Gombert exhibit looks at similarities and differences in people

Release Date: 5/6/2005. Expired: 7/23/2005

A new exhibit featuring different portraits of the same face invites viewers to see both the differences and similarities in people all over the world.

The Real Me, the latest series of paintings by Dr. Carl Gombert, will be exhibited in the Visual Arts Gallery of The Renaissance Center in Dickson June 3-July 23. An opening reception featuring Gombert, a professor of art at Maryville College in East Tennessee, will be 6-7:30 p.m. June 3. The reception and exhibit are free and open to the public.

The Real Me explores the visible markers of race, class and ethnicity by depicting the same face, a Gombert self portrait, in the same pose, but with varying costumes, hairstyles and eye, skin or hair color. The positioning of the head, the facial expression and the background are identical in each image.

“The intended effect of the exhibit is to present a room full of people who at first glance are extremely different, representing a wide range of races, ethnicities, lifestyles, occupations and so on, but who are nevertheless easily perceived as the same person,” Gombert says. “The show asks viewers to consider whether we, as people, are more different or more alike. It further challenges viewers to confront both personal and public attitudes about race, ethnicity and class.”

In his previous paintings, Gombert is captivated by the flexibility and variety of expressions the human face can achieve. Viewers of his paintings become mesmerized by the processes and techniques he uses to achieve charismatic expressions.

Gombert, born in Brimfield, Ohio, started taking painting lessons at the age of 14 with money he earned delivering newspapers. He later earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Akron, and a Master of Fine Arts degree in painting from Kent State University. He worked as a stagehand before pursuing a Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Fine Arts at Texas Tech University.

He has exhibited in more than 75 shows throughout the country since 1985. In 2001, Gombert had a solo show at Kentucky’s Berea College and was included in the recent Tennessee State Museum’s Best of Tennessee exhibition. Gombert received a Merit Award in the 6th annual Renaissance Regional Art Exhibit at The Renaissance Center for a pastel and acrylic painting entitled Purple Elizabeth.

Since 1993, Gombert has taught painting, drawing and art history at Maryville College in Maryville, Tenn.

The Real Me is on display in the Visual Arts Gallery 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Saturday, June 3-July 23. Admission to the Visual Arts Gallery is free.

For more information on this and other exhibits at The Renaissance Center, call (615) 740-5600.

The Renaissance Center is an arts and technology education and performing arts center at 855 Highway 46 South in Dickson, just 35 miles west of Nashville on Interstate 40 at exit 172.

Visit the Visual Arts Gallery page for more about the gallery.

News

Date Released	Expiration	Headline
No Press Releases to show...