An exhibit featuring two Union College alumni sculptors; Jack Howard-Potter '97 “Figures” and Chet Urban '93 “Abstractions” will be on display at the Burns Arts Atrium Gallery from Sept. 12 – Oct. 12, 2005. The artists' reception will be Thursday, Oct. 6 from 4-6 p.m.
Though primarily sculptors, Howard-Potter and Urban both consider drawing an important tool in their working process.
These two artists work in very different styles. Howard-Potter creates over life-size figures in steel rod and sheet. His brightly colored sculptures are caught in dynamic, active poses – pulling a rope, straining on point – and frequently incorporate movement, as figures delicately balanced on steel pivots sway and turn with the motion of passers-by. His drawings echo this interest in radical movement and balanced action.
Urban's sculptures, in contrast, have a kind of meditative stillness about them. They're made of wood, composed of simple forms, carefully crafted but not at all showy. His pieces evoke contemplation rather than action. Some of Urban's drawings reflect this contemplative sensibility, while others are more aggressive in their exploration of jagged forms and sharp delineations between positive and negative space.
The Burns Arts Atrium Gallery is located in the Visual Arts Building at Union College, Schenectady, New York, 12308. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekends. For more information, please contact (518) 388-6714.