East Gallery
Shelley Tate Garner
Beyond Modern: Acrylic on Acrylic Wall Sculptures
November 24, 2008 thru January 25, 2009
Durant artist Shelley Tate Garner considers each piece she creates to be an experiment, transformed from the idea originally created in a sketch book or mental notation on design.
In her exhibit, Beyond Modern: Acrylic on Acrylic Wall Sculptures, this contemporary multi-media artist has created a combination of sculpture and painting using forms made from plexiglas.
“The physical properties of this body of work are inspired by the mediums of collage, sculpture, and painting with modern materials and diverse handling of the media. Each one is cut, shaped, cleaned, prepared for paint, painted, sealed, drilled, mounted and then hung. They are very much about the hands-on process of creation and the artistic formalities regarding shape, surface, brush strokes, color combination and patterning.”
Garner explains that the works in this series explore an inner journey of emotional highs and lows expressed through a visual medium. “They are bold, attention seekers and subtle, tranquil meditations. The explosions of color and bold patterns convey joy, excitement, pleasure and exhilaration. The softer, more introspective works evoke a sense of looking inward, meditating and contemplating. From raw to refined, they strive to visually define my own feelings and experiences, but also the array of feelings we collectively have or can experience in today’s ever-changing environment.”
She has the unique experience of growing up and working on both sides of the Red River valley. Born in Denison, Texas, she has lived in southern Oklahoma for the past 28 years.
Garner graduated from Southeastern Oklahoma State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 2002, specializing in painting and ceramics. Her interest has focused primarily on contemporary abstraction and non-representational painting, but also reaches into sculpture, graphics, and other mixed-media applications. She has been featured in a number of group exhibitions and solo showings across the southwest region of the country.
Garner has received numerous awards for her sculpture and paintings. Her work is included in prominent private and corporate collections across the United States, Canada and Germany. She is currently represented by Studio 107, Ardmore; Artplace Gallery, Denison, TX; Art on 5th, Austin, TX; and Monsoon Gallery, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
Sponsored by the Oklahoma Arts Council. For more information contact Amber Sharples at 405.521.2931 or amber.sharples@arts.ok.gov.
The East Gallery is located on the 1st floor of the State Capitol and open daily from 8:00-5:30.