RSS'Layered Histories' -- Layers of history, layers of art
ON Magazine
"Strataspade III," 2007, 16 inches high, 7 inches wide, 6 inches deep. Bronze and glass. By Lynda Rockwood.
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The Larson Gallery's 2008-09 season opens Tuesday with "Layered Histories," an exhibition of works by Gail Grinnell and Lynda K. Rockwood.
As the title suggests, there's a multifaceted depth to this show. These layers of history are visual, structural and also conceptual. They are personal and geographical, emotional and environmental, simple and scientific.
"One of my goals since I came here is to bring new and different work that people haven't seen before," says Cheryl Hahn, who became the Larson Gallery director in fall 2006. "It's just a very interesting show."
The pieces in the show -- Rockwood's are made from such materials as bronze, Hydro-Stone and fossils; Grinnell's are from silk, paper, wood and that stiff interfacing used to make collars -- are representative of each artist's work over the past 10 years.
"When Cheryl asked me who I wanted to show with, I picked Gail," says the 59-year-old Rockwood, who lives in Seattle. "We share similarities in thought, if not style."
Rockwood, who has family ties to Naches and grew up in Randle, Wash., has spent the past seven years doing art works about the Hanford nuclear reservation.
Her work explores how what we're doing now affects the future, she says.
"I want to make work about the things I care about and where I live," explains Rockwood, whose pieces in the show are selected from three past series: "The Atomic West," "Mining the Ellipse" and "Mapping Strata."
In the detailed pieces, you'll see references to time and the environment. Her works have an exploratory, scientific beauty -- and irony.
"It's understanding the present through the past," she explains.
The same is true for Grinnell. Born and raised in Richland, her work has ties to Hanford as well -- but in a very different way.
"It's the social environment that carries a lot of my interest," says Grinnell, 58, who also lives in Seattle.
Grinnell's family, failed farmers from Minnesota, came to Washington looking for work and found it at Hanford. From her family, Grinnell learned sewing and domestic skills, and "making things out of nothing," she says, noting her humble childhood.
Grinnell's works -- from past carved stamps used to create a symbolic language to her recent translucent collages made out of polyester interfacing -- are all about layers.
But it's not just layers of materials, but also of her family's make-up.
"I'm still channeling my mother's hands," says Grinnell.
* "Layered Histories" closes with a reception and discussion by the artists Oct. 17.
If you go
WHAT: "Layered Histories," works by Lynda K. Rockwood and Gail Grinnell.
WHEN & WHERE: Opens Tuesday at the Larson Gallery on the YVCC campus, South 16th Avenue and West Nob Hill Boulevard. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. Admission is free.
CLOSING RECEPTION & ARTIST TALK: 5:30 to 8 p.m. Oct. 17. The artists will discuss their works at 7 p.m.
INFO: Call 574-4875 or visit www.larsongallery.org.
Larson Gallery 2008-09 exhibits and events calendar
* Tuesday-Oct. 17 -- "Layered Histories," works by Lynda K. Rockwood and Gail Grinnell.
* 5-7:30 p.m. Sept. 27 -- Open house and membership party. Established, new and potential members welcome.
* Nov. 1-Dec. 6 -- 53rd annual Central Washington Artists' Exhibition. Open to all artists in Benton, Chelan, Douglas, Franklin, Grant, Kittitas, Klickitat, Okanogan, Walla Walla and Yakima counties. For a prospectus, call the gallery or visit www.larsongallery.org. The deadline for submissions is 5 p.m. Oct. 3.
* Jan. 11-March 7 -- "Yakima Honors Peoples of the Plateau: Through the Lens Past and Present." Photographs by Lee Moorhouse taken from 1898-1915, and photographs taken by Yakama students at Heritage University. Presented as part of a citywide celebration of the area's Native American heritage.
* March 22-April 22 -- 36th National Juried Photo Exhibition. The prospectus will be available in February.
* April 18 -- Eighth annual Larson Gallery Guild Arts Award reception.
* May 11-June 3 -- YVCC Department of Visual Arts Exhibition. Works by students and faculty.
* May 16 -- 10th annual Tour of Artists' Homes and Studios.
* June 12-July 11 -- Larson Gallery Guild Members' Arts & Crafts Exhibition.
* June-July -- Summer Workshop Series.
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