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Edgier art on display locally

Published 10/12/2009 in Local News

By SHAJIA AHMAD

sahmad@gctelegram.com

The dark colors in William Shanks' painting convey the dismal disposition of his subject, someone who is dissatisfied as he looks back on his life and realizes what he has become.

Mostly blues and charcoal shades of black color the canvasses similar to the aforementioned piece entitled "I Do Not Want This" and is something the local artist described as "far left field for Garden City."

"Most of the art I've seen in the area is very traditional, very safe," the 20-year-old student at Garden City Community College said. "My art has almost always received negative criticism. But, hey, that's OK, because to each their own. Art is truly in the eye of the beholder."

Shanks is one of 13 local artists featured in "Art on the Edge," a new exhibit organized by the Southwest Arts and Humanities Council that opened this Saturday at the ArtCenter on Main, located in downtown Garden City.

Dozens of art enthusiasts came out for the exhibit's opening weekend, to explore artwork several described as "more than just landscapes and fruit bowls," that the local arts council would like to see more of in the future, they said.

In addition to both chaotic and concrete shapes, local artists have created works made from spray paint, clay, abalone shell and turquoise stones, and even a mix of several media, including watercolor, oil and metals.

"In terms of southwest Kansas, the art is definitely edgier," said Valarie Smith, a Garden Citian and graduate student of art therapy who said she came out to see the latest work by Archie Oliver, another artist and local educator featured in the show. "I'm glad to see the local council embracing a different side of art out here."

Gallery manager Stephanie Metheny said the arts council has been looking for a different variety of art for the last few months and said she hopes to continue to host unique artists who can garner more community involvement with their art. The latest show is anomalous to previous exhibits accommodated at the arts center, the gallery manager admitted.

"We've got hairpins with bugs on 'em, and some of the art is really darker or moodier than you'd usually find," Metheny said. "Of course, it's not as edgy as something you'd find in the New York City art scene, but some people here are saying 'What is that?' or 'What does that mean?' and that's what we want."

Heidi Davis, a member of the arts council board, agreed.

"Art is supposed to make you think and talk and try to figure out what it's all about," said Davis, who's been with the council for three years.

Both Metheny and Davis agreed that area artists are limited in the places they can expose their work because the number of galleries and art centers also are limited in the region. Both arts advocates agreed that providing a forum such as "Art on the Edge" to expose southwest Kansans to contemporary artwork is a goal of the council.

A few canvasses away from Shanks' dark-hued oils, local artist Pat Barb's bright, bold and fluorescent colors light up the downtown gallery.

In one of the artist's compositions, a human-like finger plugs the mouth of a pistol that bears a devil's crimson tail.

Barb, a student of general studies at Fort Hays State University, said he hopes to one day combine his plans to go into the ministry with his artwork.

"In this painting, I'm trying to convey the finger of God to the viewer, that indeed if we believe that He'll protect us, He will," the 21-year-old artist said. "Several of the paintings I do carry classic messages of good vs. evil."

The gallery's exhibit will run for six weeks, ending Nov. 20.

Other contributing artists in the exhibit include Katie Van Blaricum, Shane Chapman, Laurie Chapman, Randy Haggard, Martha Kenton, Gary Moore, Colton Newell, Nathan Novack, Jack Simpson and Ronald G. Smith.

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