Savannah College of Art & Design presents "Caught Captive" by Erick Swenson

Written by Katherine Acers Wednesday, 06 January 2010 21:26

ATLANTA, GA.- The Savannah College of Art and Design presents “Caught Captive” by acclaimed artist Erick Swenson. The exhibition will be on display at the Trois Gallery, 1600 Peachtree St., through Jan. 24, 2010. A reception will be held Jan. 14th, at 6 p.m. The exhibition and reception are free and open to the public. Swenson’s appeal is vast – from admirers of anatomical drawing to special effects enthusiasts. The work can be a bit deceiving at first glance. In “Carpet Piece” the carpet, which appears to be a woven rug, is actually made of carefully hand-painted fiberglass. Swenson’s hybrid animal called a “muncie” is not as naturalistic as it may seem. The fawn-like animal has the ears of a rabbit and the nose of a dog.

"Caught Captive" is an exhibition of naturalistic cast resin sculpture that showcases Swenson's hyper-realistic hybrid creatures frozen in moments of dramatic tension or austere isolation. Situated between art and science, Swenson's masterfully crafted, allegorical creatures denote the delicate balance in nature, the allure of death and the vulnerability of life.

“Erick’s sculptures are incredible on both a formal and conceptual level. The detail is awe-inspiring, which is what initially draws you in. Then once in front of the pieces, you begin to consider their complexity,” notes Senior Curator Melissa Messina.

Swenson’s career skyrocketed after his “Carpet Piece” sculpture was exhibited in the 2004 Whitney Biennial in New York. He has since exhibited nationally and internationally. Swenson was born in 1972 in Phoenixville, Pa. He holds a B.F.A. in studio art with a focus on drawing and painting from the University of North Texas. Swenson has had solo exhibitions in such locations as the James Cohan Gallery in New York City; the UCLA Hammer Museum in Los Angeles; and the Villa Stuck in Munich, Germany. Group shows include “Art in America: Now” at Shanghai MOCA in Shanghai, China, and “USA Today” at the Saatchi Gallery in London, England.

Select works of Erick Swenson are permanently held in public collections including the Modern Art Museum of Ft. Worth, Texas; the Contemporary Museum in Honolulu, Hawaii; the Saatchi Collection in London, England; and the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City. National and international publications including Art in America, Artforum, Newsweek and TimeOut New York have featured articles highlighting his work. Swenson currently lives and works in Dallas, Texas.

The SCAD Museum of Art, dedicated in 2002, is a vibrant center of art in the heart of historic Savannah. With approximately 4,500 objects, its collections represent one of the strongest assemblages of art in the Southeast, rich in variety and depth. The museum is housed in the National Historic Landmark former headquarters of the Central of Georgia Railroad, a historic and architectural treasure. The 1856 Greek Revival building has recently undergone major exterior preservation work.

The SCAD Museum of Art supports the academic and creative programs at SCAD by providing students with direct encounters with works by major artists, thereby enriching the artistic, educational and cultural offerings available to the college and wider communities.

Visit The Savannah College of Art and Design at : http://www2.scad.edu/exhibitions/

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