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Tornadoes

March 10 - June 2, 2012

 

The awe-inspiring power of tornadoes, and our first-hand knowledge of what they can do, hold a deep fascination for many. These terrible storms are interpreted in the works of the artists featured in the exhibition, Tornadoes, on view at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts March 10 through June 3, 2012.

The pieces in this exhibition are a visual commemoration and memorial to the victims of the storms of that hit Alabama on April 27, 2011, providing an opportunity to pause and reflect upon the losses suffered, as well as to celebrate the community spirit that aids in recovery and renewal. The artists included in the exhibition are Californian David Maxim, Florida-based artist Ke Francis; Seattle-based Studio Glass artist Ginny Ruffner, and two artists based in Tuscaloosa, Sumerlin Brandon and Caleb O'Connor, who personally experienced the destruction on April 27, 2011. In addition, the Museum will host an artist talk on Thursday, April 26, 2012 at 7 p.m. titled Witness of Destruction and the Strength of the Human Spirit. The talk will feature artist Caleb O'Connor who left Chicago in 2009 to undertake a mural commission for the Federal Courthouse in Tuscaloosa.  (right: Caleb O'Conner (Born 1979), The Tornado's Trail, 2011, Oil on canvas. Lent by the artist)

After a year of researching the history of the area, followed by a year of painting; Caleb was working on a scene of Moundville when the city was ravaged by the April 27 tornadoes. Moved by the nobility of spirit of the citizens of Tuscaloosa, Caleb reworked his mural design to commemorate the event.  Caleb will discuss his work and his thoughts about the compassion he witnessed in April 2011.

 

Object labels from the exhibition

 
Orientation Circle and Williamson
 
David Maxim
(Born 1945)
Untitled, April 2006
Pastel, charcoal, graphite and water wash on laid paper
Gift of the artist
2011.0010.0005
 
 
 
David Maxim
(Born 1945)
Tornado F, January 2005
Pastel, charcoal, graphite and water wash on laid paper
Gift of the artist
2011.0010.0001
 
 
 
David Maxim
(Born 1945)
Untitled, April 2006
Pastel, charcoal, graphite and water wash on laid paper
Gift of the artist
2011.0010.0003
 
 
 
David Maxim
(Born 1945)
Untitled, May 2006
Pastel, charcoal, graphite and water wash on laid paper
Gift of the artist
2011.0010.0006
 
 
 
Irving Wolfson
1898-1981
Untitled (The Tornado), ca. 1940
Charcoal on paper
Gift of the artist
1946.0030
 
 
 
Caleb O'Conner
(Born 1979)
The Tornado's Trail, 2011
Oil on canvas
Lent by the artist
 
 
 
Caleb O'Connor
(Born 1979)
The Witness, 2011
Oil on linen
Lent by the artist
 
 
Interview with Caleb O'Conner, February 3, 2012
DVD
 
While painting a mural commission for the new Federal Courthouse building in Tuscaloosa artist Caleb O'Connor witnessed the April 27, 2011 tornado.
 
In this interview with the Museum of Fine Arts O'Connor shares his approach to creating this large-scale project, his personal experience of the tornado and its aftermath, and the process of adding tornado imagery to the mural.
 
 
 
Ke Francis
(Born 1945)
Approaching Storm, 2011
Engraving on paper
Lent by the artist
 
 
Ke Francis
(Born 1945)
Tornado Hay House, ca. 1982
Mixed media construction
Gift of Jean Thickens Cooper
2002.0018 
 
 
 
Ke Francis
(Born 1945)
Untitled (Shelter), 1987
Digital C-print
Lent by the artist
 
 
Ke Francis
(Born 1945)
Yellow Tuning Forks and Tornado, 2001
Color woodcut and paper
Lent by the artist
 
 
Ke Francis
(Born 1945)
Tornado Sawblade, 2008
Relief print and digital print
Lent by the artist
 
 
Ginny Ruffner
(Born 1952)
Untitled, 2003
Steel tornado with glass balls and anodized flowers 
Private collection
 
 
Ginny Ruffner
(Born 1952)
Preparatory Sketch for Creativity: The Flowering Tornado, 2003
Mixed media
Private collection
 
 
Sumerlin Brandon
(Born 1988)
Red and White, 2011
Digital inkjet print on paper
Lent by the artist
  
 
 
Sumerlin Brandon
(Born 1988)
Chain Link, 2011
Digital inkjet print on paper
Lent by the artist
 
 
 
Sumerlin Brandon
(Born 1988)
Battered and Torn, 2011
Digital inkjet print on paper
Lent by the artist
 
 
 
Sumerlin Brandon
(Born 1988)
Unlawful to Cut Corner, 2011
Digital inkjet print on paper
Lent by the artist
 
 
 
Sumerlin Brandon
(Born 1988)
The Aftermath, 2011
Digital inkjet print on paper
Lent by the artist
 
 
 
Sumerlin Brandon
(Born 1988)
Don't Give Up, 2011
Digital inkjet print on paper
Lent by the artist
 
 
 
Sumerlin Brandon
(Born 1988)
Nationwide On My Side, 2011
Digital inkjet print on paper
Lent by the artist
 
 
Sumerlin Brandon
(Born 1988)
Rent Me, 2011
Digital inkjet print on paper
Lent by the artist
 
 
 
Sumerlin Brandon
(Born 1988)   
Day One, 2011
Digital inkjet print on paper
Lent by the artist
 
 
 
Sumerlin Brandon
(Born 1988)
Stagnant, 2011
Digital inkjet print on paper
Lent by the artist
 
 

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