THE STRAWN FAMILY | 11/19/22 – 03/4/23
The Strawn Family exhibit showcases work from an iconic and ground-breaking family of artists. The family recently donated a large collection of Melvin’s digital work and solar etchings.
Melvin Strawn (1929-2020) was a painter and a pioneer of digital art when the idea of using computers as an art medium was beginning. He explored digital fine art and ink jet printing in a time before graphics programs; writing code to create abstract images. Whatever the subject matter, the iconography of a work, his challenge was to make the painting itself, even if abstract, have “presence” and a unique expressive quality and identity. He looked for rapid and complex ways of composing and transforming the qualities of images. You can find more of Melvin Strawn’s artwork online at www.melstrawn.com
Bernice Strawn’s work is influenced by her studies in early Christian art history and Romanesque architecture. She likes to build things and solve structural problems with her materials, feeling a sense of freedom as she arranges pieces of wood, metal or stone on the floor of her studio. She frequently recycles old wood, which shows the scars of its history, simplicity of shape, individual gestures and refined colors. Her process involves spending quite a lot of time applying and removing acrylic until it seems to be part of the wood.
Ben Strawn uses lines to indicate direction, distance and time, forming navigational maps to convey the extra-dimensional spaces we may inhabit; maps of consciousness, maps of feeling states. The mapping of feeling states is directly imbedded in the three-dimensional form, mark making, color relationships and the perception of the viewer. Ben is represented by Walker Fine Art Gallery in Denver, Colorado (walkerfineart.com).
Daniel Strawn’s journey as an artist began with being born into an artist family. Colorful abstract images and encouragement to explore creativity was the food for his own artistic development. During art school, he worked in a furniture repair and woodworking studio, which led to a career in fine antique restoration work. After meeting Cabell Childress, a Denver architect, he began work as a custom furniture design and manufacturer. He has focused drawing for the last few years due to major health issues. He continues the practice of meditation and philosophy of the creative process as a modality of being human.
EXHIBITION DETAILS
DATE
November 19, 2022 to March 4, 2023
COST
- Members: Free
- Adults: $10.00
- Children: $8.00
- Military & Seniors 65+: $8.00
OTHER INFO
Francis King Gallery. Located on the 2nd floor of the Helen Thatcher White Galleries building.