Almost Wordless Wednesday: 10 Reasons to See Matt Oman's Species of Art Show

 Each Saturday, 10 a.m. till 7 p.m. thru the end of August
1316 Foster Avenue, Duluth MN

Works by the following Regional Artists: 

Mark Eliason, John L. Peyton, Brianna & Jesse Ayers, 

Margie Helstrom, Coreen Johnson, Matt Oman, 

Susan Solomon, Fay Peyton and Ed Newman

It's a small space, but there's a lot to see.

Matt Oman's Species of Art, Revisited and a Pair of Arts-Related Reminders

Last week I was notified that Matt Oman has added some new work and re-arranged the gallery space in his garage. I first wrote about Matt after visiting in 2012 at which time he stated, “I don’t think I mentioned that my biggest/favorite/most complex piece of artwork is my house.”

Oman graduated from UMD as a history major, but it was his love of beauty that attracted him to the arts. His works are generally small compositions of mixed media, collage or other compositions. Conceptual artists work in ideas or words. Oman's pieces each have a story, a concept, a revelation.

The words Species of Art is imprinted just inside the door of his garage, which has become a moniker of sorts for this garage cum gallery. Many of the pieces have no identifying titles or comments, but others include words, which sometimes offer keys for unlocking other meanings. Here are some of the words that appear on the various pieces:

Section 1: The Cultural
Pool of Water
The Smallest Blue Dot
Eating/Impenetrable
Science/What are the Chances?/Understanding the Universe
Intelligence Tested
Destroy All Monsters and Goddess
The Female Gaze
Lord Gallery
Romantic Realist
The Story of Human Language. Creation Myths
Bat Cave

If you were to visit, you would find many pieces that are simply thought provoking, and others that reveal a humorous wit. 

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EVENTS OF NOTE
THIS WEEKEND

49th Annual Park Point Art Fair

http://www.parkpointartfair.org/

Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

1st Anniversary
Downtown Duluth Arts Walk

Details Here

Related Links

2012 story about Matt Oman's Series of Art

2018 story about Matt Oman's Species of Art

Summer is here. Enjoy the sunshine!

Local Art Seen: Matthew Onan's Art of Symmetry

Last week I visited Matthew Onan's new gallery space opening. Onan is a local artist whom I met at the PROVE Gallery in 2012. He invited me to visit his home which was essentially an art project. He gave me a tour room by room and shared the ideas that lay behind each new view.

This year his small carport-sized garage has been converted into a gallery space where he can show his work in a less intrusive manner. The new space certainly has a few similarities to the home, chief of this being his interest in giving prominence to the colors red, blue, green and yellow. His title, reflected in many of the compositions as well as the gallery itself, is Species of Art. The prevailing motif in this installation is symmetry, both within the pieces themselves and in the layout of the room.

It's uncertain to me whether this will ever be shared more widely. I suspect it is more likely to be experienced by the few than the many. If you receive an invitation, you'll want to take advantage of the privilege.

Meantime, art goes on all around you, in the most surprising places and ways. Engage it.