The Nona Jean Hulsey Gallery at Oklahoma City University will host an exhibit titled “Small Worlds & Contradictions” featuring the works of two artists from Oct. 21 to Dec. 3. There will be a reception from 5 to 7 p.m. Nov. 4. Admission to the gallery, located inside the Norick Art Center at 1608 NW 26, is free.
Both artists – Carolyn Cárdenas and Bobby Ross – will provide special presentations in the gallery. Cárdenas will give a demonstration of her technique at 11 a.m. Nov. 3, and Ross will give an artist talk at 2:30 p.m. Nov. 4.
Cárdenas takes keen observations of the spaces and objects that evidence human behavior. She examines and questions cultural scenarios through myriad objects that grace her path. Using the ancient and unique Renaissance technique of egg/oil tempera, Cárdenas gathers the rich, artistic, historical “vocabulary” from the 15th century formats of Flemish masters and melds them with 20th century situations, and then she challenges the viewer to decipher them.
“Sometimes when I am grinding raw pigments into the yolk of an egg for making tempera, I marvel that a 15th century technique can so eloquently record 21st century icons,” she noted.
Ross has used years of study in anthropology and fine arts at the University of California, Berkeley, to influence his style. His works are a mix of ideas that depict questions on the fundamentals of human nature and the nature of the world in a realistic and often humorous way, all the while addressing questions about science, religion and social issues with ordinary objects. His densely packed images are filled with surprising combinations and contradictions.
“Contradiction is the principal theme in my work," Ross said. "Good battles evil; harmony dances with discord; truth confronts lies.”
