|
"War and Love and the Sons Of" by Norm Knott
From the extreme to the sublime, "If the Spirit Moves
you…" next at Charlene's Gallery Ten
June 25, 2004
by Steve Kastner
GILLS ROCK,
WI - Norm Knott
considers himself to lie somewhere along a continuum between the forgotten silent film star Norma Desmond and 60s
political activist Abbie Hoffman. Norm is creating an ever-expanding body of artwork assembled from faded and discarded
objects that he revives, bringing each one back to life in a more glamorous, sparkling and spiritual vision of
its former self.
He describes himself as a "mixed media recycling artist." Knott creates 2-D and 3-D collages in an obsessive
and perhaps compulsive manner by affixing tiles, rhinestones, glass, beads, and as many found objects as he thinks
it takes to rekindle the life of any surface he approaches, whether it be a piece of furniture or a dollhouse.
| His furniture pieces are impressive in their scale and craftsmanship,
showing a painful attention to detail. |
|
"Completing a dresser may take more than a year," Knott explains
- so he also expresses himself in smaller works that include boxes, wall hangings and toys. "The materials
for my work come from everywhere. From the shells my neighbor brought back from Florida to the pieces of my worn
out Buddhist prayer rug, the objects inspire the work."
The themes in Knott's work range from the evolved and highly spiritual to kitsch, and frequently deal with nostalgia
and the American culture of entertainment.
Painter, Hannah Wren Fawver
studied abroad in London after graduating magna cum laude from the University of Wisconsin, Stout with a Bachelor
of Fine Arts degree. But she came home to Wisconsin's south shores of Lake Superior to discover the true source
of her inspiration.
 |
Her work and her vision as an artist is derived from daily life experiences
with her husband on their family's organic farm. |
Hannah tells it best, "The fabric of our lives is woven with countless
threads. Some of these threads are beautiful and some are not. I choose to examine and portray the beautiful threads
through my paintings."
| The natural world always appears to be a fabric of threads for Hannah,
a blend of the many wonderful outdoor adventures she shares with her family. |
|
Her paintings reflect the intricacies and beauty she finds in the smaller, perhaps overlooked, details of her natural
surroundings. She focuses on creating magical iconic images of nature that intrigue and stimulate her while evoking
peace and serenity.
 |
"I would like my paintings to portray the fragility of nature,"
says Hannah, "while I celebrate its wonders." |
Rockford, Illinois artist, Norm Knott and painter Hannah Wren Fawver, hailing
from Luck, Wisconsin, are featured in the next exhibit opening at Charlene's Gallery Ten in Gills Rock. On Saturday, July 17, you are invited
to meet them and discuss their work at a wine and cheese reception from
5 - 7 PM. The show will be on display through August 20.
Charlene's
Gallery Ten represents the work of over 100 artists
in a gallery that is contemporary, original and eclectic. GT Coffee complements the gallery, serving espresso drinks
and Bea's ho-made pie-by-the-slice daily from 7:30 AM to 5PM. Gallery Ten is open daily from 10 AM to 5 PM at
12625 Hwy 42 in Gills Rock, Wisconsin. Telephone 920.854.9907 for further information, or visit on-line at www.GalleryTen.com.
|
|
