‘Forms, Functions, Friendships’ show defined and shared at Lincoln Arts Institute July exhibit

[July 16, 2021]    If you did not make it out to the Lincoln Arts Institute last week to see the July exhibit, fear not, you have additional opportunities including this evening. The July exhibit features sculpture works by visiting artists Dennis French and Randy Reid along with pieces done by LAI owner Jason Hoffman.

The works are feats of engineering drenched in beauty. The exhibit is perhaps one of the best the LAI and Logan County Arts have brought to the public thus far this year.

Each of the pieces are obviously three-dimensional as they are sculpted works. For the most part they are free-standing and visitors last week enjoyed walking around many of the pieces, taking in all angles and noticing how with each angle the works take on a new perspective and tell a different story.



The one piece that is wall mounted still has a tremendous about of depth and detail. The work by Dennis French entitled Magritte Bieder features maple and poplar woods, aluminum and papier mache. The focal point of the piece is the old time train or locomotive engine, billowing smoke as it emerges from between the two wooden columns. The mirror inserted in the back of the sculpture makes the artwork look larger and deeper than it actually is. The snout of the engine is a working clock. Most, if not all of French’s works incorporate clocks.



Artist Randy Reid brought in several pieces for the exhibit. The winged wooden ring incorporated into “pre-flight” was dominant in a few of his pieces. This intricate 24-inch tall table top sculpture features bird’s eye maple, mahogany and “mixed exotic woods.” Each section is its own piece of eye candy as the viewer takes in everything from the architectural base to the whimsical wings.

This same pattern shows up again as an insert in the back of a beautiful chair called “Predestination” made of mixed exotic woods, maple and the cold cast bronze of the wings. Later in the show there is a third exhibit entitled “Some Assembly Required” that features a wooden box containing the parts needed to put together the winged ring.

Local artist Jason Hoffman has a way of creating works that boggle the mind not only in their beauty but also in their engineering design and craftsmanship. Hoffman is known for his large works that are actually art posing as furniture. The tables Hoffman has on display this month are real attention getters.

One of the most intricate and eye catching of the Hoffman collection was this piece entitled “Champlain” High Top Table.

With a composition of mixed hardwoods, metals, concrete and glass, the table commanded the attention of many. It also took several minutes to take it all in, and with each change of angle the piece changed, with different aspects of the table commanding the attention.

The July artist reception was very well attended as guests came in and spent time leisurely taking in the many works of the three artists.

The show is titled ‘Forms, Functions, Friendships.’ Starting with friendships the three artists are friends who admire and respect each other’s talents. They have some common threads in their works. All enjoy working with wood as their primary medium, but also like incorporating metals and other components to add interest. All three also enjoy exploring shape or form and creating pieces that catch the eye for their detail as well as their beauty. Function is also part of the show, and while there are several whimsical decorating pieces whose only function is to be lovely, there are also several pieces that while art, are also pieces that can be utilized for other more practical applications.

Dennis French is a retired university art professor and was the director of the “Jewelry-Metalsmithing discipline at Illinois State University for 27 years.”

Randy Reid is a 1996 graduate of Illinois State University and is now an Associate Professor of Art at the same university. He runs the Woods and Metals Program at the university’s school of art.
 

Illinois State University is also Jason Hoffman’s alma mater. He graduated with his Bachelor in Fine Art in 2005. Hoffman is known for his large intricate works from paintings to sculptures. His talents are varied and impressive.

At the artist reception held last week, a large crowd gathered to enjoy the art, and a time of relaxation and visiting with the artists and one another.

If you missed this magnificent opening, don’t miss out on a chance to see the exhibit before in goes away. Lincoln Arts Institute is open every Friday evening including tonight. Weather permitting the final third Friday in Downtown Lincoln will take place this evening. There will be lots of activities around the Logan County Courthouse Square including art activities outside the Art Institute. Be sure to come out, enjoy all the Third Friday has to offer and also step inside the Lincoln Arts Institute to take in all the July exhibit also has to offer.

[Nila Smith]