copper biennial. The show, running from September 26th to January 31st, also includes a number of salon type panels allowing inquisitive minds to explore the processes of copper working and the ideologies behind the artists themselves. The following are a few events that have and are taking place over the course of the next month.
We look to the center today to see the current copper exhibit and the artists that participate in it. Pieces in this exhibit include copper and bronze sculpture, mixed media, painting, photogravure processes, and glass works. Our very own Mary Hood displays her framed workings of the photogravure variety, a process that uses a copper plate to make photographic etchings. Her pieces resemble the large sculpture in downtown Phoenix entitled “Her secret is patience” by Boston artist Janet Echelman. Soft details and solid backgrounds give her art a smooth look that is easy on the eyes while still keeping me intrigued as to how the pieces were made. The only difference I would have enjoyed is to see these are larger works.
John Tuomisto-Bell is another name some of us may recognize from classes, as he is another ASU faculty member showing work in the gallery. One particular piece that caught my eye entitled “Falling Man” is an exploration of the lengths by which people will go to convince others that our opinions are the truth. Something I feel is particularly relevant in today’s age of the individual identity. The work features small bronze men falling in clusters from top to bottom over the span of about 4 feet. Looking closely reveals slight color in the bodies of each man, all a faded shade of red that seems to meld with the signature bronze color. The only downfall to these pieces was the bright overhead lighting. I say this specifically because I believe the mix of emotions John was aiming for could be perfected with low warm lighting, closer to the pieces to reduce shadows on the wall of each falling body.
With or without the addition of my two personal changes to these art pieces, I believe the show overall is highly successful and should be considered a welcome addition to the community for the next few months. Each artist featured has done a fantastic job creating strong work for this gallery setting, and I look forward to future exhibitions at the Tempe Center for the Arts gallery.
Kyle Dickey
The Tempe Center for the Arts is a building that could be described as an art sanctuary. Sitting on the edge of Tempe Town Lake, this building boasts not only a combined seating capacity (of both the Studio and Theater) of 800 people, but acts as a public space that can be rented out for special events. Other features of this building include a gas fire pit along the northern infinity pool, a gift shop selling local art, and a gallery supporting local artists (some professors from ASU as well) with both indoor and outdoor viewing areas.
The most recent show in this gallery is the juried copper biennial. The show, running from September 26th to January 31st, also includes a number of salon type panels allowing inquisitive minds to explore the processes of copper working and the ideologies behind the artists themselves. The following are a few events that have and are taking place over the course of the next month.
- Nov. 21 - “Analog in/Digital out: Printed Literature vs. Multimedia Reading”
- Dec. 5 - “Replacing Copper with Light
- Dec. 12 - “Social Interaction in Game Spaces”
- Dec. 19 - “Bronze Casting Yesterday and Today”
We look to the center today to see the current copper exhibit and the artists that participate in it. Pieces in this exhibit include copper and bronze sculpture, mixed media, painting, photogravure processes, and glass works. Our very own Mary Hood displays her framed workings of the photogravure variety, a process that uses a copper plate to make photographic etchings. Her pieces resemble the large sculpture in downtown Phoenix entitled “Her secret is patience” by Boston artist Janet Echelman. Soft details and solid backgrounds give her art a smooth look that is easy on the eyes while still keeping me intrigued as to how the pieces were made. The only difference I would have enjoyed is to see these are larger works.
John Tuomisto-Bell is another name some of us may recognize from classes, as he is another ASU faculty member showing work in the gallery. One particular piece that caught my eye entitled “Falling Man” is an exploration of the lengths by which people will go to convince others that our opinions are the truth. Something I feel is particularly relevant in today’s age of the individual identity. The work features small bronze men falling in clusters from top to bottom over the span of about 4 feet. Looking closely reveals slight color in the bodies of each man, all a faded shade of red that seems to meld with the signature bronze color. The only downfall to these pieces was the bright overhead lighting. I say this specifically because I believe the mix of emotions John was aiming for could be perfected with low warm lighting, closer to the pieces to reduce shadows on the wall of each falling body.
With or without the addition of my two personal changes to these art pieces, I believe the show overall is highly successful and should be considered a welcome addition to the community for the next few months. Each artist featured has done a fantastic job creating strong work for this gallery setting, and I look forward to future exhibitions at the Tempe Center for the Arts gallery.
Kyle Dickey
