Looking at Art

I grew up with little exposure to art. It wasn’t until I was working for Delta and taking advantage of layovers to visit art museums that my interest developed. What first stole my heart was Picasso’s The Old Guitarist at the Art Institute of Chicago. Since then I’ve looked at art in a variety of mediums and never cease to be amazed at what inspires creativity.

Take a look, for example, at this exhibit at CMCA in Rockland, Maine.

It is an amazing collaborative installation created by Wade Kavanaugh and Stephen Nguyen.

In other work they have used paper, but this is done entirely of wood.

What is interesting is how a “path” allows the viewer to become totally immersed in the work. As I followed the path I not only saw the installation from every angle, I felt as though I was moving through it.

Looking at the installation, you may be surprised to learn that it is an interpretation of the Maine landscape prompted by a visit to Winslow Homer’s studio in Prout’s Neck.

Remembering my own visit there and knowing how influenced Homer was by what was outside his window, this installation of graceful wood shapes suddenly made perfect sense. The Maine landscape is both gentle and powerful, rugged and smooth. By using layers of wood the artists captured it beautifully.

Again, I realized that by looking at art one can experience so much of both the real and imagined.

i so appreciate your visit and the comments you leave behind