ITHACA, NY Ambitious sculpture, particularly of the freestanding variety, can be an afterthought in area art galleries. While purely decorative or functional three-dimensional work — and of course, novelty
A deep engagement with wood and with treeforms characterizes the sculptural work of Cornell Human Ecology professor and designer Jack Elliott. Ethically sourcing specimens locally and from around the world,
Through April 16, the Dowd Gallery at SUNY Cortland is hosting âFounder,â an exhibition featuring cast sculpture and large works on paper by Carnegie Mellon professor Andrew Ellis Johnson. The show, viewable online and in person, provides a satirical-allegorical look at some of the founding myths of our country.Â
Johnson, though well-traveled and artistically cosmopolitan, is a native of Cortland. He cites his father Ellis A. Johnson, a noted Civil War historian and long-time professor at the local SUNY school as an important influence on his work.Â
âFounderâ is composed of work from three distinct but thematically interwoven series. Together, these form a kind of historical fiction blending erudition and fantasy. Characteristic of the artistâs sensibility, the show title is meant as a double entendre: founding as in âfounding fatherâ but also founder as in to break down or sink.Â