The current exhibit at GALLERY ONE EIIIEVEN in the Leesville Main Street District has challenged participating artists to think literally, figuratively and actually “Inside and Outside The Box.” The Box in this instance can be defined as what the artist needs as a focal point, or a point of departure. The collective of artists in this exhibit have provided a range of interpretations, emotions and media in their work, all dealing with boxes in some way.
In “Sources of Our Good Fortune” Leesville artist James Turner provides an arrangement of items that all reference what can make life in Vernon Parish special. His arrangement of common, yet memory-invoking flotsam refer to good times, and good things (some that come in boxes).
Michael Yankowski of Natchitoches takes a similar approach, but with a different aesthetic. His carefully crafted boxes contain thought provoking items and effects, and some of the pieces refer to shrines and altars. There are connections to the items in the work, but it may take you two or three viewings to make the connections. Michael’s piece “Sacred Treasures 2” is a tall cylinder of wood that is actually a finely crafted box that hinges open to expose a unique and personal landscape containing bird skulls, breastbones and a drawer full of bleached bird bones. Is the avian perched on the top a prisoner of the box or a guardian? Michael’s work many times provides more questions than answers.
In total contrast to these works are the whimsical creations of Leesville artist Brenda Morrison. Brenda has created quite a following in the area with her small, air-dried clay creature sculptures and her work in this exhibit takes that idea to another level. Her boxes are created of foam, resemble large “typesetter” boxes and tend to be physical illustrations of pleasant memories of the artist and her family.
“Art In and Outside The Box” opens this week at GALLERY ONE EIIIEVEN in the Leesville Main Street District. Featured artists are James Turner, Michael Yankowski, Brenda Morrison, Joey Governale, “Triple P” (Noah Pollard, Jack Price, Warren Prichard) Elle Pollard, Mary Maddock, Paul Nettles and Morgan Primeaux.
The gallery is open Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 11 am until 3 pm. Reception for the Artists and this exhibit is open to the public on Saturday, Jan. 25 at 6 pm. More details on GALLERY ONE EIIIEVEN can be found on their Facebook Page Leesville Art.