EUGENE, Ore. -- (December 31, 2018) – The Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art at the University of Oregon presents “Visual Magic: An Oregon Invitational,” from January 19 to May 12, 2019. A collaboration with the George D. Green Art Institute, the exhibition features recent work by forty-five artists who began their careers in Oregon during the 1960s and 70s. The public is invited to a free preview on Friday, January 18, from 7 to 8 p.m.
“The George D. Green Art Institute has been organizing “Visual Magic” exhibitions in Portland and the surrounding area for the past three years” says JSMA McCosh Curator Danielle Knapp. “We were thrilled to collaborate with them on this larger manifestation of their concept, and to invite so many artists to participate”
“Visual Magic” explores how this generation of artists continues to represent the highest levels of creative accomplishment. Sixty years after their careers started in this state—in many cases, as students at the University of Oregon, Oregon State University, or Portland’s Museum Art School (now the Pacific Northwest College of Art)—these artists continue to create art that inspires and expands the state’s artistic landscape. Most still live in Oregon, or have returned after spending time elsewhere for teaching jobs and other pursuits. A few of the artists featured still live outside the state.
Although previous “Visual Magic” shows included a variety of media and techniques, the JSMA’s Oregon Invitational is focused on painting. The checklist features paintings on canvas and board as well as sketchbooks, ceramics, and mixed-media works that incorporate paint by the following artists: Susan Applegate, Jay Backstrand, Robert Bibler, Sharon Bronzan, Sandy Brooke, Clint Brown, Karen Carson, Craig Cheshire, Margaret Coe, Jon Colburn, Bets Cole, Jon Jay Crusen, Robert Dozono, Robert Gamblin, Humberto Gonzales, Dennis Gould, Cie Goulet, George D. Green, John Haugse, Carol Hausser, Jeri Hise, George Johanson, Leland John, Kacey Joyce, Connie Kiener, Edwin “Ed” Koch (1937-2018), James Lavadour, Nancy Lindburg, Margaret Matson, Sue-Del McCulloch, Gary Meacham, Terry Melton, Kenneth O’Connell, Paula Overbay, Lucinda Parker, Janet “Jan” Reaves (1945-2018), Laura Ross-Paul, Sandra Roumagoux, Erik Sandgren, Isaka Shamsud-Din, Jim Shull, Susan Trueblood Stuart, Richard Thompson, Hugh Webb, and Phyllis Yes.
“Invitees submitted examples of their recent work” says Knapp “The exhibition will demonstrate the great diversity of work by painters with shared beginnings in Oregon.”
A series of public programs, including thematic tours with artists and a curator’s talk, accompany the exhibition:
Visual Magic Gallery Talk - Travel
Saturday, January 19, 2 p.m.
University of Oregon alumni Margaret Coe, Bets Cole, Robert Gamblin, and Ken O’Connell discuss their works on view and how travel provides them with inspiration.
Visual Magic Gallery Talk – Color and Abstraction
Saturday, February 9, 2 p.m.
Sandy Brooke, George D. Green, Carol Hausser, and Nancy Lindburg discuss their paintings on view and their approaches to color and abstraction.
Visual Magic Gallery Talk – Landscape and Environment
Saturday, March 2, 2 p.m.
Robert Dozono, Sue-Del McCulloch, Sandra Roumagoux, and Richard Thompson discuss their paintings on view and how they respond to landscape and the environment in their work.
Curator’s Lecture: Visual Magic: The Oregon Connection
Wednesday, April 3, 5:30 p.m.
Danielle Knapp, McCosh Curator, discusses the group of artists invited to participate in Visual Magic and their education and activities in Oregon in the 1960s and ’70s.
Visual Magic Gallery Talk – The Human Figure
Saturday, May 4, 2 p.m.
Jeri Hise, George Johanson, Connie Kiener, and Laura Ross-Paul discuss their paintings on view and how they approach the human figure in their work.
Thanks to a Ford Family Foundation Exhibition and Documentation Support Grant, the exhibition is accompanied by a catalog with essays by Knapp and Dr. Henry Sayre, Distinguished Professor of Art History at Oregon State University—Cascades Campus. Also supporting the catalogue are the George D. Green Art Institute’s Benefactors (Sonya McDowell Education Grant, Meri & Scott McLeod, Stephen & Dr. Becky Miller-Moe) and Sponsors (Sharon Bronzan, Sandy Brooke, Karen Carson, Barb & Dave Corden, Jon Jay Cruson, Robert & Noriko Dozono, Sandy Green, Dinny Hausser & Lenny Held, Nels Hall & Deb Mawson, Tim Liszt Design, Terry Melton, , Annie Painter, Bettsy & Wally Preble, Ned Preble, Jane & Reagan Ramsey, Laura Ross-Paul, and Ann Teal, The Teal Family Qtip Trust, Andy Thaler, and the Ward Family Fund of The Oregon Community Foundation)).
“Visual Magic: An Oregon Invitational” is made possible with generous support from the Coeta and Donald Barker Changing Exhibitions Endowment, Arlene Schnitzer and Jordan Schnitzer, the Oregon Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency, and JSMA members.
About the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art
The University of Oregon's Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art is a premier Pacific Northwest museum for exhibitions and collections of historic and contemporary art. The mission of the museum is to enhance the University of Oregon’s academic mission and to further the appreciation and enjoyment of the visual arts for the general public. The JSMA features significant collections galleries devoted to art from China, Japan, Korea, Europe, and the Americas as well as changing special exhibition galleries. The JSMA is one of seven museums—and the only academic art museum-- in Oregon accredited by the American Alliance of Museums.
The Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art is located on the University of Oregon campus at 1430 Johnson Lane. Museum hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesdays, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for senior citizens. Free admission is given to ages 18 and under, JSMA members, college students with ID, and University of Oregon faculty, staff and students. For information, contact the JSMA, 541-346-3027.
Contact: Debbie Williamson Smith, 541-346-0942, debbiews@uoregon.edu
Links: Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, http://jsma.uoregon.edu
