LYDIA TURCIOS
Art Director
I had the pleasure of attending the John Buck exhibit of woodblock prints and sculptures at the Marion Art Gallery this past Friday, Sept. 10. I’ve been to quite a few of the exhibitions here at Fredonia and I am happy to say this is one of my favorites.
I’ll keep it concise since I really believe this is something you should see for yourself, rather than reading a description.
John Buck’s woodblocks read as beautifully written diary entries about his experiences and views of the world.
The woodblocks stand the height of an adult, averaging about five feet tall, and there is something new to see every time you look at a piece.
I looked at “The Coal Mine” (1996) at least six times during my visit and continued to find new things to see, from the depiction of Lady Godiva atop her horse, to an adult dancer jumping out of a cake. This portion of the installment is an ode to women’s treatment throughout human history. The piece depicts a woman — a wire woman holding a crow beneath her ribcage upon a backdrop of objectification, mutilation and sexualization.
One may find this to be a touch on-the-nose. Personally, I found the forthrightness of most of his politically and socially driven works to be refreshing.
There are no guessing games, no need for a degree to make sense of his point — just a pair of eyes and a willingness to look and listen.
Whatever your pick of poison is, there’s likely a print that would speak to you in his portfolio of work: war, religion, economics, oppression, environmentalism — all things found in the carefully cut and inked puzzle pieces of his work.
The breadth of his work was so extensive it seemed that he had put his heart on display for the public to see.
While I did say his work is forthright, he has created one piece specifically meant to be up for interpretation by the viewer, and this is this one I encourage you to see for yourself.
“Fact and Fiction” (1997) is an eight-color woodcut demonstration of the juxtaposing sides of the human mind. The emotional, raw, surreal, and sometimes dangerous “Fiction” side, and the analytical, calculating, logical and sometimes volatile “Fact” side.
Much like “The Coal Mine” (1996), I found there was always something new to see in the backdrop. My favorite tidbit is the gas-mask-wearing angel rowing down a river of sludge. Or maybe it’s the Tower of Babel perched atop a head composed entirely of mouths.
Before I wrapped up my visit to the gallery, I asked the faculty why they believe students should come and see the exhibit.
Barbara Racker, the Marion Art Gallery director, said the exhibit would be a good source of inspiration. Hyla Stellhorn, the Marion Art Gallery assistant director, pointed out there was no better way to experience it than in person. I must agree that, although one may try, pictures and descriptions of Buck’s work does not do it justice.
There is plenty of time to stop in between classes and see the exhibit for yourself.
The John Bucks exhibit will run in the Marion Art Gallery from now until Nov. 19.