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Mobiles and
abstract paintings at Bear’s Mill
The upcoming installment of “Art at the Mill” on display from August 31
through September 23 will feature intriguing mobiles by Dayton-area
architect Terry Welker along with the dynamic abstract paintings of his
friend and art partner Ron Rollins, who since 1986 has worked as a
writer and editor at Dayton Daily News. This exhibit in the Clark
Gallery at historic Bear’s Mill opens on the Final Friday of August
with a reception from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m., offering finger food and
drinks as well as brief talks by the artists who will share information
about their work, methods, and inspiration at 7 p.m. “Art at the Mill,”
curated by Jan Roestamadji and Julie Clark, is free and open to the
public.
According to Ms. Clark, Mr. Welker’s fascinating mobiles, inspired by
the natural world, will animate the Mill space with their form and
motion. “His simple, yet elegant designs of all sizes use curves, arcs,
and lines to draw three-dimensionally in space, delighting the eye and
the spirit,” Ms. Clark stated. Ms. Roestamadji says that Ron Rollins’
highly colorful paintings inspire happiness, evoking joy in the viewer.
"Ron's bold, strong, and freeing acrylic paintings have garnered a
following among art enthusiasts of every genre. I am thrilled that the
work of these exceptional artists who share a studio in Kettering will
enliven our Clark Gallery, and hope that viewers will be inspired to
consider enlarging their own collections with their outstanding work."
Ron Rollins says that he tries to capture and convey the magic of a
single moment in his highly gestural and spontaneous work which pays
tribute to the great abstract expressionists of the twentieth century.
He is also influenced by the work of his mother, Barbara, a well-known
watercolorist; however, his vivid colors highlighted by bright splashes
of paint are distinctly different from the realistic work of his mom.
“I tend to paint right out of the tube, mixing colors directly on the
canvas. I’ll very quickly throw, squirt, smear, smudge, spatter and
flick paint to create a scene that expresses motion, light, and
energy,” he explains. His works are often untitled, because he doesn’t
want his thinking to crowd out other interpretations, and takes
pleasure in discovering new perspectives of his work provided by
viewers.
Building on the tradition of iconic mobile artist Alexander Calder,
Terry Welker creates his work by experimenting, using trial and error
to allow form to emerge. “Making mobiles comes from my passion for
architecture, poetic space, and meaningful places,” he said. After
completing his graduate work at the University of Cincinnati in 1987,
the architect/artist continued teaching design and drawing at UC for
several years; his teaching background and architectural knowledge
inform his work which enhances many public spaces throughout Ohio and
beyond. His most recent major installation is the highly acclaimed
“Fractal Rain,” at the new Dayton Metro Library; composed of five-miles
of stainless steel wire, Swarovski crystals, and one-third mile of
extruded acrylic prisms, the piece beautifully fills the library’s
atrium with the movement of driving rain.
Striking mosaics crafted from slate and stone by Cincinnati area artist
Peggy Schuning and rustic hewn stone pieces created by Harold Wiley
remain on display at Bear’s Mill through August 26. “Art At the Mill”
is funded in part by a grant from Darke County Endowment for the Arts.
Historic Bear's Mill, owned and operated by Friends of Bear’s Mill, is
located at 6450 Arcanum-Bear's Mill Road about 5 miles east of
Greenville; current hours of operation are Sundays 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.,
and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. For more information,
contact Bear's Mill at 937-548-5112 or www.bearsmill.org.
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