Explorations in color is the theme for the Goldstein Museum’s newest exhibition, “Color Ways,” which opened with a reception Sunday on the St. Paul campus.
The gallery is host to work by one retired and three current faculty members from the Department of Design, Housing and Apparel, who have focused their attentions on the use of color in varied mediums. Each artist has taken a different direction for the project, resulting in a diverse set of images.
Marian-Ortolf Bagley, who taught the three other artists during their graduate studies, focuses her work on the use of watercolor in cityscapes. A large portion of her work shows her interest in the cities of the Mediterranean.
These images are a stark contrast to the collages that characterize Barbara Martinson’s work. As an instructor of graphic design, Martinson has used the computer program Adobe Illustrator to configure collages of letters in the shape of area rugs, as well as placing multi-colored scraps of fabric together for other pieces.
“These pieces were the pure kid in me,” said Martinson of her fabric collages. “It is so anti-computer that it feels good.”
Sauman Chu’s contribution to the exhibit focuses on symbolism through the use of computer-generated images and the texts of a 17th-century tapestry. One piece uses the months of the year to explain the twelve cycles of life and includes texts from a Finnish tapestry.
“I think it is good for the students to know that we do something besides teaching, it is good to let them see our creative side. It will enrich our teaching,” Chu said.
The final contributor is Carol Waldron, who has also taken on the responsibilities of curator for the gallery. Her work details landscapes and how they are perceived by people. She attempts to achieve this by drawing the same image from many different viewpoints.
Tours and discussions of technique are planned for Nov. 30 at 2 p.m. with Chu and Martinson, and Jan. 8 at 10 a.m. with Bagley and Waldron. The exhibit will run through Jan. 31, 1999.