Wendell Poindexter & John Wise
The Blanche Ames Gallery Exhibit for June will feature the November 2013 Juried Show First and Second Place award winning artists; John Poindexter and John Wise, respectively. This unique and dynamic show will run from June 1st to June 29th. Both are natives of Frederick and are very accomplished artists with works in galleries, private collections and at various exhibits. A reception for the congregation, friends, and the public will be held Sunday June 1st at The Blanche Ames Gallery in the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Frederick located at 4880 Elmer Derr Road, Frederick, MD. 21703. Please call 301-473-7680 for gallery hours.
A short Biography and Artist Statement for each, follows.
WENDELL POINDEXTER... BIOGRAPHY
Wendell Poindexter is a native of Frederick, MD. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration from the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) and his Masters of Art Degree in Publication Design from the University of Baltimore. Wendell is a member of the art faculty at Frederick Community College (FCC) where he is also the Program Manager of the Visual Art Department and the Director of the FCC Arts Center. Wendell has enjoyed teaching for the University of Baltimore, Publication Design graduate program, Montgomery College, Rockville campus, where he taught Drawing and Intermediate Graphic Design. Other institutions include Hood College and the Maryland Summer Center for the Gifted and Talented (MSCA) at Goucher College, Baltimore Maryland. Locally, Poindexter is co-chair of the Public Art Commission for the City of Frederick and a former member and vice president of the Board of Directors for the Delaplaine Visual Arts Education Center (DVAEC). Poindexter has curated exhibitions for the DVAEC, FCC, MSCA, and the Frederick Historical Society. He has exhibited his works in numerous local galleries, including the Delaplaine, the Blue Elephant, The Mary Condon Hodgson Art Gallery at FCC, Frostburg State University, the Parrish Gallery, Georgetown and P Street Picture, Washington, DC.
WENDELL POINDEXTER... ARTIST’S STATEMENT I generally never know what to say about my art, since it is not created to make a political or social statement. I simply paint or draw images I enjoy. I have always had a love of portraiture. Recently, that love has expanded to include, in my compositions, graphic patterns, fabric and, when I can, hands. I was told many years ago at MICA, by portrait instructor, Abby Sangiamo, that the hands can be as expressive as the face. I have always remembered that statement, and enjoy trying to capture their anatomy and expressive nature. When creating an image, I try to do more than a straight portrait. I like creating characters that may have a hint of the surreal. Matter of fact, when most individuals model for me, I explain, they are posing as a character from a narrative, an imaginary theme, idea or in some cases depicting a human condition. My inspiration stems from the written word, perhaps lyrics or even an intriguing conversation.
John P. Wise… Brief Biography A veteran abstract artist, John Wise, was raised as an only child on a Frederick County farm and has exhibited the ability to capitalize on his innate talents in a broad spectrum of artistic endeavors. He has variously worked in the picture framing industry, designed and built furniture, restored townhouses in the downtown Historic District, worked as a freelance graphic artist, and served as consultant and design leader for re-purposing efforts in a series of large commercial real estate projects.
Utilizing an educational background incorporating a mixture of liberal and fine arts, Mr. Wise has enjoyed success as an artist with work exhibited at Hood College in Frederick, Md., and the Jefferson Place Gallery in Washington, D.C., as well as the Baltimore Museum Regional Exhibit, the Corcoran Gallery of Art, and the National Collection of Fine Arts. His work is included in private and corporate collections, the Baltimore Museum of Art, and the Smithsonian American Art Museum.
An overview of the evolution of his artistic styles can be accessed online at www.johnwiseart.com
John P. Wise... Artist's Statement
In a series of recent archival digital prints this veteran artist explores the traditional collage format presented in a contemporary medium. These abstract archival prints are built from a mixture of scans, graphic elements, paint, photographs, and whimsy, with an intuitive, instinctive driving force. Filtered through his personal creative aesthetic and using ordinary visual found objects, John explores his environment with an awareness of modern art history. Influenced by Dada, Surrealism, Pop Art and the many styles of modern non-objective art, he has built a world of visual juxtaposition, surprise, and playfulness, integrated into work that also attempts to be visually elegant, yet personal.
Examples of their Art: