Local artists featured in exhibition of plant-inspired art

Photographer: George E. Mauzy Jr."Burr" by John Gutekanst is made up of pieces of bread

The Ohio University Multicultural Center Art Gallery on the second floor of Baker University Center will host a reception for the exhibition, “Verdant: An Exhibition of Plant-Inspired Art,” from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 20.

The exhibition, which will run Oct. 5 through Dec. 8, features a variety of works by Athens-area artists Simona Aizicovici, Polly Creech, David and Janet Gustafson, John Gutekanst, Waldena Hendrix, Natalie Horvath and Keith Wilde.

Aizicovici, who served as a co-curator of the show along with Wilde, wrote, “Inspired by plants and plant materials, we have created an exhibition of our artistic reverence for all things botanical. We hope that our varied expressions will help individual viewers discover their own personal connection to plant-inspired art.”

A few of the pieces in the gallery are: hand-painted pictures of flowers; ceramic, wheat berry bread and glass fusing pieces; wreaths and flower arrangements; and long-leaf pine needle baskets.

Friday’s reception, which is free and open to the public, will provide the public with an opportunity to meet the artists. Refreshments will be served.

Winsome Chunnu, Ohio University strategic director for diversity and inclusion and multicultural programs and initiatives, said the feedback about the show has been very good so far. 

“This show gives local artists a venue to showcase their work, so please come out to support them,” Chunnu said. “As a bonus, Avalanche Pizza owner John Gutekanst will bring some surprise treats on Friday to complement the refreshments from Baker Center Catering. I encourage everyone to stop by if you are around.”

Photographer: George E. Mauzy Jr.This glass case houses many of the art pieces in the "Verdant" exhibition

Photographer: George E. Mauzy Jr."Winter Night" by curator Simona Aizicovici is one of several paintings containing pressed flowers on display