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    Dorothy Gill Barnes – Generations: Marks in Time


    Sycamore (2009) left, and
    Woven Willow (1996-2008) right
    .

    October 22, 2009 – December 27, 2009
    The Peggy R. McConnell Arts Center of Worthington

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    When the Peggy R. McConnell Arts Center of Worthington set out to organize the inaugural exhibition for their newly renovated building and main gallery space, the choice of Dorothy Gill Barnes quickly became the obvious one. Barnes, a Worthington resident who is deeply aware of the power of place, has nurtured an international reputation by creating unique sculptures that embody a surprising synthesis of art, craft and nature. Her work borrows liberally from the craft tradition while displaying a profound respect for the source material. In the sculptures of Dorothy Gill Barnes the hand of the artist works in tandem with the natural world, acknowledging the patterns and processes originally set in motion by nature.

    The largest sculptures in the exhibit are Sycamore and Cottonwood. In perhaps the ultimate acknowledgment of nature’s processes, both pieces were created using wood salvaged from two trees damaged in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike. In Sycamore, evidence of Barnes earlier vessel constructions and interest in weaving is writ large. It is open, inviting, and accessible. While certainly large, its scale can be deceptive. The delicate carving (often mirroring the gradations in the wood’s tone and bark lines) and smaller turned components invite close inspection and seem to mirror nature’s ability to present itself as simultaneously grand and intimate.


    Marked By – 2000 – 2008
    wood and bark – various sizes

    Conversely, Cottonwood offers a view of nature that is powerful, authoritative, and non-negotiable. Sculpted from a tree that had survived a dramatic lightning strike a decade earlier, Cottonwood features two massive trunks standing side by side like mute sentinels. There’s a weight to them – an authority – that functions like the best Richard Serra sculptures, reconfiguring the surrounding space through the physics of mass and gravity.

    While these larger pieces are likely the first thing viewers will respond to, the works in the Marked By series are worth at least as much attention. Barnes created these sculptures by collecting and harvesting wood that had been, in some manner, “marked by” nature. Often these markings were the result of bear, elk, or insects. To these original marks, Barnes has added her own. In this light they become a true collaboration with nature, even a dialog. Nature comments, and the artist responds. Striking too is how much these works resemble artifacts. There’s a vaguely utilitarian look to many of them; one that implies function and looks back to a time when there was no meaningful distinction between making functional objects (be it a bowl, a pipe, or basket) and making art.


    Holding Sycamore – 2009
    wood and bark – approx 30″ x 48″

    Other notable pieces on display include Woven Willow; a “must see” piece in the Barnes’ catalog, Holding Sycamore; a playful sculpture that imagines a tree holding its own bark, and Looking Glass; a naturally made Trompe l’Oeil in wood and glass.

    As mentioned, Generations: Marks in Time is the inaugural visual arts exhibit at the new Peggy R. McConnell Arts Center of Worthington. Recently dedicated, this facility offers a multi-disciplinary resource in support of the arts in Central Ohio. Visitors to the Dorothy Gill Barnes exhibit are encouraged to explore the new facility and take advantage of all the program opportunities it offers. We’re fortunate to have world-class artists like Dorothy Gill Barnes working in Central Ohio, and fortunate to have facilities like the McConnell Arts Center to promote them. Area art lovers should take advantage of both!

    Jeff Regensburger is a painter, librarian, and drummer in the (currently dormant) rock combo The Patsys. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts (Painting and Drawing) from The Ohio State University in 1990 and an Master’s Degree in Library Science from Kent State University in 1997. Jeff blogs sporadically (OnSummit.blogspot.com), tweets occasionally (@jeffrey_r), and paints as time allows.

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    Jeff Regensburger
    Jeff Regensburger
    Jeff Regensburger is a painter, librarian, and drummer in the rock combo The Christopher Rendition. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts (Painting and Drawing) from The Ohio State University in 1990 and an Master’s Degree in Library Science from Kent State University in 1997. Jeff blogs sporadically (OnSummit.blogspot.com), tweets occasionally (@jeffrey_r), and paints as time allows.
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