305 N 5th Street, Norfolk NE 68701 info@norfolkartscenter.org 402.371.7199

McCaughey, Wicka and Lockheart Exhibitions

When:
December 1, 2022 – February 22, 2023 all-day
2022-12-01T00:00:00-06:00
2023-02-23T00:00:00-06:00

JOHN McCAUGHEY & LISA WICKA – Gallery Artists

December 2022 – February 2023

My entire process is a formal exploration of color, texture, space, and time. I draw inspiration from so many different sources… distressed architecture, pop art, graffiti, abstract expressionism, the New Aesthetic movement and so much more.” – John

“My work is a surface where this dialogue becomes visible explorations of my surroundings and my identity, a surrogate self with limitless possibilities. Often referencing architecural spaces, wallpapers, and raw materials… “ – Lisa

KLAIRE LOCKHEART – Atrium Artist

Flipping the binary doesn’t solve all the problems related to the objectification of women in art, but it does provide an entertaining start. I use humor to inspire viewers to consider that passive representations of women for the heteronormative male gaze are neither natural nor universal. In response to the abundance of dehumanizing imagery I am expected to appreciate for art’s sake, I invented the brodalisque. These oil paintings feature masculine men who recreate the poses and passivity of historic odalisques. Western Orientalist painters typically portrayed odalisques within the harem, a place where unrelated men were not allowed to enter. To update the trope of creating a “realistic” painting in a prohibited space, I place my subjects within the hidden mysteries known as the man cave. I render these forbidden environments representationally to persuade viewers that these compositions are factual and not at all fictitious. If the excessive depictions of nude women in art are really truly about form and aesthetics, not power and ownership, then my paintings should be completely serious and not remotely silly. (The newest paintings in this series were created with a generous grant from the Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation.)