Racine Arts Council hosts Wustum's Adult Student Show

By Dominic J. Cibrario

Now that the rush of the Holidays is over, take time to view the Adult Student Show sponsored by Ram’s Wustum Museum, held at the Racine Arts Council at 505 6thStreet. In this show the instructors along with 25 students are exhibiting their 2D and 3D creations until Jan. 26, M,T,W,F, noon-4 p.m.

Let’s begin our tour with Tom Hoffman, a graduate of Milwaukee Institute of Art and the painting instructor at Wustum. He takes us into the depths of the
Mediterranean Sea in his oil painting “Under Waterworld" (bottom right). He uses chiaroscuro, a technique developed by the Renaissance masters involving the interplay of light and shade. A solitary fish is suspended between the threatening tentacles of an octopus and a reddish squid, which lingers above glistening seashells. His symbolic masterpiece suggests the insecurity of our global society. This dramatic composition slightly resembles a certain Roman painting excavated from the ruins of Pompeii (79AD), located in the Naples Art Museum. Hoffman has been strongly influence by Michelangelo (1475-1564) and Francis Bacon (1910-1992).

Inspired by a photograph taken in her cousin Gil’s backyard, Linda LePoidevin created her magnificent “Paddock Lake,” similar to Pine Island on the Menominee River in northern Wisconsin. The viewer’s eyes move from the shadows along the shore to the light of the leaves on the opposite bank of the tranquil lake. The bark of LePoidevin’s trees are sun-drenched in warm colors.

Using purple and yellow hues to enhance the beauty of her mountains, Marilyn Hughes invites the viewer to enjoy the grandeur of her landscape “Along the ‘Tracks,’ Arizona 1.” A saguaro cactus, prickly pear, and sage brush grow in the foreground with only a trace of railroad tracks visible.

On the opposite wall is Wendy Olsen’s “Untitled” acrylic, containing vibrant orange, red, and yellow poppies rising from a brown vase that looks like a Greek amphora. Her floral arrangement is set against a background of blue tones.

Fenced in by a rustic wooden frame, a white cow turns her head to gaze at the viewer while standing in front of a buffalo in Bob Bagley’s “Kansas City Cow.” Other cattle forage on the golden plain, where a windmill and a budding tree stretch toward the spacious sky.

David Schweitzer ‘s “Early Grey” is a skillfully crafted painting of an enormous U.S. Air Force plane on a runway, where a crew is loading the cargo destined for Bosnia. A brooding sky filled with turbulent clouds predicts an uncertain flight. Schweitzer will donate his painting to the U.S. Air Force Art Program. His oil painting was photographed in Germany while he was traveling to Turkey.

Bill Anderson, the instructor of the ceramic department, introduced raku to Milwaukee and Racine. His sculpture (middle right) is a transcendent cosmic loop using gilded porcelain. The inner golden circle contains a Biblical quotation which invites contemplation, ”Does Your Right Hand Know What Your Left Hand Is Doing?” Anderson said that he uses this quotation when his students work on the potter’s wheel. He encourages them to use both hands equally.” Notice that the black hands forming the base, anchors his unique creation to the white pedestal. Bill has been influenced by the spirituality of Diego Rivera (1886-1957) and Salvador Dali (1904-1989).

Marie Abbott has created a whimsical assortment of porcelain figures entitled “And Who’s Been Sitting In My Chair?” (top right). You’ll immediately recognize Baby Bear, staring at his potty chair. Nearby are the chairs of Mama and Papa Bear, placed on a black and white checkered floor. Don’t miss Abbot’s triplet of “Leaves” created from hand carved porcelain and raku.

Let’s end the show by enjoying Ney Collier’s fine sculpture consisting of tubular stoneware with painted glazes. Four flattened tubes serve as a base, supporting an erect pair of tubes while a final pair reclines.