Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 25, 1994)
Arts & Entertainment Thursday, August 25, 1994 Page 18 Artist’s work reaps scenes from nature By Paula Lavigne Senior Reporter Everything is relative. Karen Kune, art professoral the University of Ncbraska-Lincoln, used this phrase to af firm her modesty. For someone like Kune, that may be a difficult task. When an artist’s work is represented in the Library of Congress, the National Museum of American Art, the Smithsonian Institution and the National Art Library, there is little reason to be modest. When an artist’s work is known interna tionally at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London; the Art Museum and Gallery of Reykjavik, Iceland; the Machida City Muse um of Graphic Arts in Tokyo; and the Instituto per La Culturae L’artc in Catania, Italy, pride is unavoidable. Add in several national and international awards and Kune (pronounced Koontz), who specializes in woodcuts, takes it all in stride. “I just work at getting my art out into the printmaking world,” she said. “I’m in compe titions which are not often in Nebraska or the Midwest.” Her work will be shown in Nebraska this fall when an exhibit of Kune’s woodcuts, drawings and monoprints opens Sept. 2 at the Haydon Art Gallery. Kune said people both inside and outside the United States were curious about her work because “it’s interesting and different.” “I work ina very traditional medium, wood cut printmaking, that is thousands of years old,” she said, “and I give it a very contempo rary look.” The process of woodcut printmaking in volves carving a plank of wood into a specific design. The relic f areas of the wood arc covered with paint. The wood is then pressed onto canvas creating a print. Woodcuts are usually small black-and-white representatives. Kune said. But Kune’s prints are abstract designs full of bold colors. Kune, who just returned from teaching a printmaking class in Florence. Italy, said much of her inspiration came from her travels — specifically, the natural world around her. “My theme is of nature and how it’s been conformed, stretched, treated and tamed,” she said. “It’s partially about the relation between mankind and nature.” Asevcry work has itsown meaning, so does every new environment Kune surveys. Within Damon Lee/DN Karen Kune, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln art professor, shows prints similar to those that will be on display at the Haydon Art Gallery starting Sept. 2. Kune, an internationally recognized artist, said the Hayaon show would be her first public show in Lincoln in 10 years. these individualities, however, lies a common observance. “I sec countrysides, gardens and how one individual makes an effort to grow one flower in a pot. I sec the impact this has on individuals and how it can change, create new forms, destroy and develop a hybrid creature.” Even in the negative aspects of environ ment, Kune sees something “beautiful and strange.” “My ideas arc visual eye-catchers ” she said. See KUNC on 20 Event list for UPC is diverse By Jill O’Brien Staff Reporter The University Program Council — the University of Nebraska-Lincoln organization responsible for bringing Rod Stewart, Mid night Oil and Vince Gill to Lincoln last year— has planned a new semester of events. Thee vents range from the traditional Wacky Wednesdays and poster sales to concerts, in cluding The Eagles' Oct. 3 show at the Bob Devancy Sports Center. Tickets for The Eagles still are available, according to James Buckley, coordinator of campus programs. “I expect the show to sell out now that the students are back on campus," Buckley said. Students may be scratching their heads wondering how UPC managed to hook the Eagles, but Buckley made it clear that it was hard work—and not pure luck—that enabled UPC to obtain one of the biggest touring acts of 1994. “The University Program Council has made it a priority of theirs to land major shows on campus and in the Lincoln community,” Buckley said. “We’ve been fortunate enough to cultivate relationships with promoters, as well as build a strong working relationship with the athletic department." The hard work of UPC members is further evidenced by the diversity of programs offered this semester. Students in need of a laugh can attend comedian Vic Henley’s show at the Culture Center on Friday. Other comedians include Jackie Guerra teaming up with Willie Barccna on Sept. 27 at the Nebraska Union and Clinton Jackson, slotted for Oct. 6 at the Culture Center. “All of those comedians have specials or television shows in the making,” Buckley said. “Last year on the same night as Vince Gill, UPC presented a show with Margaret Cho, a comedian who will have a scries debuting this fall.” In essence, students have a golden opportu nity to see future big-name talent at an afford able price in an intimate atmosphere and have great laughs, he said. Besides comedians, musical acts are among UPC’s fall events. See UPC on 20 Damon Lee/DN Jason Merritt, a sophomore fine arts major, strolls past the Donald Sultan sculpture “Rain Pots2362 lbs x 3 August 1989” near the Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery. The piece is a recent addition to the gallery’s sculpture garden. Inside, outside Sheldon additions offer viewers a palette of meanings By Paula Lavigne Senior "Reporter Inside and out, the Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery and Sculpture Garden recently acquired a variety of new addi tions to its collection. Daphne Deeds, gallery curator, said the acquisitions were prominent additions to the gallery’s collection. “Glass Cube Cal #8,” a sculpture by Larry Bell, is a glass cube arranged to show images in a mirror, translucent or transparent form. Although it is deceivingly simple in its appearance, the cube represents transcendental thought and philosophies of Eastern religions and the nature of space. Bell was a prominent member of the “light and space” group of artists in the ’60s, and his work reflects aspects of that time period. “Scrape,” a creation of paper bap, silk, cloth and news paper images, was an influential piece in the late ’50s. The piece uses imagery from mass media in a pop-art collage on silk. Outside, in the sculpture garden, “Rain Fots«2362 lbs X 3 August 1989” is a piece by Donald Sultan on loan to the gallery. A prominent painter in the 1980s, Sultan used everyday elements of still-life such as fruits and flowers and twisted them to create his own image. In an attempt to interact with its surrounding environ ment, the piece is designed to hold rainwater. The rendering of the female form in reclining position appears in “Odalisque II, 1989“ by Manuel Ncri. The piece, made of marble, exhibits abstractive smooth surfaces, while the more textured areas util izc the grain of the marble to coincide with physical properties. The final piece, “Monet’s Table,” is almost a parody of Monet’s “Watcrlilics.” This steel sculpture by Michael Todd is a homage to the French Impressionist painter. “Monet’s Table" uses industrial materials in raw form to contrast the romantic, placid beauty of “Watcrlilics.” The piece was placed in the sunken area of the garden next to the real watcrlilics in the pond. The Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The sculpture garden always is accessible. Admission is free.