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Call it ingenuity or rule breaking. Concepts like collaboration and taking creative chances also spring to mind. Maybe it’s entitlement; maybe it’s art.
No matter what words are chosen to describe the two walls fastened together to display art, the “construction” was designed to open minds and shake things up a bit inside the membership of the Southampton Artists Association (SAA). The installation is part of SAA’s 2008 Memorial Day Show at the Levitas Gallery at the Southampton Cultural Center. The show remains on view through May 31.
The installation made up of two walls was designed to showcase the artwork of SAA members James Wightman and James Witker. They decided to make an installation that would allow them to submit more art than the usual two or three pieces allowed in SAA’s show, Mr. Wightman said. SAA has five shows for its membership and one student art show each year. The membership shows are not juried and typically have a wide range of talent on view from beginners to those who exhibit in galleries.
Deciding to collaborate gave the two longtime members an excuse to pool their talents to see what they could come up with. The men joined two large panels to form a 90-degree angle, giving each artist a stretch of wall on which to hang his work. One panel features a circular cutout in which a two-sided artwork that was a model for a larger stained glass installation is suspended. The wall “construction” is titled “Sheltering Sky Series.”
The unit and art displayed were inspired by a series of artworks by Mr. Witker. The patterned pieces lend themselves to being exhibited together, Mr. Wightman said. The piece-per-artist limitation would negate the effect, which inspired Mr. Wightman to think 3-D. Since both artists are interested in color, their artwork is complementary, making the idea of creating a backdrop installation a good one.
Creating the installation was also meant to stir up the emotions of the SAA members and get them to think beyond a canvas, Mr. Wightman said. “I think it shows a little more flexibility to what we can do, if we work at it,” he said. “Even though I’m retired, I’m always a teacher. I hope that people will start thinking outside of the box and stretch themselves a bit.”
SAA exhibition chair Andrew S. Masino was supportive of the installation. “I like the idea of two members getting together to work together. I like conceptual art and happenings, so why not? … You’ve got to give them credit. They took a chance to do something new.”
The Memorial Day show on view is one of the largest SAA shows in memory, Mr. Wightman said. Last year for the first time, SAA held group shows at the Levitas Gallery year-round. This year, the Southampton Cultural Center decided to form an arts committee and is holding juried solo shows.
The five member shows of the SAA include the Mid-Summer Art Show held at the Levitas Center from July 10-26; the Art in the Park show July 19 and 20 is open to non-members. SAA’s other shows are held on Labor Day, Thanksgiving and a Winter Show in December and January.
The current show features more than 100 pieces of art submitted by 38 members. Most of the works are paintings with some photography. Sale proceeds will benefit the South Fork Breast Health Coalition. The Memorial Day Show will be on view through May 31. The gallery is open Friday through Monday from noon to 6 p.m. and from Tuesday through Thursday from noon to 4 p.m. The Southampton Cultural Center is located at 25 Pond Lane. For information, call 287-4377 or visit www.southamptonculturalcenter.org.
on May 20, 2008