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July 2004  

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Texas Style Twang!

Contemporary Sculpture from Texas
until September 26, 2004

Traditional sculpture is being redefined in Texas with the innovative Twang! Exhibition.

Title: E. B., 2002
Artist: Erick Swenson
Medium: Mixed (plastic, aluminum, paint and glass)
Dimensions: 16 1/2 x 6 x 9 1/2”
Courtesy: Colman Chutsz
Artist resides in Dallas, Texas
Image Courtesy: Art Museum of Southeast Texas AMSET

The Art Museum of Southeast Texas (AMSET) is the host for a fascinating cross section of talented American artisans, each with some tie to the Lone Star State.

Title: Flutter (detail), 2004
Artist: Jessica Halonen
Medium: Enamel on Aluminum
Dimensions: 2 1/2 x 5 x 11”
Loan Courtesy the Artist
Artist resides in San Antonio, Texas
Image Courtesy: Art Museum of Southeast Texas AMSET

Some of the artists have chosen to include technology with their works, adding a new dimension to the multi-faceted genre.

Title: My Lustful Gaze, 2003
Artist: Teresa O'Connor
Medium: Cloth and Slide Projection, Lawn Chair and Deep Freezer
Dimensions: Variable
Courtesy: Plush, Dallas, Texas, USA
Artist resides in Houston, Texas
Image Courtesy: Art Museum of Southeast Texas AMSET

Teresa O'Connor is one artist to embrace the new in My Lustful Gaze. Audience interaction is an aspect with some of these works. This piece features a projected view of Texas on the gallery walls and on fabric mountains. Nearby is a freezer full of Popsicles and a lawn chair. Visitors are encouraged to take a Popsicle from the freezer sit in the lawn chair and enjoy the view.

Title: Someone Else's Salton sea (Sands), 2004
Artist: Katrina Moorhead
Medium: Styrofoam, polymer clay, glue and grout
Dimensions: 4 x 12 1/2 x 6”
Courtesy: Devin Borden Hiram Butler Gallery, Houston, Texas, USA
Artist resides in Houston, Texas
Image Courtesy: Art Museum of Southeast Texas AMSET

Many of the artists featured in Twang! have had their own museum solo shows. For others their career is in its infancy. This exhibition is described as a "snapshot" of a specific area in the Texas art scene.

"In a nostalgic tribute to a childhood companion, Michael Powers’ site specific installation can be seen as a metaphor for friendship and play. In this piece, Powers places an argyle pattern on the wall, which becomes a surrogate for his childhood friend. Opposite the argyle mural is a working tennis ball machine, with the word 'Playmate' written on its side. The machine imitates a one-sided game of catch. In the words of C. Sean Horton, guest-curator for TWANG, the loneliness suggested by this piece evokes, 'a deep sense of pathos within the viewer'"

Title: Love-Simon, 2003
Artist: Michael Powers
Medium: Latex, tennis ball machine and tennis balls
Dimensions: Variable
Loan Courtesy the Artist
Artist resides in Flour Mound, Texas
Image Courtesy: Art Museum of Southeast Texas AMSET

Beaumont

The city of Beaumont is the "Museum Capital of Texas" with several dedicated to such varying themes as Texas Energy, the Fire Museum, the McFaddin-Ward House and Sports Legend Beaumont Native Babe Didrikson Zaharias.

Title: Crocket Street, Beaumont Texas
Photographer: Beaumont CVB
Image Courtesy: Beaumont CVB

Crockett Street is the heart of the entertainment district with numerous restaurants and clubs. It is located next to the Art Museum of Southeast Texas.

AMSET

Title: Art Museum of Southeast Texas AMSET Exterior
Image Courtesy: Art Museum of Southeast Texas AMSET

AMSET's mission is "to provide education, inspiration and creative vision to all people of the region through collections and exhibitions". With Texas Twang! it appears the artistic mission has been accomplished.