The University of Wisconsin-Platteville Visual Arts program will present “The Figure in Multiple Dimensions,” featuring works by professional artists Amy Fichter, Jason Ruhl and Jason Briggs in Nohr Gallery, Ullsvik Hall. The exhibition will run from Sept. 7 through Monday, Oct. 17, with an opening reception on Tuesday, Sept. 13 from 3:30-4:30 p.m.
The exhibition consists of both 2D and 3D art works and runs in conjunction with the Drawing III and Clay Figure Sculpture courses being taught this semester, both of which are primarily concerned with drawing and sculpting the human figure.
“There is nothing more familiar than the human figure,” said Scott Steder, lecturer of art at UW-Platteville. “While our courses are largely focused on working from direct observation, we want our students to see that this is only the foundation of many works. The figure can be a deeply contemplated subject that allows us to explore a wide range of concepts.”
Fichter’s work draws from her training in classical figure drawing and focuses on the human body’s gesture, movement and expression in her figurative work. She has worked in soft pastel, conté crayon and – as seen in her works in Nohr Gallery – is investigating the medium of relief printmaking.
Ruhl, while trained as a printmaker, works in a host of media. His exploration of the figure as a means of compilation and search for meaning is explored in the work currently featured at Nohr Gallery. Ruhl gleans imagery from an array of sources, layering and juxtaposing the figure in ways that are fresh, thoughtful and unexpected.
Briggs' porcelain sculptures turn the traditional world of ceramics on its ear by creating objects that, as a whole, do not appear to be part of the natural world, but the more the viewer looks at them, the more they will see recognizable pieces that have been brought together in a surreal collection of textures, shapes and functions.
Nohr Gallery is located on the lower level of Ullsvik Hall on the UW-Platteville campus. For information about gallery hours, contact nohr_gallery@uwplatt.edu or call 608-342-2787.