Historic Bear’s Mill’s Clark Gallery will feature the glittering glass vessels of Cedarville, Ohio glassblower Jim DeLange along with the Cubist-Expressionist paintings of Simon La Bozetta, a Columbus-based fine artist, at the upcoming “Art At the Mill” exhibit opening Friday, August 27 with a reception from 6 to 8 p.m. The exhibit will continue through Sunday, September 19; “Art at the Mill,” curated by Jan Roestamadji and Julie Clark, is free and open to the public.
According to Ms. Roestamadji, Mr. La Bozetta’s well-executed artwork leans toward a unique genre which fellow artists have dubbed Cubist-Expressionism. “Simon uses color, movement, and a mathematical sensibility that evokes an emotional response while also spurring mindful thought, a unique trait that gives his work a lasting appeal when placed in homes and offices,” Ms. Roestamadji explained. Color and shape are also integral to the glass pieces produced by Mr. DeLange, which Ms. Clark describes as graceful and elegant. “We are thrilled to be displaying the powerfully beautiful work of these highly skilled artists,” said Ms. Clark.
When former school guidance counselor Jim DeLange began blowing glass in 2007, he instantly knew that he had discovered a new passion. “Glass in its liquid form has almost endless possibilities,” the artist explained. He goes on to say that he finds the process itself to be the most intriguing part of working with hot glass. DeLange’s work assumes many forms and encompasses all the colors of the rainbow, adding excitement to the space it occupies and engendering exhilaration in the viewer and aptly demonstrating how he has matured as an artist, achieving an astounding mastery of complexity in style, color, and form.
Simon La Bozetta is a potato grower/developer, a skill adding a multi-dimensional organic level to his paintings. His artworks range from hyper-realism to the abstract, with his current pieces leaning toward a unique genre that combines principles of Cubism with Expressionism; in Cubist artwork, objects are broken up and reassembled in an abstracted form, depicting the subject from multiple viewpoints. Expressionism presents the world solely from a subjective perspective, distorting it to evoke thought and emotion. These principles are evident in a colorful piece entitled “Eye Candy” which immediately induces delight in the viewer, while the blue-tinged “Misleading Perceptions” moves the viewer to more closely examine and analyze the pleasing image.
Earthenware pottery and wood panels exploring elements of space and line in various media created by Richmond, Indiana-based artist Thomas Hill will continue to be on display in the Clark Gallery through Sunday, August 22. The Clark Gallery and the Mill Shop are operated by Friends of Bear’s Mill; the Mill and surrounding grounds are the newest addition to Darke County Parks. Bear’s Mill is located at 6450 Arcanum-Bear’s Mill Road, about 5 miles east of Greenville. “Art At the Mill” is funded in part by a grant from Darke County Endowment for the Arts, and can be viewed during regular Mill store hours, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays. The park and trails are open daily from 8 a.m. until sunset. For more information, contact Bear’s Mill at 937-548-5112 or www.bearsmill.org
Photos: Above, Jim DeLange Hand Blown Glass. Below, Simon La Bozetta Painting.
