The Shorthorn - Designers' perception, peering into diverse art

HOME

ENTERTAINMENT

Designers' perception, peering into diverse art

Written by By Sara Pintilie, The Shorthorn staff

Monday, 01 February 2010 04:16 PM

Visual communication associate professor Robert Grame stands in front of his projected video, Typographic Modularity, in a joint show with visual communication professor Robert Hower named Prime Perception. Grame, whose work focuses on typography and design, will discuss his work Feb. 24 at 12:30 p.m. in the Fine Arts Building Auditorium. (The Shorthorn: Rasy Ran)

Robert Hower, Art and Art History chair, stands in a specific spot near the reception desk, looking at another wall in The Gallery at UTA.

“This is the only place where you can see both sides,” he said.

Once standing in the chosen place, it becomes apparent. Six poles pierced through a thick wall — one of the many illusions in Hower’s exhibit.

The Art and Art History Department gives new faculty the chance to show off their work in the gallery, located across from the Einstein Bros. Bagels in the Fine Arts Building.

It gives them a chance to show students what they’re proud of and where their talents lies.

Though Hower and Robert Grame, visual communication associate professor, worked in the Art and Art History Department for five and three years respectively, it’s their turn to display pieces that make them proud.

The Prime Perception exhibit is open until March 6.

Hower focuses on illusions of space with 3-D and lenticular, lens-shaped pieces. Grame displays a comprehensive look of graphic design.

Prime Perception exhibit

When: Open now. Ends March 6
Where: The Gallery at UTA
Price: Free

“It’s a nice match up,” curator Benito Huerta said.

Hower explained his pieces in detail.

“I usually work on several concepts simultaneously,” Hower said. “In this exhibition, I have created site-specific temporary installations, digital prints, lenticular lens presentations and video projections.”

His lenticular pieces, such as “Portal” and “Mantel Space”, plays with perception and depth.

“It’s like watching a 3-D movie,” Huerta said. “You don’t know if it is coming out or 2-D.”

The image visitors see is an interpretation of lines, Hower said. It’s not a static image.

One of his 3-D pieces, “Shield,” gives the illusion of poles going through a thick gallery wall and another, “Pierce-Brace,” can be viewed in two ways, Hower said. It can be perceived either in a positive light, like the wall is being held up and supported, or negatively reflected by the poles piercing through the wall.

Robert Hower talks about his display at the reception Friday night in the Gallery at UTA. (The Shorthorn: Will LaVoncher)

“My 3-D work is carefully lit to, in effect, paint with light,” he said. “It enhances the materials that are used to create the work and suggests illusions due to the use of intensity, light and shadow.”

He said he wants to have students question the experience, spend some time evaluating the space and understanding the meditative quality of each work.

“The exhibit concepts are conveyed through the use of form, light, space and the creation of optical illusions,” he said about this body of work.

Grame has a very different collection in the gallery. He has a background in graphic design and looks at core components and the layout of those components.

“I use these building blocks to construct something meaningful,” he said.

Painting senior Francisco Moreno said he has gone to The Gallery at UTA receptions, like the one last Friday, since he has been at the university.

“I get to talk to the professor who you don’t always get to take or study under,” Moreno said.

He said he enjoyed Hower’s digital prints and Grame’s conceptual idea of visual design.

“Art is problem solving,” Moreno said. “Instead of solving a conceptual problem, he’s solving a practical one.”

Interior Design seniors, Erica Dugdale and Alejandro Cardenas examine the new art being displayed in the Gallery at UTA Monday afternoon. (The Shorthorn: Will LaVoncher)

Grame’s pieces include two works for clients, the Prairie Gateway Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects and the College of Liberal Arts, and more experimental work, such as an animation piece.

“It has 13 different types of modules,” Grame said. “13 colors. 13 spaces. It’s looping through that experience.”

He slightly modifies the animation piece weekly.

“The idea of visual arts are becoming more important,” Huerta said. “You look at technology, they have become more visual. Art is an older version of visual stimuli.”

Prime Perception runs until March 6. Though Hower already had his gallery talk, Grame’s will be Feb. 24.

“Art,” Moreno said. “It’s not something that is so defined.”

Views: 632 | E-mail

Be first to comment this article

Only registered users can write comments.
Please login or register.

Last Updated ( Monday, 01 February 2010 04:57 PM )

< Prev		Next >

[ Back ]

Prime Perception exhibit

Social Media