“Lake Valley” by Rachel Rose
“Once Upon Now,” the newly opened exhibit at the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, is an example of a unique and creative way for smaller (in size only!) art museums and the Art Bridges Foundation to share significant art pieces with local communities.
As I understand it, the concept is that art collectors loan their “in storage” artwork to Art Bridges, which in turn partners with museums to provide a broader and more diverse genre of art for exhibitions. Kudos to SLOMA’s executive director Leanne Standish and curator Emma Saperstein for forging this alliance and bringing us a sampling of well-known, as well as up-and-coming, artists.
The current exhibit consists of work from nine different American artists, each with different subject matter, medium, and process—as well as message.
There are pieces that some viewers may find confusing. But there are others that will stay in your consciousness long after you’ve left the museum. And that, my friends, is what art is intended to do!
Made of acrylic, glitter and resin on an aluminum panel, “Lost At Sea” by Edouard Duval-Carrié’ reflects the artist’s roots in Puerto Rico and the Haitian culture. A large, colorful and compelling installation, it deserves the viewer’s attention to the tension and story that’s being depicted.
Completed in 1966, “Cinema de Pepsi Sketch 1” by Frank Stella is a study in geometric monotone shades of gray, black and white. Sadly, it doesn’t compare to Max Weber’s 1915 “Interior with Music,” which clearly exemplifies the Cubist movement championed by Picasso.
My favorite work by far is “Lake Valley” by Rachel Rose, consisting of a video using collage, found footage and reused materials.
Rose has created a charming, seemingly simple, animated eight-and-a-half-minute video that becomes more mesmerizing the longer you watch it. I sat through three showings and found it fascinating. While Rose weaves her own visual story, I challenge anyone, child or adult, to not imagine their own unique story to complement the visuals that Rose has created.
“Once Upon Now” is on display through June 7.