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 Optical
Perception:
The Art of Julian Stanczak
August 3 - September 24, 2000
Optical, or Op, Art is based in large part on the theories of Josef Albers;
it explores the way the mind and eye perceive pattern and color, often
through the use of repeated patterns and complementary colors. It is always
abstract.
This exhibit showcases the work of Julian Stanczak and also features works
by Josef and Anni, Richard Anuszkiewicz and Victor Vasarely. Josef Albers
was noted for his color theories as set down in his book Interaction of
Color and his series of paintings titled Homage to the Square. During
Albers's long career, he was a student and teacher at the Bauhaus in Germany
until the Nazis closed  it
in 1933. In 1933, Josef Albers and his wife came to teach art at Black
Mountain College here in Western North Carolina. Anni Albers studied weaving
at the Bauhaus and was noted for her bold abstract designs. In 1949, Albers
was named head of the art department at Yale.
Julian Stanczak and Richard Anuskiewicz studied with Josef Albers as graduate
students at Yale. Stanczak and Anuskiewicz developed Albers's theories
in their own art, They, along with European artist Victor Vasarely became
leading forces behind the movement that Josef Albers insisted should be
known as Perceptual Art.
Optical Art was one particular movement in the area of Geometric Abstraction.
Geometric Abstraction began in the early part of the 20th century with
artists such as Piet Mondrian. It continues into the 21st century through
the works of artists such as Kenneth Noland. Noland was born in Asheville,
studied at Black Mountain College and was a student of Julian Stanczak.
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 art
@ the end of the.century
August 15 - November 5, 2000
art @ the end of the.century surveys the last two decades through twenty-six
works drawn from the collection of the Milwaukee Art Museum. The Milwaukee
Art Museum, while closed for renovation, has generously allowed the Asheville
Art Museum to show selections from its near encyclopedic holdings of contemporary
art.
A far-ranging collection is required to sum up recent art, which has echoed
American society's movement away from the melting pot and toward an acceptance
of cultural diversity. Many different voices and styles have occupied the
limelight, sometimes succeeding each other but often co-existing and even
cross-fertilizing. Artists who initially gained fame in earlier decades,
such as Jasper Johns, Philip Guston, Nancy Graves, and Elizabeth Murray,
are included in this exhibition because their later work has continued to
challenge and influence younger artists.
If one work in the show sums up the last two decades, it would be David
Salle's painting Within Sleep. Salle borrows his
images from reproductions of past and contemporary art and places them next
to a panel of commercially printed fabric, raising many questions. Is there
a future for handmade art in a post-industrial society? Should contemporary
artists build on the past or try to negate it? Such uncertainty seems to
reflect society's mood now. Will art express doubt and cynicism in the twenty-first
century, or will a new holistic, optimistic view emerge?
Don't miss this exciting opportunity to view works on exhibit that have
never before been shown in North Carolina. Runs through November 5, 2000.
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 Look
Homeward: Douglas Gorsline Illustrates Thomas Wolfe
September 28 - December 30, 2000
This series of drawings by Douglas Gorsline is from the first illustrated
edition of Look Homeward, Angel by Thomas Wolfe. Thomas Wolfe was born
in 1900 in Asheville and this show will be part of a city-wide celebration
of the centennial of his birth.
Douglas Gorsline (1913-1985) made his debut on the New York art scene
in 1938 with his selection to the Whitney Museum’s annual exhibition of
contemporary American painting. He studied at R.I.T., Yale and the Art
Students League.
Gorsline was noted as a painter and an illustrator. In addition to Look
Homeward, Angel his drawings were used to illustrate an edition of The
Compleat Angler as well as articles in The New Yorker, Life, Saturday
Review and Sports Illustrated.
When Douglas Gorsline was selected to illustrate a new edition of Thomas
Wolfe’s Look Homeward, Angel, the book was already recognized as a monumental
literary achievement. For Gorsline it was his first illustrated book,
just as it had been Wolfe’s first novel. Gorsline traveled to Asheville
to sketch the boarding house Wolfe’s mother had run, as well as sketching
the real-life counterparts for several of the characters in the book.
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Endings and Beginnings:
Western North Carolina Millennial Juried Exhibition
November 18, 2000 - February 20, 2001
This professionally juried art competition will showcase outstanding contemporary
visual art in all media from throughout the WNC region and reflect the
millennial concerns of our communities..
This unique competition is open to all artists living and working in the
twenty-three counties that comprise WNC (Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe,
Burke, Caldwell, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson,
Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania,
Watauga, Wilkes and Yancey).
Works will be juried by slide and then by portfolio review by guest curator
Matthew Drutt, Associate Curator for Research at the Solomon R. Guggenheim
Museum. Prior to his work at the Guggenheim, Mr. Drutt was Director of
Special Projects at the Fabric Workshop and Museum in Philadelphia, and
an independent curator focusing on contemporary art and design. He has
curated numerous exhibitions including Temple of Spirit: Frank Lloyd Wright’s
Design’s for the Guggenheim Museum and Max Beckmann in Exile, both of
the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York and Inside/Outside William
Daley: 1954-1994, Moore College of Art, Philadelphia, PA.
The exhibition will be documented with an illustrated catalog. Every artist
who submits work will be represented on the Museum’s website. Also, artist
materials will be permanently available to teachers, retailers, collectors
and the public in the Museum’s new Achilles Library.
Endings and Beginnings is an extremely complex project and would not be
possible without the sponsorship of the CP&L Foundation; the Marla T.
and Joel Adams Jr. Fund, the Donald and Lisbeth Cooper Charitable Fund,
the PBD Fund, and Wasson-Stowe Charitable Fund, all of the Community Foundation
of Western North Carolina. Call Kris Holzbach for more information on
entering the competition or sponsorship opportunities.
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