“The university art collection and art created in Detroit over the past 50 years are confluent in nature. The collection is special and unique, and I believe the only collection that directly mirrors the diverse styles and artists of the community, capturing the depth and breadth of the cultural landscape. The collection is also a reflection of the impact that Wayne State University has had on the arts in the region and throughout the nation. Wayne State University, the university art collection, and the Detroit art community have been inextricably linked for decades.
This exhibition reveals how the university art collection continuously grows, and flows seamlessly, with the art that is created in Detroit today by artists who have deep connections to this university. Unlike many other educational institutions, there is no evident “Wayne State style,” but there is a spirit of curiosity and exploration that permeates all these works. The artists in this exhibition represent the many different generations who have passed through the university. Each has been invited to explore the collection and select works that have a connection to their own, with the intention of developing an interesting dialogue to one another.” -Grace Serra, Art Collection Curator, University Art Collection, WSU
Sergio De Giusti is a serious music connoisseur, particularly of Opera. Works by Wagner and Puccini regularly appear in his work. In this visual symphony, the story coils and churns around ghostly figures to a crescendoed pitch as Faust makes his pact with the Devil. Very little color is required to describe the intensity of this narrative.
An abstraction from the 1960’s reads like the decade it was made in. This painting is softer than, say, earlier Franz Kline pieces while retaining spontaneity. Marks are a little too evenly dispersed for my taste but certainly allow ample ‘push-pull’.
Jeanne Bieri scrunches and folds an old Army blanket to a newly shaped purpose. The patterning of the intricate, varied stitching energetically loops and weaves over supple, velvety patchwork lending beauty to what had been discarded.
In an exhibition of large-scale works mostly employing highly subdued palettes, this piece is delightful. There is no indication the blade has any particular significance, but it does contribute to the swirling motion of the paint.
Several of these artists were already giants in the Detroit art community by the time I met them. One of the best things about an art career is it’s always morphing into something new as it moves and grows in synch with our lives. It’s inspiring to watch their work continue to evolve and a joy to see so much of it in one exhibition.
Detroit Artists: Anita Bates, Jeanne Bieri, Darryl DeAngelo Terrell, Sergio De Giusti, Mariam Ezzat, Mary Fortuna, Marcia Freedman, M. Saffell Gardner, Laura Makar, Sandra Osip, Tom Pyrzewski, John Rizzo, and Donita Simpson.
University of Art Collection: Diane Carr, John Egner, Brenda Goodman, Susan Hauptman, Douglas James, Gordon Newton, Kurt Novak, Judy Pfaff, Ellen Phelan, Robert Quigley, Robert Wilbert, and Don Willett.
On view through December 9th at Elaine L. Jacob Gallery 480 W. Hancock, Detroit
*images are mine
direct quote from gallery materials
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