The Averitt Center Art Gallery is located in Statesboro on the corner of East Main Street and Siebald Street. Inside, the exhibition is small, quaint space consisting of two floors with just a few exhibitions. The exhibition I chose is that of Larry Vienneau. his abstract intaglio etchings and reliefs on paper that find root in ancient – medieval art and history.
I When he plans his prints he usually assigns a role to Raven. A Raven Rests at Lindisfarne, is the title of the work I was drawn to the most. Having a small interest in Edgar Allan Poe back in high school drew me to The Raven exhibition and my love for birds, explains the main reason that I was drawn to this particular art. “Etching is an intaglio process in which the matrix is covered with a waxy substance and the design is drawn into the substance.” The completed drawing is then put into acid bath that etches the exposed areas of the matrix.
Like Henri Matisse, Larry uses uniformed etched lines to represent that of The Raven Rests at Lindisfarne. The black and white etching uses fine lines and strong black tone to depict the portrait of a Raven. The painting is clearly representational art as it identifies a recognizable object such as The Raven in the painting. I feel thou the art could be abstract as although there is a recognizable object we clearly don’t have a complete understanding of the relationship to the subject matter.”The attack on Lindisfarne marked the beginning of an intensive Viking campaign of pillaging and plundering across swathes of the British Isles throughout the 8th – 9th centuries.
Vikings used ravens to navigate. Ravens were brought aboard their ships to be released for finding land. The raven was so important to them that it became the symbol on their flag.” Larry assigned roles to Ravens when he planned his prints. In this particular print the Raven is tired after a long flight and finds a place to rest on the Celtic Cross; little did he know he had led the Viking to a sacred monastery.
Combined principles of design used in the cross were pattern, symmetrical, balance and variety. The pattern of the cross repeats itself on the corners of the cross. The rythamatic shapes twirled together creates the shape of the cross. I believe the meaning of this art work was to guide them safely through the fray, but little did he know he would connect them to death and the underworld.Everything I saw that day was made up of some shape or combination of shapes.
There are so many different ways of seeing things. I sometimes find myself looking for the balance and symmetry in art work and other techniques that I have learned. I have learned that art has put a great impression on society and the material things we sometimes take for granted.
