Butler Art Center debuts 3D and Surreal show
The Butler Art Center held the opening reception for its “3D Show and Surreal Salon” on Friday evening, July 28.
The show will continue through Aug. 19, and features a mix of paintings, ceramic figures and photographs from nine different artists.
Art center volunteer Shirley McCauley, who also submitted multiple pieces of ceramic art to the show, described it as two shows in one. The “3D” is in reference to the ceramic sculptures.
“And then the ‘surreal’ show is surrealistic art,” McCauley said. “Some of the ceramics are surrealistic, so we have some pieces that fit into both categories.”
First, second, and third-place ribbons were awarded for each category, while the best overall entry received a “best in show” ribbon. That honor went to Elizabeth “Liz” Ford for her surrealistic acrylic painting “Harpy,” which was one of the three pieces she entered for the “surreal” show.
“I’ve entered regularly for probably two years now … a couple of times a year,” Ford said. “I’m more ‘surreal’ than 3D.”
One of the artists that submitted to both categories was Michele George, who took second place in the surreal category for her sculpture of a miniature gramophone. According to George, the piece — which contains an old iPhone in the little end — functions as a working gramophone for the digital age.
“It works quite well. It amplifies the sound and makes it better,” George said. “It took me probably eight to 10 hours to make.”
George has participated regularly in art shows at the art center for the past two years, and also teaches ceramics classes at the center. In fact, most of the participants in the show have been recurring entrants.
Mae Schiebel took first place in the surreal category for her piece “Fishbowl Soul.” This is the second time she’s entered a show at the art center, after being a featured artist at the “Art is...” show back in June.
“It kinda talked about what art is to various artists,” Schiebel said. “They had to show what their interpretation was.”
Following this show, the next event at the Butler Art Center will be the “Art of the Draw” art raffle on Sept. 22. Pieces of art have already been dropped off at the center for that show.
