Contemporary art finds a new home at Sarah Moody Gallery – The Crimson White

“Tracking: A Long Look at Contemporary Art” showcases a variety of artwork that is free for UA students and the greater Tuscaloosa community to enjoy. The exhibit runs through Sept. 25 at the Sarah Moody Gallery of Art.

The exhibition presents almost a century of history of American contemporary art, starting in 1931.

“We’re a contemporary space, so that’s really all we do in terms of time frame,” said Vicki Rial, exhibitions coordinator at Sarah Moody Gallery of Art.

While the term “contemporary art movement” is commonly used to refer to art created since the 1970s, the earlier works included in the compilation challenge artistic conventions and prioritize visual appeal over aesthetic harmony, emphasizing the early stages of the movement long before its official founding.

This extensive timeline is also evidence of the progress of contemporary art. Throughout the exhibition, one can observe the evolution of artistic styles, especially the development of creative media used by contemporary artists, changing and developing over the years.

In total, the exhibition presents works by over 30 artists, including well-known co-creators such as: William Christenberry, Shut up Chuck AND Lee KrasnerEach artist brings their own unique style to the exhibition, and these quirks and intricacies are brought together to provide viewers with a comprehensive overview of contemporary art.

Christenberry, a native of Tuscaloosa who died in 2016, created one of the exhibits: “Moundville.”

Rendered in oil on linen canvas, “Moundville” is an abstract work that emphasizes bold colors and decisive lines. The sharp colors contrast from turquoise to red and purple, and the hectic linework gives the work a sense of energy and life, much like the state of Alabama that Christenberry so often sought to represent in his art.

Although he worked in a variety of media, Christenberry’s primary oeuvre was photography, which he used primarily to highlight scenes of the rural South. The gallery presents several of these photographs alongside “Moundville,” providing a more complete picture of Christenberry’s work.

While all of the art on display makes for an impressive exhibition, there are a few standout pieces that are worth noting.

Robert Kushner “Red Gladiolus” is particularly captivating. It is a unique performance gladiolus flower It is made of oil, acrylic, gold leaf, silk, paper, sequins and even beads, which allows you to create a red and green dichotomy, giving the piece a fanciful, abstract look.

“It’s just a great piece,” Rial said of Kushner’s work. “I was here when we picked it and I was here when it arrived. It just has meaning, it reminds me of the good times, because he (Kushner) was one of our best guys.”

Kevin Sudeith untitled work is a rare point of darkness amidst an otherwise highly colorful display. His layered use of ink on paper explores shape and negative space with an expert hand.

Perhaps the most noteworthy feature of the exhibition is Donald Baechler “Days of the week”

The seven woodcuts lined up along the front wall are the first thing viewers see when they enter the gallery, and with good reason. Each print features a different woodcut flower printed in red and green against a gradient of blue, yellow, and orange. The bold lines and eye-catching motifs create an overall sense of unity, despite the differences between the individual prints. As distinct in style as they are in concept, this series of prints is the star of an already powerful artistic experience.

The rest of the gallery maintains this pattern of mixed media. Photography exhibited alongside paintings and lithographs, watercolors on cardboard, woodcuts, and even a glazed dinner plate lend the show a high degree of visual interest, presenting a contemporary art movement through a variety of lenses.

Individually, most of these works have nothing in common with each other, but the carefully cultivated diversity of the art works gives the gallery a coherent character and makes the viewer feel like they are viewing a coherent collection.

“The variety of styles and mediums makes for a unique collection,” said Emily Elsbernd, a sophomore studying chemical engineering. “I think most people could find something they like or relate to for that very reason. It’s a pleasant experience, even if you’re just a casual observer.”

The gallery is an untapped resource for many UA students, and Rial encourages them to take advantage of it.

“We organize four to five exhibitions a year, we present works of recognized national and international artists, we have a large permanent collection that is growing every year, so students should come and see what their university has to offer them,” Rial said.