Glass jellyfish and aluminum structures will illuminate the dimly lit Union Art Gallery for the Neon and Electric Sculpture Exhibit until Nov. 2.
The gallery currently features sculptures and paintings by California artist Jim Jenkins and New Orleans-based artists Michael Cain and Eric Ehlenberger.
“[The Union Art Gallery Committee] selected Jim Jenkins because he uses a combination of neon and electricity in his work,” said Judith Stahl, Union Art Gallery director. “We also wanted to show artists that do neon art in this area as well.”
Cain, who has eight paintings and two sculptures in the gallery, began experimenting with neon art in 1989 at Kent State University. He resigned from Kent to get first-hand experience with his art. Three years later he completed his degree at Wisconsin State University.
“I use all kinds of other media, but there’s almost always an element of light in my work,” he said.
Cain’s neon art has been exhibited nationwide.
“It’s been exhibited anywhere from California to New York,” he said.
Cain said the two sculptures in the middle of the gallery are his newest pieces.
“It’s hard to do sculptures of that type for obvious reasons, so it’s nice when I can do work like that,” he said.
Cain’s “Scars Compositions,” a series of acrylic and masonite based neon art, was inspired by Hurricane Katrina’s effects on the New Orleans area. In his artist’s biography displayed next to one of his pieces, Cain said the red neon slashes symbolize the open wounds Katrina created, and the black portions of the pieces signify the waterline the hurricane left behind and the “absence of life below it.”
Jenkins, who has been creating motorized art for 30 years, said he became interested in kinetic art because it mixes science with art.
Jenkins exhibited his piece titled “The Yonder,” an electric sculpture featuring five blue motorized birds inside a shaking red neon house in Japan three years ago.
All Jenkins’ motorized sculptures in the gallery are either activated by pushing a red button or by motion sensors.
“I think that one thing I enjoy about my work is that in most cases the viewer gets to activate it,” he said. “It’s a nice connection with the view and the sculpture.”
Tina Ufford, who works at the Creative Arts Center, said her favorite pieces were Jenkins’ electric sculpture of a small spinning chair titled “The Little Chair” and Cain’s “Scars Compositions.”
“The chair sculpture incorporates movement and electricity with art,” she said. “It’s the most interactive piece.”
Ehlenberger’s five glass and neon jellyfish hang in the gallery over a series of four sculptures titled “Flora” and one titled “Garden.” He also has two colorful structures mounted on the wall made from aluminum, glass, silicone and neon.
—–Contact Angelle Barbazon at [email protected]