Natural disasters inspire monumental sculptures in exhibition

The First Art Newspaper on the Net    Established in 1996 Friday, March 29, 2024


Natural disasters inspire monumental sculptures in exhibition
Richard Friedberg, “Oil Fire,” 2014, aluminum, 132 x 125 x 216 in. (11 x 10 .4 x 18 ft.), courtesy of the artist, photograph by Richard Walker.



UTICA, NY.- Monumental sculptures representing natural disasters caused by human activity create a forceful presence in the exhibition, “Terrible Beauty: Richard Friedberg Sculpture,” on view February 27 through May 30 in the Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute Museum of Art.

“Terrible Beauty” serves as a showcase for Oneonta-based sculptor Richard Friedberg’s impressive body of work created during the past decade. Friedberg has been compelled by such horrific events as the BP Deepwater Horizon wellhead blowout at Macondo Prospect in the Gulf of Mexico and the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident and tsunami. These specific events, in Friedberg’s hands and imagination, are transformed into sublime works reminiscent of terrible explosions, tidal waves, and smoke. The sculptures, made with aluminum mesh screening, a material that proves appropriately malleable for his subject, are also graceful, at times even elegant, and are thoughtfully considered so as to be fully three-dimensional and demanding of attention and respect.

Munson-Williams Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art Mary Murray said as a person moves around Friedberg’s sculpture, its component parts come together, then change shape. “The pieces are specific objects, but they also have multiple points of view, and the screening that the artist uses for the sculptures works beautifully for this purpose. It is malleable, easily manipulated to suggest powerful but fleeting phenomena such as explosions or ocean waves that will transform again momentarily,” she added. “Light filters through the various layers of screening and that flickering sensation contributes to the eye’s perception of changeability."

Richard Friedberg has had a distinguished career in contemporary sculpture. After receiving his MFA from Yale University, he moved to New York City and was invited to exhibit his work at notable galleries including Tibor de Nagy, Fischbach, and OK Harris, as well as at the 1973 Whitney Biennial and the Storm King Art Center. Friedberg was commissioned to create public sculptures for the Hartsfield International Airport, Atlanta, and Prudential in Jacksonville, and is the recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts Individual Artist Grant.

“Terrible Beauty” marks the most recent moment in a near-50-year history for Friedberg in Utica. In 1974, he was the first artist to be invited to Sculpture Space, Inc., a downtown artists’ residency program, before the studio had been formally founded. From its inception, Sculpture Space has been linked with and has been an important partner to Munson-Williams. The Museum has hosted three Sculpture Space anniversary exhibitions since 1986, and has provided the venue, informally, for numerous artists’ pop-up shows or performances. Terrible Beauty is another milestone in this visual arts partnership, which has served Central New York communities for 45 years.










Today's News

February 28, 2021

With galleries closed, art dealers rethink their real estate needs

Dallas Museum of Art presents five exquisite works by Frida Kahlo

Roman chariot unearthed 'almost intact' near Pompeii

Spain removes last statue of dictator Franco

'Electrifying Design: A Century of Lighting' debuts at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

La Criée centre for contemporary art exhibits a selection of recent works by Jockum Nordström

Major exhibition of works by pioneering woman artist opens at the Art Gallery of South Australia

Vito Schnabel inaugurates second New York City exhibition space with works by Robert Nava

Raymond Cauchetier, whose camera caught the New Wave, dies at 101

New partnership agreed between the National Gallery and Hugh Lane Gallery

Vincent Namatjira unveils his largest commission at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia

Phoenix Art Museum to diversify contemporary art collection

Scents of time: Belgrade's last craft perfumery

Charlotte Gainsbourg says Serge would struggle with today's censorship

Yuval Waldman, bridge-building violinist, is dead at 74

Meet the songwriters behind the 'Wandavision' hit 'Agatha All Along'

Julie Delpy, science-fiction filmmaker? It's true

Broadway is dark. London is quiet. But in Australia, it's showtime.

Fridman Gallery presents the U.S. premiere of Jacob Kirkegaard's Testimonium

Kunstraum LLC opens a group exhibition curated by Paul Wesenberg

Jack Shainman Gallery presents Tradewinds, a new body of work by Paul Anthony Smith

Natural disasters inspire monumental sculptures in exhibition

Creative Capital announces new President & Executive Director

The PinchukArtCentre opens "Remember Yesterday", a group exhibition of Ukrainian artists

Poker and risk-taking

What is the ideal flexible workplace?

Wholesale girls' clothing for spring 2021

Benefits of hiring Adam Huler Essay Writing Services




Museums, Exhibits, Artists, Milestones, Digital Art, Architecture, Photography,
Photographers, Special Photos, Special Reports, Featured Stories, Auctions, Art Fairs,
Anecdotes, Art Quiz, Education, Mythology, 3D Images, Last Week, .

 



Founder:
Ignacio Villarreal
(1941 - 2019)
Editor & Publisher: Jose Villarreal
Art Director: Juan José Sepúlveda Ramírez

Royalville Communications, Inc
produces:

ignaciovillarreal.org juncodelavega.com facundocabral-elfinal.org
Founder's Site. Hommage
to a Mexican poet.
Hommage
       

The First Art Newspaper on the Net. The Best Versions Of Ave Maria Song Junco de la Vega Site Ignacio Villarreal Site
Tell a Friend
Dear User, please complete the form below in order to recommend the Artdaily newsletter to someone you know.
Please complete all fields marked *.
Sending Mail
Sending Successful