Date/Time
Date(s) - 05/02/2021
All Day
Location
4 Elements Studio
Categories No Categories
4 Elements Studio is pleased to announce the solo exhibition of collage artist Steven Specht. The exhibition, “Emergence”, will be available for viewing in-person by appointment and online from April 5 through May 14. Appointments to view in-person can be made and the exhibition can be viewed online at www.4elementsstudio.org/specht.
An artist talk is scheduled for Saturday, May 8th. The talk will take place in the gym of the Presbyterian Church, downstairs of 4 Elements Studio. The artist talk will be socially distanced, face masks required, and temperatures will be checked upon entering. The artist talk is free to the public and reservations will be required.
Specht is currently the Professor of Psychology at Utica College and resides in New Hartford, NY. He has exhibited his artwork regularly in the annual juried exhibits of the National Collage Society, winning the “Excellence in Collage” award in 2012. He has also shown work in New York City, France, and New Zealand. He has had solo shows at The Other Side in Utica, Arkell Museum, Mohawk Valley Community Arts Center, and The Black Gryphon in Elizabethtown, PA. Steven Specht is also a Signature Member of the National Collage Society.
Artist Statement
“Like most collage artists, I am a collector, an explorer, and an experimenter. I sometimes feel like an entomologist collecting rare and beautiful specimens – in this case the paper ephemera which constitute the elements of my collage compositions. I refer to myself as an ‘analog’ collagist as I do no digital manipulation nor photocopying of elements for my original artwork. The materials I use are taken directly from the books, magazines, calendars, posters and maps I find in various auctions and garage sales. My work might be characterized as “surreal”. My hope is that my works are evocative; in that I provide some ‘narrative’ elements, but hope that the viewer feels free to bring her/his own personal interpretation to the piece. In a way, my pieces are like Rorschach inkblots. When someone asks ‘What is this piece about?’, my response is likely to be ‘What do you think it’s about?’.”
About 4 Elements Studio
4 Elements Studio is a community arts center in downtown Utica, offering artistic services and programming to artists, the community and individuals with special needs. 4 Elements Studio provides countless opportunities to create and enjoy the arts including classes and workshops for all ages, individualized programming for people with disabilities, gallery space, exhibitions, work spaces and other artistic resources. Please note the gallery and exhibition spaces are currently only open by appointment. For more information on 4 Elements Studio, please visit www.4elementsstudio.org.