APRIL 26 - JUNE 7, 2008
VOLUNTEER PREVIEW: Friday, April 25, 4-5pm
FIRST SATURDAY RECEPTIONS:
Saturday, May 3, 5-8pm
PERFORMANCE following First Saturday Reception at 8pm of Showtime Belly Dancers and Scientific Maps
Closing Reception: Saturday, June 7, 5-8pm
DISCUSSION WITH THE ARTISTS:
Thursday, May 15, 7pm
AMERICAN BLISS
features two artists whose work reveals distinct viewpoints about
exploration and possiblity, inherent American traits. Whether going car
camping or coveting a firearm, there are specific traditions, mores and
expectations that define American indentity. Both artists use mixed
materials in their artistic voyage; each offers an investigation from
personal histories to political possibilities.
KEN RAGSDALE, of Albany has created a series of images entitles The Corps
of Discovery II: Lewis and Clark Go Car Camping based on early camping
memories. As a child, Ken camped near or on the sites of Lewis and
Clark. Of the parallels between this American history and his personal
history he states: "I approach my work, even as I did as a child, in
the spirit of an explorer. My job then and now has been to search in
and document my world, and then to make it enticing and accessible. It
was mostly physical then, but more psychological now. The similarities
between the journeys of the Corps of Discovery and the
exploration of my memories of those years were the inspiration for this
show. I have focused on bringing (at least) some small part of their methodology into these images."
MICHAEL MILLSPAUGH, of Schenectady, utilizes military imagery of
rifles, army gerar, and vintage trucks to suggest new possibilities in
the usage of these American icons. From his conception of rifles that
no longer use bullets but scatter flower seeds to military patches
touting the 'US ART FORCE', Millspaugh questions what we could do with
our world if we took a fresh look at our military history and current
usage. Millspaugh suggests a future of machines that build and plant,
rather than destroy and kill. From his 'Bird Bunkers' to his 'Flatbed
Meadow Maker' series, Millspaugh shows us hope for a new American
future, in the truly American tradition of governmental critique. Of
his work, he states "I think it is important to seek out possibility
and remain open to it. In this way we can create possibility where
there was none - take what we have, where have been, what we don't
have, where we'd like to go - mix it up and make something out of it."
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Guests
are welcome to visit The Arts Center Gallery from 9am-5pm Monday
through Friday, and Saturday from 11am-5pm. Local, regional, and
nationally-known artists' work is displayed in our 2,000-square-foot
gallery. Receptions are held on the 1st Saturday of each month, from
5-8 pm, and are free and open to the public. Visitors are encouraged to
browse through our Gallery Shop, featuring fine art works by over fifty
of our member artists. For more information, contact the Exhibitions Coordinator.
FOR A PREVIEW OF OUR NEXT EXHIBITION CLICK HERE