Finding Balance At Alton's Jacoby Arts Center | Alternative Fruit

Choose Love on Alternative Fruit has been in hiatus mode since the international quarantine saw many nations closing to the public. Stay safe, stay home has been the key phrase in English speaking countries the world over. Now that we understand how covid19 is transmitted and who is the most at risk, it's possible to begin opening essential peripherals to society with safety in mind. Art exhibits are one of those things that have been pushed to the side while people's lives are in the balance however in Illinois, at least, the creative flag is unravelling.


Balance is a showing of work from four unique artists. Using a mixed media selection of creators, the dimensions of each work lend their vectors to the others, creating a once-in-a-lifetime set of co-ordinates that offer resolution on the universe. What does balance mean? What does it symbolise? These were the questions posed to the artists when planning their projects.


From July 5th to August 16th, works by Mark Witzling, abstract painter; Garry McMichael, realist painter; Diane Tessman, fiber artist; and Jerry C. Williams, ceramics artist are on offer for viewing and cerebral exploration.


Witzling and McMichael have worked together before. The abstract and realist images seem to offer a complimentary aspect which serve to balance one another. Perhaps this is why their names appear once again on a bill of talent. Is this the art world's version of a double act being born, like two stars in a binary system, or is this passing flyby of two independent satellites? Witzling's oil and wax creations leap from their dreamscapes while McMichael's truisms and detail draw us right in.


Diane Tessman has been exhibiting her textiles in the St. Louis area for decades. Her dab-hand and evocative mind have been an awesome team and still have much more to offer. She often creates unique yet functioning objects and garments however she is always willing to let go of all practical reasoning when asked. Tessman's work has been designed to show the comparable longevity between wood and weave, both natural ingredients with different qualities.


In the case of Jerry Williams, his ceramics are a full-time occupation with many functional pieces with artistic soul finding their way into people's homes. For this exhibit, Williams has created pieces that complement the work of the other artists. The almost crazy designs that vividly decorate the pottery sit in equilibrium with the functional and practical objects.


That's the Jacoby Arts Center, Broadway, Alton, IL. From July 5th to August 16th, works by Mark Witzling, abstract painter; Garry McMichael, realist painter; Diane Tessman, fiber artist; and Jerry C. Williams, ceramics artist are on offer for viewing and cerebral exploration. 

What about you, how could you explore the concept of balance with your work?
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