Artists Display Cutting-Edge Works
Dozens of black rubber-band balls are strewn about Westmont’s Reynolds Gallery as part of the latest exhibit, “Cort Savage: Scattered Man and the Particle,” which will be on display from Thursday, Sept. 7, through Oct. 20. Savage has wound the rubber bands around each bone in the human skeleton, reducing the physical human being to an abstract form.
Also on display will be “Ken Bortolazzo: Retrospective,” a display of 10 large steel sculptural works, including an 18-foot tall tree, which will be shown Thursday, Sept. 7, through Dec. 15.
The public is invited to an opening reception at the gallery with the two artists Thursday, Sept. 7, from 4-6 p.m. The pieces are presented as part of Santa Barbara Contemporary Arts Month.
“This is cutting-edge contemporary art from people who think beyond the boundaries,” says Tony Askew, art professor and gallery director.
Bortolazzo has made welded work for over 40 years. The Santa Barbara native’s art is currently on display along State Street as part of the State of the Art Gallery 2006, a joint project between the city and county of Santa Barbara.
Bortolazzo’s work is being displayed through the courtesy of Sullivan Goss Gallery. Askew describes the art as “stainless steel geometric planes that float in space and move with the kinetic energy of the wind.”
Savage is a professor at Davidson College in North Carolina. He will give a short lecture about his work at the opening reception at 4 p.m.
“Scattered Man” is the collection of 214 individually wrapped human bones. “The Particle” contains a human skull holding a book in its mouth shown in X-ray and time lapse images.
“The human form and the figure have been the basis of art study since the beginning of time,” says Askew. “I think the interests of artists in archeology and anthropology is also reflected. How do we deal with the essence of human form without spirit and soul?”
Reynolds Gallery is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, please call the gallery at (805) 565-6162.