Friday, May 14, 2010

JOHN BECKELMAN AND DANIEL WEISS AT ICON GALLERY

Daniel Weiss, Solid Object, 2003; wood, paint, and nails, 34 3/8" x 15 3/8" x 1 1/2"
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Detail of Solid Object.
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Materiality is in full force at ICON Gallery. While walking through this show, I had the feeling that no matter what these two artists use to make their work, it will always result in something that's informed and worth seeing. John Beckelman has taught for 30 years at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Daniel Weiss has taught art in the Des Moines area since 1987. Shown here are just a few of the works, but also on view are large ceramic vessels and works on paper by Beckelman, and more collage-like pieces by Weiss with a great rough-hewn quality about them.
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Daniel Weiss, Cloud Writing, 2007; wood, paint, cardboard box, and nails, 14" x 10" x 2 1/2"
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Detail of Cloud Writing.
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Detail of Cloud Writing.
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Daniel Weiss, After Mesa (Barbancito), 2001; wood, paint, nails, and tar paper, 23 1/4" x 7 1/4" x 1 1/4"
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John Beckelman, Rich with Birds and Fruit; clay, enamel, gesso, oil, acrylic, powdered pigments, and prismacolor on wood, 41.5" x 63" x 2"
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Details of Rich with Birds and Fruit.
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John Beckelman, Resonance; clay, enamel, oil, wax, and powdered pigments on wood, 41.5" x 67" x 2"
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Detail of Resonance. .
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More work by John Beckelman and Daniel Weiss can be seen at ICON Gallery (Iowa Contemporary Art) at 58 North Main Street in Fairfield, Iowa. Also on the web at: icon-art.org.