Lubeznik Center for the Arts (LCA) is featuring a collection of abstract artwork in an upcoming exhibition, “Abstraction + Love,” on display from October 30, 2023 through February 10, 2024.
This exhibition provides a glimpse of where several, mostly Midwestern, contemporary artists have taken abstraction in the 21st century. From the works of Bernard Williams and Sarah Krepp, which are more solidly rooted in historic forms, to the quirky experimental works by Edwin P. Shelton and Roland Santana, to the expressive, humorous animation of Selina Trepp and colorful, unruly inflatables by Claire Ashley, each artist has developed a personal artistic language using varied art making materials, experimentation, upbeat optimism and a big dose of love!
Janet Bloch, LCA’s executive director said, “This exhibit has a lot of work in it that speaks to my own aesthetic preferences; colorful, quirky materials, humorous. I think it will be loads of fun to do field trips with kids and adults!”
Artists showing in the exhibition include Claire Ashley, Helen Frankenthaler, Sarah Krepp, Robert Motherwell, Sandra Perlow, Julie Richman, Roland Santana, Edwin P. Shelton, Selina Trepp, Rhonda Wheatley, Bernard Williams and Molly Zuckerman-Hartung.
“’Abstraction + Love’ is a lively, joy filled exhibition in which unusual and banal or tossed aside materials come to life in surprising, illuminating and magical ways,” said LCA’s new curator, Whitney Bradshaw.
Beginning in the early- to mid-19th century, painters like James McNeill Whistler and John Constable, who were masters of depicting real life scenes with physical accuracy, began experimenting with abstraction. Replicating reality was no longer of primary interest to the avant-garde. Instead, they sought to interject personal expression, psychology, mysticism and other philosophies into their artworks to “make something new.” Abstraction took dozens of forms in the 20th century, some based on geometry, some based on absurdity, others based on minimalism, spiritualism, or quantum physics. The emergence of collage, assemblage, hard edge and color field painting made their way into the Western canon as well.
Free, public events taking place during the run of “Abstraction + Love” include:
- Opening Reception on Friday, November 3 from 5-8 p.m. (Central)
- Gallery Talk on Saturday, November 11 at 11:30 a.m.
- Family Day on Saturday, February 10 from 1-3 p.m.
Free gallery tours are available for small groups and organizations. To schedule a docent-led tour, contact Janet Bloch at jbloch@lubeznikcenter.org. To schedule a children's tour, contact Nelsy Marcano at nmarcano@lubeznikcenter.org.
About Lubeznik Center for the Arts
Lubeznik Center for the Arts is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that provides access to compelling exhibitions and programs that explore contemporary ideas. The organization is located at 101 W. 2nd Street at the lakefront in Michigan City, Ind. Admission is free year-round. For more information about LCA, please visit LubeznikCenter.org.
