Maude Kerns - Juxtaposed:Sculpture & Installation

A new show opened at Maude Kerns tonight and as I was going in the back door I got this picture of pottery leaves in the garden near Club Mud.


The exhibit was called "Juxtaposed:Sculpture & Installation," and the wall sculpture, titled "Round Up" was by Jud Turner. [Click Here] to visit Jud's website. It is a treat to see and learn more about this University Educated Artist.


"Cumulus Zepplin" was probably my favorite work by Jud.

To understand his work better read this excerpt from his Artist's Statement:

"Quantum physics tells us that apparently solid objects are comprised of vast empty spaces, populated by tiny particles whose individual relationships create the whole. And that a single particle can exist in two separate places during one moment in time.

I explore such dichotomies in my sculpture. Using welded steel and found objects, I create artwork which embraces opposites -- the tension between humans and nature; the perils of balancing biology and technology; or the combination of ancient fossils with modern machinery. I also engage contradictions by the materials I choose -- human forms which appear solid and realistic, but which were made with a delicate surface of thin wire, allowing the viewer to see through the figure; or by mixing the sense of scale in a piece, using large items alongside tiny pieces."

Jud was a very cordial artist who talked with many of the visitors to the show.



His work "Internal Combustion #2 - Bone Machine" is fascinating incorporating replicas of bones in this work mixed creatively with mechanical parts.


In this piece, "Oleg's Memorial" was made of wood and steel and made me think of the saying "live by the sword and die by the sword."


I liked the piece by Jud Turner more and more and seeing it on my home PC screen I liked it even more. The title is "Spring/Sprang."


This piece, by Andries Fourie was titled "Talking to Mr. Bhengu About Cattle,"was an interesting change of pace. I love the meat grinder included in this sculpture. Andries has a web site blog and you can get there by clicking [Here]


This piece by Andries is titled "Carrion Eaters 1"


Gerrit Van Ness titled scene installation "Campaign Trail" and it made me feel a bit of relief after the long political battle for President of the United States. He also has a great website [Click Here] to see more of his work.

"My love for constructing things began early in life, doing wood carving, pottery, working in house construction and wooden boat building from age seven or eight through high school. Home construction and design work also continued through college.

Skills developed over the years enable me to produce the mixed-media art objects for which I am noted today. Most of my darker-themed work is related to time spent in combat in Vietnam. Drugs, politics, and pop culture are all targets for my most recent work, and these subjects will undoubtedly provide plenty of subject matter well into the future."

Garret Van Ness titled this whimsical piece "Liar, Liar"


My biggest smile came with Garret Van Ness' "You da Bomb"


"Capitol Gumballs" really expresses Garret's fondness for all things political or maybe not.


I really liked the Installation room...


There were designs carefully arranged on the wall and small figures below.


Rakar West did this small sculpture called Alchemy 3 and there were several wonderfully clever and simple.



This is a three artist series.


Patricia Arrera's "December" was the left most installation ...


... followed by Rakar West's "October" and ...


... the rightmost installation was Tina Schrager's "November"


I missed the names associated with the next few pieces but they were very special to see. "Psycho Storage" above even had objects behind the doors...


This cart was very clever and wonderfully put together titled "Museum of Emptiness" again was covered with memorabilia and sayings.


This installation piece of wire and eye hooks was especially impressive in person but very difficult to depict in a small picture version .


I had arrived before the actual opening to try and get some decent pictures and not bother the crowd but as the show opened more and more patrons of Maude Kerns flowed in ...


... like this couple admiring one of the installations...


... and this couple.

There were people starting to flow in as I was preparing to leave.



I really enjoy watching the patrons of the arts and when I get the chance to talk with them I find every one to be great folks with a keen interest in life and living...


... like these two women who said hi and posed for a quick picture and a short chat over M7Ms and a 7-Up.


Just before I left Amey Herman on Violin and Doug Heydon on Guitar and Banjo later started playing and the one piece I heard was perfect for a perfect night with the arts and artists.


On the way home I got to take a picture of the Eugene Fire Department at work while stopped at a traffic light and ...

...talk about a perfect end of the evening a great License plate "K-SMILE" and a better Spare Tire Cover that says "Life is Good." Things in our country are looking up perhaps.

Scrabble Score - No game tonight but I did lose the last unpublished game to Scrabble Queen 321 to 298

Quote of the Day

"In art economy is always beauty."

Henry James quotes (American writer 1843-1916)