West Gallery

January - December 30, 2025

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Curators Statement:

“Even in stillness, there is movement.” – Anonymous

 

Visitors can embark on an artistic odyssey with "Harmonizing Dimensions," a curated collection delving into the intricate interplay of motion, time, and rhythm. This transformative exploration shapes and defines the creative landscape, leaving an enduring imprint on the ever-evolving art world.

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As we navigate the swift tapestry of the 21st century, our understanding of motion, time, and rhythm in art undergoes a profound transformation. Technological advancements and global connectivity dissolve traditional boundaries, providing artists with new realms to explore.

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Step into this odyssey at the Blanden, where artworks come alive dynamically, transcending conventional expressions. Let the masterpieces converge in your mind, facilitating a harmonious dialogue between motion, time, and rhythm. Across diverse mediums, artists showcase how movement breathes life into their works, time influences narratives, and rhythm orchestrates unique artistic experiences.

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Working in varied mediums, these artists share a profound grasp of the interplay among fundamental forces. Witness how motion is captured in brushstrokes, time in sculpture, and rhythm in the arrangement of forms and colors. The exhibition encourages an exploration of the dynamic relationship between the static and kinetic, tangible, and ephemeral, finite, and infinite – offering profound insights into the role of motion, time, and rhythm in shaping artistic expression.

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"Harmonizing Dimensions" invites you on a transformative journey where motion, time, and rhythm converge, unlocking uncharted realms of artistic expression. Celebrate the visionary contributions of artists worldwide as they entice us to delve into the profound mysteries within these elemental dimensions.

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May this exhibition inspire you to embrace the ever-shifting dynamics of life, fostering a deeper appreciation for the interconnected dance of motion, time, and rhythm in the realm of art.

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East Gallery

Feb1 - April 18, 2025

Artist Reception: Feb 15 2-4:30pm

 

ARTIST STATAMENT:

Resting in the shallow waters along the banks of the Mississippi River, these ubiquitous structures are common along the northwestern shores of Illinois. Existing for years as permanent structures, hunters were required to register their location and pay an annual fee for their use.  Their number are closely monitored by the Department of Natural Resources and they’re all constructed of natural materials.  Recently, the DNR has banned their use and all of these structures must be dismantled before the beginning of the next hunting season.  Permits will be issued for new temporary structures, but how much less impact on the environment will there be (if any at all) if hunters have to dismantle and rebuild them new every year?

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What drew me to document these structures was how each blind possessed a visual narrative that captured each maker’s own sensibilities, rendering each one distinctly different and unique from one another, even though each hunter had to adhere to the same basic principals of construction, using the same natural building materials. The end result, while utilitarian in purpose, are always playfully creative and original.  These photographs are an homage to their individuality.

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BIO:

Dave Jordano was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1948 received his degree in photography from the College for Creative Studies in Detroit in 1974. After moving to Chicago in 1977 he established a successful freelance commercial photography studio for 30 years. Specializing in food and product photography, he shot major campaigns for national and international clients. Since his return to fine art/documentary photography Jordano was awarded an honorable mention in the Houston Center for Photography’s Long Term Fellowship Project in 2003, and received the Curator’s Choice Award the following year.  In 2006, 2008, and 2013 he was shortlisted as a finalist in the Photolucia “Critical Mass” national book award in Portland, OR.  He was also selected for inclusion in “One Hundred Portfolios”, a competition sponsored by Wright State University, Dayton, OH, featuring the work of 100 leading photographers from around the world.  In 2009, his first book, titled “Articles of Faith” was published by The Center for American Places at Columbia College, which coincided with a major exhibition at the Chicago Cultural Center.  

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His work is included in the permanent collections of The Museum of Contemporary Photography, Chicago, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Mary & Leigh Block Museum of Art, at Northwestern University, the Federal Reserve Bank, the Harris Bank Collection and many corporate and private collections.  Jordano is represented by following galleries; Clark Gallery, Lincoln, MA, Photoeye.com, Stieglitz 19 Gallery, Antwerp, Belgium, and Zemma Agency in Moscow, Russia.

 

www.davejordano.com  

Second Floor Gallery

Jan 4 - March 22, 2025

 

“I am here to make you think… I am not here to make pretty pictures.”  – Mark Rothko

 

Artist Statement:

The first time I saw a Rothko Painting I was mesmerized by the simplicity, and yet the power and depth of feeling that his painting evoked.  His art is a continual influence on my artistic practice. 

 

My background as a history major / art minor and by continued interest of early civilizations is a major influence in my artwork.  I present an interpretation of this progression of time through the entropy of these civilizations.

 

I combine materials that give some of my paintings a sculptural aspect. I use regular acrylic, metal infused acrylics, and reactive agents in some of my work to achieve the desired effects.  

 

Bio:

Mike Moore attended Mankato State College in the 1960s, graduating with a degree in History and a minor in Art.

 

Spending some time in Colorado he moved back to Iowa where he managed a framing and fine art store in Des Moines.  Later Mike returned to his hometown of Fort Dodge where he has lived for the past 40 plus years. After retiring from sales of home audio equipment he resumed his passion for painting. Mike has exhibited work since 2018 at numerous galleries in Iowa. 

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• Dave Jordano - East Gallery 

  • Duck Blinds (Feb 1 - April 18, 2025) 

• Rachel Mindrup - East Gallery 

  • Neurofibromatosis: The People (May 3 - July 19, 2025) 

• Hans Madsen - Second Floor Gallery 

  • Walk the Last Mile: (April 5 - June 21, 2025)