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Wednesday • February 25, 1998
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ouston artist presents BUd er an dSnl een ex liibit at V isual Arts Gallerij
By Travis Irby
Staff writer
Ihe MSC Visual Arts Commit
tee is showcasing the works
of an artist with a unique or-
i-izational perspective,
louston-based artist William
jr’s Bladder and Spleen exhibit
|n display in the MSC Visual
i Gallery until March 20.
he artist uses representations
bman organs done in water-
arand textures to create both
t-dimensional and three-di-
isional works of art.
Farr said the work grew out of
lece done for a series in 1988.
painted a piece using hu-
i organs as a metaphor about
[psyche,” he said, "and out of
tt, the series came about.”
fair said there was apprehen-
i about the subject matter.
[The dealer didn’t want to
|w the piece at first, but I
fought for it,” he said. “It turns
out that it generated a lot of
comments.”
To achieve the unusual tex
ture and color effects for his
work, Farr utilizes layers of wa-
tercolors and paper.
He uses museum board as his
palette. Farr said the high-quality
cardboard is easily shaped when
wet, allowing him to mold the pa
per to his liking.
"I enjoy the shaping of the mu
seum board, almost as much as
the painting,” Farr said. “They in
spire similar feelings.”
For the actual painting he uses
gauche, an opaque water color, to
create thicker layers of color.
Although human organs are
the centerpiece of Farr’s collec
tion, he also finds inspirations
not in the painted color, but the
printed word.
Farr said paintings inspired by
the poets Emily Dickinson and
William Butler Yeats indicate his
influences, although internal, are
not always visceral.
“Poetry is a big influence on
my work,” Farr said. “I am cur
rently working on a series of
paintings inspired by William
Blake’s ‘Proverbs From Hell.’”
Bladder and Spleen includes
some of the artist’s 3-D work.
The boxes are made in the
same manner as the paintings
but contain an object or objects
designed to make a sound or add
visual impact to the piece.
“The boxes are some of the
more popular pieces I’ve done,”
Farr said.
Farr also said although his
biggest influence is surrealism, he
is looking to expand his work.
“I am getting away from surre
alism a little bit, not as a rejection
of it, but as growth,” Farr said.
Surrealism runs deep through
Bladder and Spleen in conjunc-
tion with the artist’s personality.
Farr said the work was person
al and he did not know what kind
of response art connoisseurs
would give it.
“I did it for me, but people
have really seemed to notice it
and it has gotten them talking,”
Farr said.
Lalaine Little, coordinator of
marketing and gallery programs,
said the Farr exhibit was chosen
out of a number artists wanting to
get their work shown.
“We do about eight exhibits a
year, one of which is the Student
Art Fest, and we have 60 to 100
artists trying to get their work ex
hibited,” Little said.
Little said Farr’s work had to do
one thing to be chosen by the Vi
sual Arts Committee.
“The works were selected
based on visual impact, (whether
it] moves students,” Little said. “If
it didn’t, it wouldn’t be chosen.”
-
* -
: : ; '9
Bilil
//
Consumption"
is just one of
many works by
Texas artist
William Farr.
"Consumption"
was created by
Farr in 1995,
made of
museum board
and watercolors.
The Art o£ Appreciation
idents should take time out of busy schedules to acquire knowledge concerning the finer things in life
lues
moss
April
Towery
Staff writer
he best place in town
to study is not a coffee
house, it is not a dorm
room and it is certainly not
the library. The quietest
place around is anywhere an
art exhibit is displayed.
Students continue to shy
away from the numerous art
galleries in the Brazos Valley.
Many probably subcon
sciously associate art with
enrichment and education
nd are afraid that if they stop by a gallery, they
in J light be tested over the material displayed,
erf tudents have a problem increasing their
Inowledge just because they want to. They fig-
ionl re, if they are learning something, they ought
)be getting credit for it.
Students have been conditioned over the
ears that knowledge is something they have to
ne(i#orkfor, something they have to sacrifice for.
lot so. Knowledge can actually be beneficial, no
trings attached. Examining an art exhibit can
lake a student feel better about him or herself.
Students, take advantage of what this area
is to offer. J. Wayne Stark Galleries in the MSC
ionsi* displaying works of Henry Moore and
lorman Rockwell until March 8. Stop by the
allery between classes and see what it has to
ffer. You might actually enjoy yourself.
ssifflf
[ion#
aeon
Circk
idem
andcc
Another exhibit worth taking a look at is the
William Farr exhibit, put on by the MSC Visual
Arts committee, running from Feb. 9 to March 20
In addition, downtown Bryan offers Benjamin
Knox and Red Brick Galleries, among others.
Another myth about art is that it is not ac
tually entertaining. It does not sing or make
students laugh. Or does it? When one can
truly appreciate art, he or she will find
that it can trigger every emotion in his or
her being. It can be as fun
ny as a movie, as uplifting
as a Broadway play or as
fulfilling as a good book.
And art is the ultimate
cheap date. Well, un
less a date ex
pects you to
buy him or
her a paint
ing. A cou
ple can
browse
around a
gallery
and enjoy
the beauty
of art with
out having to
buy tickets or
snacks.
£
Remember in high school how the academic
letter jackets looked just a little different from the
athletic ones? Visiting the art
gallery may be the same kind of
curse. Students are
still so shallow that
they do not want oth
ers to think that they
are educated.
Well, times are
changing. The
dumb jock appears
somewhat less at
tractive than the guy
with the bow tie who
wins the science fair
every year.
And it is OK to
look at the pretty art
— even if nothing is
known about the ex
hibit in question.
Being labeled the
smart kid or the
nerd is not a bad
thing. In fact, the
nerd is looking
pretty popular these
days. Besides, the only way
to learn about art is by diving
in head-first, and once the knowl
edge is gained, it can help a student sound
smart at parties.
The people who spend their time and mon
ey keeping up the local galleries could use a lit
tle feedback. They put energy into this passion
of theirs each day, and it must be somewhat re
warding to see a few students stop by every
now and then.
Back in the good old days, students used to
read books and expand their minds for plea
sure. Now, every free minute of time is used to
sit around and watch “Jerry Springer,” smoke
cigarettes or drink alcohol — what a waste.
Students might actually feel better about
themselves if they go out and do something
different, something creative, something to
“broaden their horizons.”
After leaving an art gallery, a student will
probably have the kind of feeling an individual
has after finishing a thick novel or completing
a test he or she was well-prepared for.
Stopping by an art gallery is almost like doing a
good deed. In essence, it makes a student feel bet
ter about him or herself.
Art is the entertainment of the future. And it is
a lot more fulfilling than “Jerry Springer” outtakes.
So make mom proud and stop by an art ex
hibit sometime. The knowledge gained from
the experience might be worth your while.
April Towery is a junior journalism major.
chuif
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