The Ypsilanti Courier
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
A master of water
Ruggerio's new show defies traditional notions
By William Zilke, Heritage Newspapers
PUBLISHED: January 18, 2007
The Riverside Arts Center Arts Gallery, 76 N. Huron St., is presenting Watermedia +, coordinated by Eastern Michigan University art professor Maria Ruggerio.
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While originally promoted as a watercolor show, Ruggerio challenged not only the preconceptions, but the misconceptions of the medium.
"My idea for the show is to open up the medium in ways I couldn't anticipate," she said at the show's artist's reception on Friday.
And open up the medium is exactly what the talented colleagues and students of Ruggerio's did.
While the pieces did have some traditional, yet highly original watercolor pieces, acrylic paints or any type of water medium were included.
Beili Liu's piece was a perfect example of how eclectic and unconstrained by tradition an artist's work can be, especially when allowed the exhibit space for larger groups of people to see.
"Dilution" was 196 black plastic trash bags and four white plastic food bags representing the approximately 200 gallons of water per capita used per day.
The four gallons- or light bags- represent how much we actually use for domestic use.
Liu also included an information box with water abstractions and records of per capita water use.
Virginia Kaufman's "Small Signs Stand for Big Things" paints an overview of the legends and nomenclature that maps cannot reflect in a geo-physical image.
The mixed media piece captures some of the beauty of lakes and other natural features left to mere words on a map.
John DeHoog's family painting at first passing glance resembles the matted multi- photo picture frames virtually every family has of siblings and parents.
But as closer inspection, the work is tortured and violent.
Where softball championships and wedding photos would normally fill such a matted frame, DeHoog's images are of potentially violent sex scenes, screaming people and naked but black hooded figures.
Todd Marsee's "Petoskey" is far more tranquil in imagery and origins. It does reflect Michigan's Petoskey stone's unique details and neutral but warm colors.
The range of styles, mixed media and imagery varies from artist as is typical of the Riverside Arts Center's Art Gallery shows.
But Ruggerio may have put her fingers on the pulse of the Riverside with Watermedia +.
People coming to find the tranquil beauty of the traditional watercolor painting medium will not be disappointed, but new ideas flow through the below street level space and the artwork can crackle with electricity as new artists, new styles and new energies flow, keeping water media alive, fresh and daring.
Other artists in the show include Whisper Gregory Andrusiak, Susan Briggs, Barbara Cervenka, Carol Hanna, Amanda Krugliak, Brian Lillie, Jennifer Locke, Todd Marsee, Mary Penn, Michael Reedy, Jack Thompson, Jennifer Thompson, Nora Venturelli, Mary Williams and Ellen Wilt.
The show runs through Jan. 27 and there is no charge for admission.
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