Updated Walking and Driving Guide for Sculpture Invitational

Jesus Moroles' sculpture, Granite Windows, remains on view in Prexy's Pasture.

As the exhibition, Sculpture: A Wyoming Invitational continues to evolve, the walking and driving guide that accompanies it must also change and be updated. This summer has seen the removal of three sculptures from the exhibition: Patrick Dougherty's Short Cut, James Surls' In Circle, and Charmaine Locke's Open Book.

The walking and driving guide, which outlines the sculptures in the exhibition as well as the public art that is on permanent view throughout the community, has recently been updated to reflect the removal of these three works. The cell phone audio tour for the exhibition has also been updated. Copies of the walking and driving guide can be picked up at any of the sculpture locations, the Art Museum front desk, or it can be downloaded from the website.

Surls and Locke Sculptures Leave Laramie

Art Museum Chief Preparator Sterling Smith (left), UW Equipment Services Assistant Manager Russell Austin (center), Equipment Services employee Gordon Latimer (operating the forklift), and artist James Surls (right) load sculpture onto a trailer to be returned to the artists.

Two more sculptures have left the exhibition, Sculpture: A Wyoming Invitational. Colorado artists James Surls and Charmaine Locke were in Laramie yesterday to assist with the de-installation of their work and to transport the work back to their studios. Surls' piece, In Circle, was located in Prexy's Pasture, and Locke's work, Open Book, was in front of the Albany County Public Library. Surl's work was bolted to concrete footers that had to be unfastened and the footers had to be dug back out of the ground. Locke's sculpture was affixed to a concrete pad, which had to be lifted and loaded with a forklift.

As with much of the work in the exhibition, these two pieces were on loan from the artists. Artists will often ask for their artwork to be returned for a variety of reasons, including needing it for another exhibition, the work was purchased, or the loan has expired.

Sculpture: A Wyoming Invitational will continure to evolve as sculptures leave the exhibition, and new ones are added. Keep checking this blog, the Art Museum's facebook page, and the website, for up to date information. An updated driving and walking guide is now available online and at each of the sculpture locations.

Thank you to James Surls and Charmaine Locke for participating in the exhibition and for assisting with the de-installation. Thanks also to the UW Physical Plant crew who assisted yesterday, and to the Art Museum's preparators.

For more information on this or any other exhibition, please call the Art Museum at 307.766.6622.

Final Days to See 2 Works in Sculpture Invitational

Charmaine Locke (American, b. 1950), Open Book, 2004, bronze, ed. 1/5, 79 x 63 x 40 inches, courtesy of the Surls Locke Personal Collection

Like many of the sculptures in the exhibition, Sculpture: A Wyoming Invitational, two works by Colorado artists James Surls and Charmaine Locke were temporarily loaned for the exhibition. As a result, there comes a time when the loan expires, or when an artist needs a piece back for a different exhibition. There are only a few days remaining to see Open Book by Locke, and In Circle by Surls. They will be removed from the exhibition later this week.

Open Book (pictured above) by Charmaine Locke is a bronze sculpture located outside the Albany County Public Library, facing Grand Ave. The work is a call for global peace, and features the phrase, "Why can't we find the path to peace when it is right in front of our eyes?" in six different languages. The arms of the figure hold symbols of nourishment and knowledge.

James Surls' sculpture, In Circle, is located on the north side of Prexy's Pasture. This stainless steel work is different from much of his other sculpture, which includes Rolling Flower, a wood and steel sculpture that is permanently installed in Coe Library. In Circle is dynamic and appears poised for movement. It resembles a molecular structure, or perhaps a tumbleweed.

Be sure to visit these two sculptures before they leave Laramie! A detailed driving guide can be found at each of the sculptures or a downloadable version can be found on the Art Museum's website. For more information on this, or any other exhibition or program, please call the Museum at 307.766.6622.

UW Art Museum Videos on YouTube

The University of Wyoming Art Museum now has four videos available on YouTube. The Art Museum has been working with UW Television to create a series of filmed interviews with contemporary artists. When the Art Museum hosts an exhibition, often times the artist comes to Laramie to either assist with installation of the exhibition, or for various public programs, like an Art Talk or to work with students.

Capturing the words, voices, and ideas of these contemporary artists is an important aspect in developing a fuller understanding and appreciation of their work. Currently available on YouTube are interviews with James Surls, Kwang-Young Chun, Peter Sarkisian, and the most recent addition, Harold Garde.

To view any of these videos, visit the UW Art Museum's channel on YouTube.

James Surls: Flowers Closes Saturday

James Surls: Flowers installation view

Last chance to see James Surls: Flowers, an exhibition of scultpure that explores the floral theme, a signature motif in the artist's work, and the idea of sculpture suspended from the ceiling.  All are precursors to Rolling Flower, the major commissioned work of art for Coe Library's new expansion.

James Surls: Flowers closes Saturday, May 8.  Gallery hours are 10am - 5 pm Mon. - Fri.

James Surls Audio Tour at Coe Library and the Art Museum

The cell phone audio tour for the exhibition of James Surls' sculpture is now live at the Art Museum. Call in to hear information about his work like this one, Me and the Black Flower with the Needle and Thread.

Image courtesy of the artist.

The cell phone audio tour that accompanies the exhibition James Surls: Flowers is now posted at the Art Museum. Visitors to the museum can access additional information about James Surls' career and materials use by calling 307.200.0040 from their cell phone. This is a free service at the art museum, and different audio tour prompts are assigned to different exhibitions and specific artwork throughout the museum. Handouts are available at the front desk.

With the recent installation of Surls' Rolling Flower in the 5th floor atrium of Coe Library, it seemed the perfect opportunity to provide UW students, the public, and library patrons with information about this sculpture, which is the latest permanent installation of large-scale sculpture on the UW campus. Jennifer Mayer, Fine Arts Librarian at Coe, volunteered to write a prompt about Rolling Flower and to record the audio tour for the James Surls exhibition. Look for signs in Coe Library to access the cell phone audio tour for Rolling Flower.

Surls' work is also included in the exhibition Sculpture: A Wyoming Invitational. Prompt number 13 of the cell phone audio tour is dedicated to his work in this exhibition, In Circle.

For full instructions on how to use the cell phone audio tour, dial 307.200.0040 and press 1, followed by the pound key (#). Handouts are available on the Art Museum's webpage, at individual sculptures in Sculpture: A Wyoming Invitational, and at the Art Museum front desk. This is also an opportunity for visitors to leave their feedback, including comments and suggestions. Press 0, followed by the pound key to leave us a message!

2 Artists to Give Talks

Video artist Peter Sarkisian is seen here installing his exhibition at the Art Museum.

Photo courtesy of the Art Museum

Two renowned artists are at the Art Museum today and tomorrow to finish installing their work and to present public talks. Santa Fe artist Peter Sarkisian creates 3D surfaces on which he projects images that confront the viewer with a conflict of perception! His exhibition, Peter Sarkisian: Video Works, 1996-2008, is a small retrospective that examines his various approaches to video art. Peter will give an Art Talk tonight at 7 pm. On Friday, he will present a Gallery Walk Through at 10:30 am.

James Surls, Black tipped Flowers from the Garden
Photo courtesy of the artist

You might be familiar with James Surls' work already! He has two works currently on the UW campus. In Circle is a stainless steel piece on Prexy's Pasture and is a part of the exhibition, Sculpture: A Wyoming Invitational. Recently, Coe Library installed Rolling Flower in their upstairs atrium. His exhibition, James Surls: Flowers, presents 5 large-scale sculptures that are precursors to the piece in Coe. James will present a Gallery Walk Through on Friday at 4:30 pm.
All events are free and open to the public. There will be an opening reception on Friday evening after James' Gallery Walk Through, beginning at 6 pm. An Awards Ceremony in conjunction with the 35th Annual Juried UW Student Exhibition will begin at 6:30 pm.

We hope to see you at these exciting events! For more information, call the Art Museum at 307.766.6622 or visit the website for additional information on these exhibitions.

James Surls at the University of Wyoming

Now available on the University of Wyoming webpage! Listen to James Surls discussing his new permanent installation in Coe Library.

Click here. Click on refresh to cycle through to the video clip.

James Surls Installation in Coe Library Underway

Jonathon Hickerson, Paul Tholl,
and Anthony Teneralli assemble Rolling Flower
under the new skylight in Coe Library.

