Social responsibility is the theme of the Sordoni Art Gallery exhibition, “Juan Logan: Creating and Collecting.” It features a collection of paintings, drawings, sculptures and installations that address the interconnections of race, place and power, thematically and aesthetically.
Through Logan’s artwork and those of other artists, the exhibition illustrates how hierarchical relations and social stereotypes shape individuals, institutions and the material and mental landscapes of contemporary life. The exhibition originated at the Hickory Museum of Art. It is made possible at Wilkes by the Dr. Roy E. Morgan Memorial Exhibition endowment.
A retired University of North Carolina Professor, Logan’s installations, sculptures, prints and paintings are included in the collections of the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture and many more.
Through his many exhibitions and a very successful career, Logan amassed a collection of works from his friends and sources of inspiration in the art world. Not only will this exhibition share his many holdings by the most important artists from the 1970s to the present, it will also present Logan’s own work in dialogue with his collection. The galleries will examine the role that Jasper Johns, Claes Oldenberg, Robert Motherwell, Thornton Dial and more have played in Logan’s practice as an artist and how collecting has informed his creative process.
The exhibition runs from Nov. 2 through March 13. It will be closed from Dec. 17, 2021 until Jan. 18, 2022 for the University’s winter break.
Additional events in support of the exhibition are free and open to the public:
- 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 10: Art in Context Director’s Tour with Heather Sincavage, MFA: Join gallery director Heather Sincavage for an in-depth tour of Juan Logan’s “Creating and Collecting.” She will discuss Logan’s use of metaphor and symbolism in deeping poignant works that discuss issues facing Black Americans today. Logan’s artwork is paired with artworks that he has collected since the 1970s. Participants will hear further context about these artists and how they align with Logan’s artistic practice.
- 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 20: Found Object Artwork: Inspired by Logan’s creations and collections, attendees will create their own found object jewelry. This one-hour workshop teaches participants to create assemblage pendants using upcycled vintage materials and resin. Jewelry making, working with resin, and the power of art trouvé will be addressed. Attendees should consider bringing their own small (less than half-inch) object, image or photo to impart personal meaning into their pendant.
The Sordoni Art Gallery is located at 141 S. Main. St. in Wilkes-Barre and shares space with the Karambelas Media and Communication Center. It is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesdays through Fridays and 12 noon to 5 p.m. on Saturdays. The gallery follows the operating schedule of Wilkes and is closed on University holidays, breaks or due to inclement weather. The gallery will be closed from Dec. 17, 2021 until Jan. 18, 2022.
For more information, visit www.wilkes.edu/sordoniartgallery.
