47 East 200 North St. George, UT 84770 (435) 627-4525 museum@sgcity.org Mon - Sat: 10am - 5pm 3rd Thursday 10am - 9pm Return to Current Exhibits Return to Past Exhibits RECONNECTIONS: Bryon Draper Sculptures and Brent Haddock Prints Show available: July 16, 2005 through September 10, 2005 ARTIST'S STATEMENT - BRYON DRAPER My work consists of the fragmented figure. I build sculptures by interchanging selected cast bronze fragments of the figure with blocks of stone. The stones add a gestural force, along with spatial alignment, that ties the fragments together. Because the sculptures are constructed with the incomplete figure, they involve viewers by giving them the opportunity to participate in visually connecting the segments in a way that is understandable to them. Most people, whether consciously or subconsciously, have the desire to put pieces of information together in such a way that life becomes meaningful. I try not to impose any particular meaning on the viewer, but rather try to develop layers or suggestions of possible meaning. This leaves greater room for viewers to interject their own associations. People bring to the pieces their own experiences and understanding of life and this permits them to interpret the work with their own connections and conclusions. I believe I am drawn, in part, to the use of intentional fragmentation of the figure as a result of my interest in the sculptural ruins of antiquity. I am also fascinated by the human ability to develop meaning through the arrangement of fragments of information. It is through this assimilation that we construct our reality. Associated with this idea is my interest in the dual nature of the fragment and the whole. A fragment in and of itself could be considered a whole. The seemingly whole could also be considered a fragment or a part of something bigger. My sculptures can be seen either way depending on one's point of view. Process in making sculpture is important and satisfying to me. Leaving visual hints of the process in my work gives the pieces another avenue of interest for the viewer. The ability to control the medium is important, yet at the same time I want to allow the material to assert itself. One of my most engaging challenges is finding an intuitive balance between the two. It is my desire to create sculptures that are contemplative in nature; a stimulus in the mind of the viewer toward deeper personal meaning. ABOUT THE ARTIST - BRYON DRAPER Bryon Draper was born and raised in Cardston, Alberta, Canada. In 1990 he graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Brigham Young University - Hawaii. Following graduation, he returned to Canada where he met and married Cathenia Yawney in May of 1991. A year later he was accepted into the Master of Fine Arts program at Brigham Young University - Provo. After graduating in 1995 with an emphasis in sculpture, he and his wife returned to Canada. In 1999 he accepted a full-time position at Brigham Young University in Provo, where he currently teaches sculpture. Bryon's sculptures have been included in numerous national and international juried exhibitions and have received several awards. He and his wife Cathenia and their three children, Breanne, Alexandra and Keaton are presently living in Springville. ARTIST'S STATEMENT - BRENT HADDOCK I create hand-pulled intaglio prints based on thoughts of Renaissance life, and feelings about the desert canyons where I live. Semi-abstract, my prints are characterized by graphic compositions, natural elements of design and subtle color harmonies. While printmaking has a long history, I craft my images with modern resources. They are made using the creative and expressive dynamics of a new, safer, non-toxic approach to printmaking that uses no harmful acids, solvents or chemicals. The result is a strikingly modern image that nonetheless retains much of the authority of the traditional medium. Process: ImagOn is a non-toxic photopolymer film manufactured by Du Pont that is used as a photo etching resist. Film positives are made by drawing with opaque materials such a toner washes on films and also computer generated LGN vellum transparency papers. The exposure is made using an Olec ALI3I exposure unit and developed in a mild (non-toxic) soda ash solution. The prints are printed by hand from copper plates on a Dickerson combination etching press. Why I make prints: I make prints because in using the plates, tools and technology, I can produce work that cannot be done by any other means. I am awed by the unique textural characteristics of prints. In the words of Gabor Peterdi, one of the outstanding twentieth-century printmakers, "…I am interested in printmaking, not as a means of reproduction, but as an original, creative medium. Even if I could pull only one print from each of my plates, I would still make them." ABOUT THE ARTIST - BRENT HADDOCK Brent Haddock received a Bachelor of Arts in Printmaking from BYU in 1974 and a Master of Fine Arts degree from Utah State University in 1978. During his career as an art instructor at College of Eastern Utah, he developed a comprehensive printmaking program and established non-toxic printmaking innovations. He served as Gallery Director for Gallery East, as well as Dean of Humanities and Social Science, and as Academic Vice-President for CEU. His work has been exhibited widely throughout the American west and as far away as Australia, and is represented in numerous collections, both public and private. This spring Brent retired from his career in education, and began a new career as a graphic designer in the private sector.