Erie Art Museum Opens Speculation on Nature: Works by Lawrence Baker
Erie, PA, August 06, 2007 --(PR.com)-- The Erie Art Museum opens Speculation on Nature: works by Lawrence Baker on Monday, August 6 through Monday, October 15 in the Erie Art Museum Frame Shop Gallery, 423 State Street. A public open reception on Gallery Night Friday, August 24 from 7-10 p.m.
About the Exhibition
For over 40 years as an artist best known for his works focusing on the human figure and large-scale paintings, Lawrence Baker, has now shifted his focus toward landscape drawing and the stylized brushstrokes modeled after Van Gogh. Contrary to common belief that landscapes should cover a large expanse, many of Baker’s drawings deal with an area spanning only eight to ten feet with no human figures. The small scale gives the drawings a certain introverted and understated aspect.
While the drawings are a close examination of nature, Baker is careful not to overwhelm the drawing with surface detail; he strives to leave room for the viewer to enter; clear of obstruction. Baker hopes to draw people into his landscapes to possibly show them something they would have otherwise overlooked.
Baker also does not want his paintings to be merely photographic likeness of a scene, but rather to show abstractness and speculative aspects. In order to do so, he uses his study of Van Gogh’s expressionistic brushwork in pencil.
“Some people see drawing as an idea, like an idea for a painting. I see a drawing as an idea that can be completed, a complete entity in itself,” says Baker of his most recent work.
About the Erie Art Museum
The Erie Art Museum anchors downtown Erie’s cultural and economic revitalization, occupying a group of restored mid-19th century commercial buildings, including an outstanding 1839 Greek Revival Bank. It maintains an ambitious program of 15 to 18 changing exhibitions annually, embracing a wide range of subjects, both historical and contemporary and including folk art, contemporary craft, multi-disciplinary installations, community-based work, as well at traditional media.
The Erie Art Museum also holds a collection of over 5,500 objects, which includes significant works in American ceramics, Tibetan painting, Indian bronzes, contemporary baskets, and a variety of other categories.
The Museum offers a wide range of education programs and artists’ services including interdisciplinary and interactive school tours and a wide variety of classes for the community. Performing arts are showcased in the 24-year-old Contemporary Music Series, which represents national and international performers of serious music with an emphasis on composer/performers, and a popular annual two-day Blues & Jazz festival.
The Erie Art Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. Admission is free for members, free on Wednesdays, $4 for adults, $3 for senior citizens and students and $2 for children under 12.
For additional information on the Erie Art Museum, visit online at http://www.erieartmuseum.org/ or call (814) 459-5477.
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About the Exhibition
For over 40 years as an artist best known for his works focusing on the human figure and large-scale paintings, Lawrence Baker, has now shifted his focus toward landscape drawing and the stylized brushstrokes modeled after Van Gogh. Contrary to common belief that landscapes should cover a large expanse, many of Baker’s drawings deal with an area spanning only eight to ten feet with no human figures. The small scale gives the drawings a certain introverted and understated aspect.
While the drawings are a close examination of nature, Baker is careful not to overwhelm the drawing with surface detail; he strives to leave room for the viewer to enter; clear of obstruction. Baker hopes to draw people into his landscapes to possibly show them something they would have otherwise overlooked.
Baker also does not want his paintings to be merely photographic likeness of a scene, but rather to show abstractness and speculative aspects. In order to do so, he uses his study of Van Gogh’s expressionistic brushwork in pencil.
“Some people see drawing as an idea, like an idea for a painting. I see a drawing as an idea that can be completed, a complete entity in itself,” says Baker of his most recent work.
About the Erie Art Museum
The Erie Art Museum anchors downtown Erie’s cultural and economic revitalization, occupying a group of restored mid-19th century commercial buildings, including an outstanding 1839 Greek Revival Bank. It maintains an ambitious program of 15 to 18 changing exhibitions annually, embracing a wide range of subjects, both historical and contemporary and including folk art, contemporary craft, multi-disciplinary installations, community-based work, as well at traditional media.
The Erie Art Museum also holds a collection of over 5,500 objects, which includes significant works in American ceramics, Tibetan painting, Indian bronzes, contemporary baskets, and a variety of other categories.
The Museum offers a wide range of education programs and artists’ services including interdisciplinary and interactive school tours and a wide variety of classes for the community. Performing arts are showcased in the 24-year-old Contemporary Music Series, which represents national and international performers of serious music with an emphasis on composer/performers, and a popular annual two-day Blues & Jazz festival.
The Erie Art Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. Admission is free for members, free on Wednesdays, $4 for adults, $3 for senior citizens and students and $2 for children under 12.
For additional information on the Erie Art Museum, visit online at http://www.erieartmuseum.org/ or call (814) 459-5477.
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Contact
Erie Art Museum
Tammy Roche
814-459-5477
www.erieartmusuem.org
Tammy Roche
814-459-5477
www.erieartmusuem.org
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