James Surls is in Laramie today to install his commissioned work for Coe Library, Rolling Flower. He is assisted by volunteers Jonahon Hickerson, Paul Tholl, Anthony Teneralli, and Frederick Schmechel. Rolling Flower is a 12-ft diameter work consists of a center stem with 12 floral elements. It was created in Surls' Colorado studio and transported to Laramie by the artist.

Surls will discuss the work tomorrow, Saturday, in Coe Library on the 5th floor of the new expansion at 1 pm. His talk is free and open to the public.

James Surls to Present Public Talk at Coe Library

James Surls, Rolling Flower

Courtesy of the artist

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

James Surls, nationally known artist, will give an Art Talk on Saturday, October 24 at 1 p.m. in William Robertson Coe Library. The public Art Talk is free and will be followed by a reception to celebrate the installation of Surls’ newest piece, Rolling Flower, in William Robertson Coe Library.

Surls is best known for his sculpture work. He is noted as being “one of America’s most important living sculptors and one of the most distinctive creative forces on the international art scene in the last several decades.” Time Magazine announces that “Surls sculpture is infused, at the start, with a real sense of fright: the noonday demon lurking in the woodpile.”

Surls is also known for his work with non-profit organizations and emerging artists. He has worked as an arts administrator and arts educator alongside his wife and fellow artist Charmaine Locke. Both Surls and Locke have large-scale sculptures in the exhibition Sculpture: A Wyoming Invitational.

University of Wyoming Libraries

Save the Date: James Surls Art Talk at Coe Library

Nationally known, Colorado-based artist James Surls will present an Art Talk on Saturday, October 24 at 1 pm at Coe Library. His Art Talk will be followed by a reception to celebrate the installation of his new piece, Rolling Flowers, in Coe Library. Surls created the piece specifically for the new library wing. With the installation of his metal and wood sculpture, the focus on public and community continues in Laramie.

Surls is known for his work with non-profit organizations and emerging artists. He has worked as an arts administrator and arts educator alongside his wife and fellow artist Charmaine Locke. Both Surls and Locke have large-scale sculptures in the exhibition Sculpture: A Wyoming Invitational.


Mark it on your calendar today! This event is free and open to the public.

Sculptures by James Surls and Charmaine Locke Installed for Sculpture: A Wyoming Invitational

James Surls stands with his sculpture In Circle while the site is prepared to receive the sculpture. Photo courtesy of the UW Art Museum.

James Surls, In Circle, on Prexy's Pasture. Photo courtesy of the UW Art Museum.

Last week, James Surls and Charmaine Locke delivered and installed their sculptures for Scultpure: A Wyoming Invitational. In Circle was place on Prexy's Pasture along the north walkway. The work is stainless steel and represents a new direction in Surls' visual vocabulary, appearing molecular or atom-like.

Charmaine Locke's Open Book on location at the Albany County Public Library. Photo courtesy of the UW Art Museum.

Locke's work Open Book was installed at the Albany County Public Library. Located along Grand Avenue, it occupies a visible space for both drivers-by and those on foot (or bike!). A life-scaled bronze work, it depicts the many roles that women universally have to play. The ribbons on her clothing convey the phrase "Why can't we find the path to peace when it is right in front of our eyes?", each in a different language, including English, Japanese, and Korean.

We would like to thank Susan Simpson, director of the Albany County Public Library, and Paul Heimer, director of the Albany County Public Library Foundation, for their interest, enthusiasm, and support of Sculpture: A Wyoming Invitational.

Press Release for Charmaine Locke and James Surls.
For more information, visit the UW Art Museum webpage.

Charmaine Locke and James Surls sculptures arriving Wednesday

Charmaine Locke, Open Book, bronze, 1/5, 79 x 63 x 40 inches, lent by the Surls Locke Personal Collection. Photo courtesy of the artist.

On Wednesday, James Surls will deliver and install two more sculptures for Sculpture: A Wyoming Invitational. Surl's new stainless steel sculpture will be placed on Prexy's Pasture. Charmaine Locke's Open Book, will be located at the Albany County Public Library and visible from Grand Ave.

Press Release for James Surls and Charmaine Locke.
For more information, visit the UW Art Museum website.