New course for Spring 2014

September

Seizing the last of Summer's warm weather and prolonged daylight, the material culture community gathered at Prof. Ann Smart Martin's home for a "welcome-back" potluck dinner. In addition to our signature dishes, we all brought forms of outdoor lighting so we could enjoy the patio scene after the sun had set.

Lots of candles, tiki torches, and battery operated lanterns enabled us to banish the darkness; while a single carved watermelon with its ambient red glow served as a beautiful and fragrant centerpiece.

On Saturday, a group of students visited Forest Hill Cemetery for a tour led by Mark Gajewski.  It was a cold and windy day, but we had a great time viewing monuments and learning about the lives of some of Madison's most important figures.



Highlights:

(Above and Left) Gravestones belonging to descendents of 

Thomas Jefferson, 3rd US President

Classically inspired monument belonging to the Slaughter family

Thanks again, Mara, for leading an excellent tour this afternoon!

Below is a photograph of one of Getty's works.  Apparently the artist calls these long, horizontal pieces "books" because they are made from individual sketches that are joined together at a later moment in the artistic process.  The final product is almost like a visual journal - one sketch (or more) per day!

lighthouse boogie

8" x 42", graphite, acrylic ink, gouache, 

and collage on paper, 2013

We also viewed the adjoining show entitled "Motion Studies" by Amy Carani. 
The bold, geometric patterns were an interesting contrast to the more free-flowing style of the "Lascaux Dreams" exhibition. 

"Lascaux Dreams" by Teresa Getty
	This exhibition will be on display in the Memorial Union Porter Butts Gallery until September 17th, from 10AM until 8PM every day. Mara Champagne, the Summer Coordinator for the WUD Art Committee and the new Associate Director of the Memorial Union Galleries and Submissions, will be leading a special tour for the Material Culture Focus Group on Thursday, September 12th at 4PM.  Please join us for the event!
Artist's statement:	"I want my process-driven paintings and drawings to be documents of some thing. This drive is rooted in contemplating the commensal relationship of man and machine; one lived first hand with my machine-dependent daughter. I am compelled to document her life while struggling to redefine my mistrust of mechanical progress, but the result is not a representational visual record. Process generates content, weaving time and memory into mark."