Two Exhibitions Opening in May April 21 2016
New Smyrna Beach, FL — Arts on Douglas announces the opening of two new exhibitions for the month of May. Mixed media textile artist Bobbi Baugh presents Storytelling and Explorations, on view May 7 - 31, 2016 with an opening reception on Saturday, May 7 from 4-7pm. Photographer Alexander Diaz presents Florida’s Mountains, on view May 7 - June 11, 2016 with an opening reception on Saturday, May 7 from 4-7pm. Arts on Douglas will also host an Artists Talk with Bobbi Baugh on May 13 at 11am. All exhibitions, receptions and Artists Talk events are free and open to the public.
In the Feature Gallery:
Storytelling and Explorations
by Bobbi Baugh
On view: May 7 - 31, 2016
Opening reception: Saturday, May 7, 4-7pm
Artists Talk: Friday, May 13, 11am
Fiber artist Bobbi Baugh’s artwork crosses multiple genres and mediums. Her chosen artistic medium is a complimentary mix of two processes: hand printmaking and collage construction. She is one of the select fiber artists we represent at Arts on Douglas. Baugh stands out as a textile maverick with a unique product called an "art quilt." She is part of an upcoming juried exhibition at the unparalleled Textile Museum at George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
Baugh is interested in patterns and connections: human, organic, and those that imply causality and consequence. Those elements compel her to dig beneath the surface and explore what’s there. The title of the exhibition, Storytelling and Explorations, refers to the dual nature Baugh role plays as artist. She invites onlookers to look deeply at the images, to remember them and to wonder about their meaning.
Baugh says of her current work in the exhibition, “Everything begins with printmaking. The images are printed as monotypes - by hand - with acrylic paints. I print either onto rice paper or fabric. The printed pieces are then arranged into compositions. Sometimes I collage onto a heavy watercolor paper. Sometimes I collage onto a heavy fabric. Either method may incorporate machine stitching. The fabric-collaged pieces are either mounted on wooden panels or fabric-trimmed and backed as art quilts.”
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Bobbi lives and works in DeLand, Florida. Building on her previous work creating mixed media 3-D artwork, Bobbi changed direction in 2009 to focus on 2-D work. Her art has evolved to a blend of printmaking, collage, surface design and fabric construction. Bobbi is a graduate of Stetson University in DeLand. Baugh earned a BA 1976 in Studio Art and Speech Communication and an MAT in 1979 in Humanities and Education. She has had a thirty year career in commercial printing and currently works as a product designer/brand manager for CB Gifts.
In the alt_space:
Florida's Mountains
by Alexander Diaz
On view: May 7 - June 11, 2016
Opening reception: Saturday, May 7, 4-7pm
Alexander Diaz’s photographs harken back to the early days of traditional American landscape photography. He recounts having daydreamed about exploring and experiencing wild places as a young boy and cites those early memories as the wellspring of his fascination with exploration and photography.
In a similar vein as the late 19th century and early 20th century American photographers, Diaz utilizes nature in its essence as his main muse in this exhibition. There is a subtle complexity to this collection of photographs. Diaz is concerned with showcasing what is not visible rather than what is. It is the absence of the sublime that he is concerned with representing. He urges his viewer to contemplate the ecological effects of current land use practices.
On this collection, Diaz remarks, “These photographs depict my explorations of the Florida landscape, specifically its mountains. The project continues in the tradition of American landscape photography that was established and developed by Carleton E. Watkins, Ansel Adams, and their contemporaries. However, these images do not present the pristine or the magnificent scenery typical of early landscape photography; rather, these images resemble natural landscapes and indicate a transformation. Traditional landscape photographers would capture a rugged peak for its sublime or picturesque qualities. I photograph these mounds to remind the viewer of the natural grandeur that has been lost to development and to encourage contemplation of current land use practices.”
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Alexander Diaz is an Associate Professor of Photography at the University of North Florida. Diaz’s artwork is a mix of documentary photography and conceptual art. He utilizes photography to express his concerns and to comment on environmental issues, consumerism, religion, and the particulars of place. His work has been exhibited at many institutions such as the Museum of Contemporary Art in Jacksonville, Norton Museum of Art and Mobile Museum of Art.