Invitational show is unforced expression of community’s thoughts
In a seldom seen occurrence, The Art Studio, Inc. revised its exhibition schedule with the introduction of a new theme-based exhibition for March. Artist submissions for “Spontaneous Construction” are accepted March 3-5. The show opens with a free reception, 7-10 p.m. March 7 and will be on display in the main gallery until March 27.
“We had an opening in the schedule to change up the Darkroom Friends show, so we thought we wanted a theme for it,” Greg Busceme, TASI executive director, said. “I wanted to do something to give people something to scratch their heads over so I thought a show with a three-dimensional element.”
Busceme stressed the exhibit is not a 3D show, but the representation of a 3D element.
“An entry could be a hair on a piece of paper,” he said. “It’s a three-dimension object. It could be just that, and what I’m hoping is to get people to think about this, see what they interpret.”
The show is open to all members of the general public to enter no more than two pieces not to exceed four-feet square. However, Busceme will make the final determination during the submission period. For larger works, he added, artists might only be able to submit one piece.
“I like to experiment with human beings in a very nice and gentle way, but this is a way what people would interpret that phrase in how they would deal with it, but they’re still able to make the work in their own way,” Busceme said. “So, it’s not a portrait show or landscape show or anything. It’s an everything show”
Open and theme-based shows are a great way to get people involved in art who may not be familiar with entering exhibits or be professional, working artists.
This kind of show, Busceme said, builds up the importance that art has in a community.
“To me, it’s all about grouping,” he said. “It’s about a collection of shared likes and tastes, but also community involvement.
“Artists generally live in isolation. So any way we can get them to show up together is a really phenomenal thing, and we’ve seen this over the years that people all gathered here are artists, and they’re talking about art and communicating and putting together ideas, and that’s what we and this show continue to provide to our community.”
Busceme said the visibility of exhibitions like “Spontaneous Construction” encourages other groups to form.
“All artist groups have to start somewhere and part of The Studio’s mission is to foster community growth,” he said. “They have their own ideas about how to make art, and we have the ability and resources to help them along.”
Busceme said these open-type shows bring art alive and keep things exciting. He said art should be accessible and presented in such a way, or created in such a way, that everyone that participates as an artist or admirer should be able to take something away from artistic expression.
“I think we just make art exciting for people, that’s what we try to do here,” he said. “We try to take the stiffness out of art and the academic sense of it.
“We try to relate to the common sense we have every day — we work just like the majority of people in our community. We’re a blue-collar community, and we want The Studio to be a place that ties in with that history of who we are here.
“We may make a product differently, but basically we’re all the same, and I think that we are welcoming — and we want ‘Spontaneous Construction’ to be inviting for all who want to participate.”
For more information. call 409-838-5393, or email info@artstudio.org.
Story by Stephan Malick, ISSUE contributor, photos by Andy Coughlan, ISSUE editor