Sabbatical Exhibit of drawing, sculptural objects and jewelry

An exhibition of work created by Professor of Art Judy Wenig-Horswell during her 2003-04 sabbatical.

This body of work was created, for the most part, during the past year while I was on sabbatical. Last Fall, as part of these sabbatical activities, I was in Costa Rica for nine weeks studying Spanish, teaching a 3 week casting workshop at the University of Costa Rica in San Jose, and traveling.

The painting and drawing in this exhibition are directly connected to that experience. The sketchbook drawings were contained in two sketchbooks, one a journal-sketchbook combination. I recorded anything and everything that caught my attention, anything that was interesting. Sometimes the drawing was done in a few minutes, other times I either had more time or came back into it later.

The watercolors were made last spring and allowed me to develop further and in color some of what I saw and experienced in Costa Rica. The first series is derived from photographs I took of the unusual heleconia plant. I thought this plant was very exotic but my Costa Rican friends considered it much more common, maybe even a weed! The second set of 5 larger watercolors is based on my sketchbook drawings. Surprisingly these are much more pictorial, more traditional in approach, depicting specific scenes/views I experienced.

That trip seems to have had little impact on the metalwork which remains a continuation and development of earlier interests, primarily working with cuttlefish bone textures in wax and playing them against themselves or other textures and smooth areas. Even some of the small sculptures incorporate this texture along with a variety of other textures. The lizards are a somewhat ‘new’ creature form for me. And the two large ones must be credited to the encouragement of my youngest brother, Steve, who just had to have a ‘big’ one.

Some of you may remember the chess set from the inaugural faculty exhibit in this gallery two years ago. I couldn’t resist the opportunity to show the whole ensemble now that the chess board/box designed and constructed by Gene Short is completed.

Judy Wenig-Horswell

Copyright Judy Wenig-Horswell. All rights reserved.