Birchfield Penney Art Center
The Exhibition
1. The Contradictions of Being: Composite works by Harvey Breverman
2. The theme focuses on works by the artists starting in the 1970s, showing the technique of montage, bringing together disparate elements in a composition in order to create tension. According to the Birchfield Penney Art Center website, the focus of his exhibition was the political unrest on college campuses in response to the Vietnam war in the late 60s early 70s.
The Gallery
(The East Gallery)
1. The type of lighting used was actually very light. On the ceiling there were a bunch of white circular bright lights that shined over all the paintings. It really brightened up the art and made them stand out and appear very bold. Great choice of lighting.
2. The wall colors were simple, and white. There was no texture or patterns, just plain smooth simple white walls. This helped bring out the paintings even more, as they were very vibrant, detailed and colorful.
3. The materials used on the interior would include a tan wooden floor, light fixtures on the ceilings, one light grey tiled wall, and simple white walls that hung paintings.
4. The movement through the gallery is kind of twisted and turned. It all has the same vibe, colors, lighting and architecture. As you move from one to the next you see the title of the exhibit on a large white wall as its artwork follows on the walls.
1. The artworks were evenly placed on the wall in no particular organized fashion. Just next to one another, with even distance in between.
2. The artworks are all similar in size, color and theme. Also all oil on canvas. The theme of the late 60s early 70s during Vietnam.
3. Each piece is different in the way that they are all different images, different styles and places.
4. Each artwork is framed by a very thin golden frame.
5. Each painting has a small white card to the right of it in black ink describing it, identifying the name and labeling.
6. They are probably about two feet from each other, each painting is fairly large.
3 Selected Paintings
1. Artist: Harvey Breverman
Title: Interior/exterior
media: oil on canvas
Date: 1995
Size: 3ft x 4ft
I see a beautiful golden building that is detailed with pillars and windows and patterns. A black swirled staircase with a mans hand at the bottom, and a woman's legs dangling off the top of the staircase with a golden skirt and heels. Behind is a hanging mirror. A golden vertical pole stands in the middle of the image. Line is used in the middle pole, building and windows. Color is used as the gold is very vibrant and the black staircase and background is very bold. The staircase in black balances out the rest of the vibrant image. I notice a story behind the man at the bottom and the woman on top, as if maybe the man is after this mysterious woman on top. Maybe it is showing behind the scenes of a relationship, interior/exterior. The outside is attractive the inside is mysterious. This was my favorite piece because it was so eye catching and beautiful.
2. Artsist: Harvey Breverman
Title: Discontinuous Sequence: Decline of the West
media: oil on canvas
Date: 1974
Size: This is in two pieces, one about 3ft x 4ft, the top one, pry 1ft x 4 ft
I see a large image of older men, who appeared to be politicians talking. Their heads then fade into cactuses. The top picture is of two cars, one blue one grey outside of a building with palm trees and two red doors. I see texture as the mens head turn to cactus. You can see the prickly, rough texture of them as they start to fade in the background. Color black is used to pop the cactus. Line is used in the top photo on the street, the pole in the middle, the windows, doors, etc. This image is very symmetric. I think the cactus symbolizes that these guys are all arguing and hard headed. Their cars show the calm outside of the building they are in. The author is trying to show us government officials from WW2 in Los Angeles, California.
3. Artist: Charles E. Burchfield
Title: Light coming into a woods
media: watercolor on paper
Date: 1954
Size: 2ft x 3ft
This painting was so awesome to me an unique. I see dark pine trees and dead trees in a forest with a swirling white and grey cloud in the background. This one was very unique, part of a different exhibit right next to the previous one I spoke about. The lines of the trees create cool patterns and draw your attention. We see contrast of color, black trees and white snow and clouds. The texture of the ground seems very rough and cold. This painting is very balanced in the way that there trees balance out the swirling cloud and ground, in a symmetrical way. Perspective shows that the front tree is closest, it is bigger, but crumbled and dead. This image gives off a mysterious, spooky, yet beautiful dark mood. The trees are dark, and dead. Not quite sure what the artist is telling us, but maybe he just wanted to show emotion.
What did you think of visiting the Gallery and purposefully looking at the exhibition from a different perspective - the physical space, the architecture, theme, etc.?
I enjoyed it! I liked the exhibit I chose and it was cool to see a bunch of similar images together. Honestly, I never even thought that they would be organized by artist. I loved that all of Harvey Breverman's work was displayed together. his work was so awesome to me, happy, vibrant and fun. I never thought about the lighting above the art, the color of the walls or the architecture inside. You see how lighting, wall color and architecture really changes the way you view the art. For example, Harvey's was bright, white walls, vibrant because his work was, for another exhibit I saw with artwork less pleasant, had dark grey walls and dimmer lightening. The exhibit has a lot to do with the way you view artwork and I never really noticed that until the other day when I did the project! 
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