Virtual First Friday Continues! Join Us on June 5 for Art & a Silent Auction!

June's Virtual First Friday is going to be an exciting one! New art in all four galleries, including an opportunity to book a private tour and bid on MAC studio artist LuDel Deal Walter's art, with all proceeds from the sales benefiting the MAC!

This is your chance to own a signature LuDel piece, worth $1,000's, for only $100's. Bidding will begin at 5 p.m. on June 5, Virtual First Friday and go through June 19.

From the artist: "My work communicates the boundaries of where time passes into memory and life passes into death. How does memory hold the past captive? How does place tie into time and memory? Memory seems to work in a similar fashion; as we recall people and events from our memories, they are frozen at a particular time like stop-action movie stills or loops of a single scene.

I incorporate objects that are often ignored or overlooked to create meaning. The carcasses and the refuse of our lives are more than simple objects; they connect to the time when life and purpose was contained there. I am using recycled and found objects (hand-made paper, junk, bones, etc.) to represent the passage of time and the quality between life and death.

I find that by using images of actual carcasses and garbage in combination with textured papers and found objects, I have a more visceral connection to the work. We no longer revere life enough to consider the process of dying; because we can't embrace death, we can't fully embrace life. Every living thing has a quality that leaves the body at the time of death. Every object has a quality of memory. What is that liminal quality? Where is it? These pieces are intended to ask the viewer to consider the life and purpose that once inhabited these images."

Walters' work is hanging in the Grand Hallway gallery in 515.

In the Slam Gallery, MAC studio artist Ken Cowdery's Retroluminaries are on display. Cowdery's artwork is also available to be viewed and purchased by appointment.

From the artist:
"The images I love creating line art and I love how easy it is to reproduce. Something as simple as a stencil can reproduce line art. My most recent work using a laser cutter and etcher, offers a new outlet using state-of-the-art technology. Line art can be beautiful, funny or strange, but almost always has strong visual impact.

The media and technology
The laser cutter and engraver is uniquely suited to work with line artwork. It can cut and engrave using many kinds of materials. Keeping the work two dimensional keeps me in touch with the original intent of the image, but by adding multiple layers, you can also enjoy a three dimensional piece. Paper and wood were some of the earliest materials used to mass produce images and words, but with new technology, paper and wood can once again be fresh and optimistic.

I am a doodler. I am unable to sit with a pencil in my hand and not draw. It’s compulsive and something I love to do. I particularly love creating line artwork. Drawing while only using two colors presents interesting challenges and opportunities. Once it has been created, line art can be reproduced using various technologies. While I still use pencils and pens to draw, I create most of my images using Adobe Illustrator. After teaching Graphic Arts and Digital Media for 34 years in both high school and college levels, I have retired. I am happy to finally have time to spend time on my own work."

To set up an appointment for a private tour of the galleries, contact manager@manitouartcenter.org.