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About "Influenced by Charles A. Smith" Show in the Peggy Lewis Gallery - 2010-03-16

With different tones of blue, grey, and green smeared purposefully in "Silver Falls", Charles A. Smith seems to reach out his hand, welcoming you to the exhibit. Having never met the man myself, it is easy to see the profound influence he has had on his students over his 35 years of teaching.

Around the corner, Robert Soteto's "Complementary Bug" is so vivid it looks as if it could jump right off the canvas. The art ranges from elaborate costumes, to glass bowls and a recycled cardboard sculpture. There are many ethereal landscapes with colorful, almost indistinguishable forms. But, there seems to be an underlying thread--that of the subconscious.

I got a chance to speak with artist Jerry Freeman when he dropped-off his artwork for the show. He spoke to me a bit about multiple embedded metaphors. How in artwork (or writing!) there are many overlapping feelings and messages that all inter-relate to create the effect the art has on the audience.

One of his pieces features burnt matches made of glass inside of a glass stand. He explained to me that that he couldn't think of anything more useless than a burnt match. It has already served its purpose. Another of his pieces is pen and ink on Braille.

Jerry's works are one example of the many different pieces (and the multiple embedded metaphors) in this exhibit that may charm your imagination, or at least take you away to another world.

-Sean Fitzgerald