In the Gallery this month!

The air blows warm. Fresh green sprouts have turned into flowers, trees and bushes with the most delightful colors. Scintillating scents float lazily on the breath of a breeze while jacket-less kids fly kites and jump curbs on skateboards. Now we know it's finally time to welcome June with open arms. The air inside is cooled. The painting's colors are breath-taking. Beyond beautiful fine art interpretations float on wispy white Gallery walls. Now we know it's time to welcome with open arms fine artist Brad Bernard's exhibit, IMAGES FROM LIFE: Contrasts & Parallels, to the Library's Gallery for the entire month of June. A native of Madison, Wisconsin, Brad Bernard began his formal training at The Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design where he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Painting. After completing his undergraduate studies, he worked as a muralist designing murals for schools, churches and community centers and at the same time also worked as an art instructor throughout the Milwaukee community teaching "at risk" youth, the developmentally challenged and elderly populations. Later he received his Master of Fine Arts degree in Painting from the University of Mississippi at Oxford. After receiving his MFA, he taught Advanced Placement Studio Art courses at Oxford High School, also in Oxford, Mississippi. Brad Bernard has an extensive fine arts and art education background. Most notably, one of Brad's many painted murals is featured in: Walls of Heritage/Walls of Pride: African American Murals, by James Prigoff and Robin J. Donitz (2000). This seminal, scholarly work chronicles thirty years of mural art work by such artists as John Biggers, Romeare Bearden, Jacob Lawrence and Brad himself. In speaking of his exhibited works Brad tells us that this body of work represents but a small overview of the art he has created during the past six years, with the exception of two limited edition prints, Mother and Child and Last Supper on Holy Hill, which were created in 1994 and 1996. Each of the series presented is inspired by his personal metaphysical insight, religious images and ritual, and blues/gospel musicians Brad has met and/or seen perform. The larger abstract pieces based on fire are examples of a larger series titled Burning Processions. Different sources of burning within man-made fires (wood, charcoal, and coal) serve as metaphors for the human characteristics and experiences of spirituality, sexuality, and creativity. Images based on lava and/or the surface of the sun represents characteristics of God-made fire to emphasize the idea that all human experience is a microcosm with the God-consciousness of the heavenly creator. The series Praise and Soul is inspired by scenes typically found within the Missionary Baptist denomination of black churches across America. Each piece reflects on a particular aspect of a praise and worship ritual depicting prayer, singing, service, and ritual. The series as a whole serves as a commentary of the black church and the gospel culture as it compares, contrasts and sometimes overlaps into the blues culture. Blues Routes depicts portraits of blues/gospel musicians. Brad uses a patchwork of road maps/signs, symbols and photocopies as a compositional backdrop and to incorporate historical and biographical imagery. Each subject is immersed in a map of their home town or state with intersecting roads, rivers, interstates and highways, with a patchwork quilt design further implying the "comfort of home" idea. Many of the depicted musicians, who toured nationally and internationally, often have their full-time residence in the place of their birth. Brad is the husband of Ravyn Wilson-Bernard, currently an Owen Duston visiting English professor at Wabash College. Since his arrival in Crawfordsville last summer, Brad has exhibited his work in the Art League sponsored Crawfordsville Downtown Art Exhibition last fall and is scheduled to exhibit his work at the Eric Dean Gallery on the Wabash campus from January 19 through February 21, 2009. This fall will begin his tenure as an art professor at Mount Mary College in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Now doesn't that entice you to visit the Library Gallery sometime during the month of June, just to ogle and enjoy? See you there.

Diane Hammill, Coordinator
Mary Bishop Memorial Art Gallery
Crawfordsville Public Library