Tornadoes (original) (raw)

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Tornadoes

March 10 - June 2, 2012

The awe-inspiring power of tornadoes, and our first-hand knowledge of what they can do, hold a deep fascination for many. These terrible storms are interpreted in the works of the artists featured in the exhibition, Tornadoes, on view at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts March 10 through June 3, 2012.

The pieces in this exhibition are a visual commemoration and memorial to the victims of the storms of that hit Alabama on April 27, 2011, providing an opportunity to pause and reflect upon the losses suffered, as well as to celebrate the community spirit that aids in recovery and renewal. The artists included in the exhibition are Californian David Maxim, Florida-based artist Ke Francis; Seattle-based Studio Glass artist Ginny Ruffner, and two artists based in Tuscaloosa, Sumerlin Brandon and Caleb O'Connor, who personally experienced the destruction on April 27, 2011. In addition, the Museum will host an artist talk on Thursday, April 26, 2012 at 7 p.m. titled Witness of Destruction and the Strength of the Human Spirit**.** The talk will feature artist Caleb O'Connor who left Chicago in 2009 to undertake a mural commission for the Federal Courthouse in Tuscaloosa. (right: Caleb O'Conner (Born 1979), The Tornado's Trail, 2011, Oil on canvas. Lent by the artist)

After a year of researching the history of the area, followed by a year of painting; Caleb was working on a scene of Moundville when the city was ravaged by the April 27 tornadoes. Moved by the nobility of spirit of the citizens of Tuscaloosa, Caleb reworked his mural design to commemorate the event. Caleb will discuss his work and his thoughts about the compassion he witnessed in April 2011.

Object labels from the exhibition

Orientation Circle and Williamson

David Maxim

(Born 1945)

Untitled, April 2006

Pastel, charcoal, graphite and water wash on laid paper

Gift of the artist

2011.0010.0005

David Maxim

(Born 1945)

Tornado F, January 2005

Pastel, charcoal, graphite and water wash on laid paper

Gift of the artist

2011.0010.0001

David Maxim

(Born 1945)

Untitled, April 2006

Pastel, charcoal, graphite and water wash on laid paper

Gift of the artist

2011.0010.0003

David Maxim

(Born 1945)

Untitled, May 2006

Pastel, charcoal, graphite and water wash on laid paper

Gift of the artist

2011.0010.0006

Irving Wolfson

1898-1981

Untitled (The Tornado), ca. 1940

Charcoal on paper

Gift of the artist

1946.0030

Caleb O'Conner

(Born 1979)

The Tornado's Trail, 2011

Oil on canvas

Lent by the artist

Caleb O'Connor

(Born 1979)

The Witness, 2011

Oil on linen

Lent by the artist

Interview with Caleb O'Conner, February 3, 2012

DVD

While painting a mural commission for the new Federal Courthouse building in Tuscaloosa artist Caleb O'Connor witnessed the April 27, 2011 tornado.

In this interview with the Museum of Fine Arts O'Connor shares his approach to creating this large-scale project, his personal experience of the tornado and its aftermath, and the process of adding tornado imagery to the mural.

Ke Francis

(Born 1945)

Approaching Storm, 2011

Engraving on paper

Lent by the artist

Ke Francis

(Born 1945)

Tornado Hay House, ca. 1982

Mixed media construction

Gift of Jean Thickens Cooper

2002.0018

Ke Francis

(Born 1945)

Untitled (Shelter), 1987

Digital C-print

Lent by the artist

Ke Francis

(Born 1945)

Yellow Tuning Forks and Tornado, 2001

Color woodcut and paper

Lent by the artist

Ke Francis

(Born 1945)

Tornado Sawblade, 2008

Relief print and digital print

Lent by the artist

Ginny Ruffner

(Born 1952)

Untitled, 2003

Steel tornado with glass balls and anodized flowers

Private collection

Ginny Ruffner

(Born 1952)

Preparatory Sketch for Creativity: The Flowering Tornado, 2003

Mixed media

Private collection

Sumerlin Brandon

(Born 1988)

Red and White, 2011

Digital inkjet print on paper

Lent by the artist

Sumerlin Brandon

(Born 1988)

Chain Link, 2011

Digital inkjet print on paper

Lent by the artist

Sumerlin Brandon

(Born 1988)

Battered and Torn, 2011

Digital inkjet print on paper

Lent by the artist

Sumerlin Brandon

(Born 1988)

Unlawful to Cut Corner, 2011

Digital inkjet print on paper

Lent by the artist

Sumerlin Brandon

(Born 1988)

The Aftermath, 2011

Digital inkjet print on paper

Lent by the artist

Sumerlin Brandon

(Born 1988)

Don't Give Up, 2011

Digital inkjet print on paper

Lent by the artist

Sumerlin Brandon

(Born 1988)

Nationwide On My Side, 2011

Digital inkjet print on paper

Lent by the artist

Sumerlin Brandon

(Born 1988)

Rent Me, 2011

Digital inkjet print on paper

Lent by the artist

Sumerlin Brandon

(Born 1988)

Day One, 2011

Digital inkjet print on paper

Lent by the artist

Sumerlin Brandon

(Born 1988)

Stagnant, 2011

Digital inkjet print on paper

Lent by the artist

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