Surprising finds in this year’s HWD show at Rosewood
Precise mathematical detail, the intricacies of nature, and political discourse are among the themes tackled in the 11th annual HWD Exhibition at Rosewood Gallery.
The subjects and media are as varied as you can imagine, but the visual art form of sculpture binds them together as a cohesive show. This year, 42 artists submitted 117 pieces for consideration. Virginia Kistler, an interdisciplinary artist who works primarily in sculpture and photography, chose 32 works representing 17 artists.
“As juror, my interest was piqued by certain pieces … I was left with a desire to know more and to see more of their work,” said Kistler, of Gahanna, Ohio. “The work in this show, while disparate in concept and bereft of theme, is indeed connected. It is woven together by my curiosity and belief that the work has something to say.”
The five artists she thought had the most say won Juror’s Awards: Ohio artists Connie Campbell of Franklin, Jonah Jacobs of Mentor, Henry Sheets of Ada, and Summer Zickefoose of Canfield. The fifth honoree was Bradley Weyandt of Greensburg, Penn.
Many of you will recognize the name Connie Campbell; she retired as Cultural Arts Superintendent for Kettering in 2011 after 26 years. She is showing two in a series of aluminum, steel cable and wood sculptures, one of which won the award.
“In my work, systematic mathematical ratios from the Golden Section are used in determining unit measurements, allowing the final work to display a complex structure based upon a simple series of line patterns,” said Campbell. “The interior spaces are as important visually as the exteriors.”
Jacobs is also interested in structural elements, but his are found in nature. His mixed media work, “Green Internode #1,” is one of two round, large-scale constructions in the exhibit. He uses fire-sculpted cardboard, cotton swabs, plaster, sand and fabric to create interesting, denselypacked shapes.
“Instead of painting a bush or a tree in a landscape, I like to capture the intricacy of how a tree or bush is constructed. The title alludes to the structures called internodes which are part of the stem,” said Jacobs, who was a bit stunned at being chosen for an award.
Sheets won for “Icon of the Faith, Pious Travel,” an 18-by24-by-9-inch porcelain and wood sculpture. It is a polygon-shaped wooden box opened to display two porcelain sculptures: praying hands holding guns.
Guns are used in the killing of animals, which Zickefoose
IF YOU GO
11th annual HWD Exhibition (Height x Width x Depth) Rosewood Gallery, 2655 Olson Drive, Kettering Continues through Oct. 6 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mon.Thurs.; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday 937-296-0294 | playkettering.org/gallery addresses in her works. “skin, gut and debone” is a 20-by-14-by-3inch clay, wood, screenprint and fabric construction. She hangs a fillet knife on a skirted oval picture of a decorative fish print.
“This reflects a long-standing interest of mine in the contrast between representations of nature, agriculture and the lived experience,” Zickefoose said.
Finally, “Hair Block Pile” by Weyandt was chosen. It is a pile of cinderblocks made from wigs he collected over several months.
“I select an object hailing from an industrial or construction setting to replicate, but negate that object’s primary function by manipulating or replacing the material that permits it to work,” said Weyandt.
Other artists in the show are Michelle Droll, Eric Hamlin, Rebecca Hamlin Green, Doug Harlow, Christine Kern, Alice Kiderman, Brent Oglesbee, Laura Shope, Megan Smallwood, Rachel Smith, Jennifer Whitten and Brian Zimerle.