FREEPORT - An exhibition featuring innovative and modern work by artists Julie Ganser and Erin Robert opens to the public Saturday, Jan. 10 at the Freeport Art Museum.
The included pieces by Wisconsin artist Ganser reflect her newest series: Ice Age. She calls them paint-throughs, a friendly name for her complex technique of combined materials that include painted and carved lens placed over found objects, fabrics and holographic papers. The result takes on a brilliant shadow-box effect that is difficult to adequately capture in a photograph. Of her work, Ganser says this series "discusses the 'freezing out' of nature and illustrates the growing preference to view nature through a digital screen rather than to interact with it directly."
Ganser received her master of fine arts degree in painting from the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she has taught beginning and intermediate painting and currently works as Director of Advising, Programs and Outreach for the Art Department. Her work has been exhibited in a number of group and solo shows throughout Wisconsin, Illinois and national venues.
Robert's work expresses a sense of nostalgia and it is clear that she takes a great interest in imagery from the past, particularly the decades of the 30s, 40s and 50s. She is most interested in historical shifts in societal attitudes and behaviors due to external influences, such as advances in technology, and how that in turn influences the direction of marketing and logos. Robert has often switched back and forth between painting and collage or some combination of the two. Regardless of the application of medium, the theme of bringing new life to that which has been forgotten or discarded is the thread linking her works together.
The show runs through Feb. 28. A preview reception for artists and members of the museum will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 9.
The included pieces by Wisconsin artist Ganser reflect her newest series: Ice Age. She calls them paint-throughs, a friendly name for her complex technique of combined materials that include painted and carved lens placed over found objects, fabrics and holographic papers. The result takes on a brilliant shadow-box effect that is difficult to adequately capture in a photograph. Of her work, Ganser says this series "discusses the 'freezing out' of nature and illustrates the growing preference to view nature through a digital screen rather than to interact with it directly."
Ganser received her master of fine arts degree in painting from the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she has taught beginning and intermediate painting and currently works as Director of Advising, Programs and Outreach for the Art Department. Her work has been exhibited in a number of group and solo shows throughout Wisconsin, Illinois and national venues.
Robert's work expresses a sense of nostalgia and it is clear that she takes a great interest in imagery from the past, particularly the decades of the 30s, 40s and 50s. She is most interested in historical shifts in societal attitudes and behaviors due to external influences, such as advances in technology, and how that in turn influences the direction of marketing and logos. Robert has often switched back and forth between painting and collage or some combination of the two. Regardless of the application of medium, the theme of bringing new life to that which has been forgotten or discarded is the thread linking her works together.
The show runs through Feb. 28. A preview reception for artists and members of the museum will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 9.
