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Paintings by J.R. DeMers, Bonnie
Loukus at the Reflection Gallery
HANCOCK, MI – Tuesday
the Finlandia University Reflection Gallery opened a dual
exhibit of oil and sumi-e watercolor paintings by J.R. DeMers,
and oil paintings by Bonnie Loukus. The exhibit is open to the
public through August 28, 2010.
At Tuesday’s opening
reception both DeMers and Loukus gave an artist talk to a very
large audience.
Bonnie Loukus is presenting a series of
oil paintings titled, “Changing Landscapes: Invasive plant and
animal Species, in the Great Lakes Region.” Loukus, assistant
director of the Copper Country Community Arts Center, Hancock,
graduates from Finlandia this spring with a bachelor of arts in
Finlandia’s interdisciplinary honors program, Arts, Culture, and
Environment (ACE).
IronwoodInfo has been covering these
wonderful art students for three years now and I must say that
watching them grow and go is a bitter sweet experience. While we
will miss seeing them at these great exhibits, we know that as
they leave and go out in the world, the world will becomes a
better and much more enjoyable place for everyone.
J.R.
DeMers, is a wonderful and talented young lady. She is a junior
at Finlandia University, and that means we get to enjoy her work
for yet another year.
J.R.is completing a
cross-concentration bachelor of fine arts degree in both
fiber/fashion design and illustration. She is exhibiting a
series of sumi-e paintings titled, “7 Deadly Sins,” and a series
of oil paintings on wood illustrating the “7 Heavenly Virtues.”
J.R. DeMers notes that the inspiration for the two series
of paintings on display began with a desire to present her spin
on a popular theme. After finishing the series of deadly sins,
she wanted to accompany the first series with its counterpart,
the heavenly virtues.
“The material on which the deadly
sins are drawn is made of delicate paper constructed with cicada
wings, which represents the nurturing and fragile nature of a
woman, while the virtues are painted on wood,” DeMers said.
DeMers’s paintings cast the Sins as women, and the Virtues as
Men. She explains her rationale, “In Christianity, Eve is said
to have committed the first sin. I have realized that when a
woman carries out an action that is considered bad, the same
action is sometimes considered good, or even encouraged, for a
male.”
On the opposite side of the spectrum, DeMers
depicts men as the virtuous ones. “Always venerated for their
heroisms, men are the breadwinners, the head of the household,
the one who wears the pants,” she explains.
Loukus
describes her exhibition as a body of work that reflects a small
selection of exotic species within the Great Lakes region. “I
have chosen to depict a variety of plants, insects, and aquatic
life,” she explains. “My intent is to illustrate the diverse
range of species that are non-native to our region, as well as
the problems they are causing.”
Loukus’ vibrant oil
paintings give the viewer an up-close and personal view of eight
different invasive species. “Some have high aesthetic beauty,
while others are fairly nondescript… some highlight how
beautiful an invasive species can be, while other paintings
highlight the threats they pose.”
Loukus’ paintings
invite viewers to explore closely the problem of invasive
species in the Upper Peninsula. “Research, articles, and
advisories educate the public about invasive species, but other
than photographs, there is little visual interpretation,” she
says.
“Art has the ability to address these issues with
visual and thought-provoking impact,” Loukus adds. “It is a
necessary tool to give another perspective to the public about
current environmental problems. Art is a catalyst for dialogue.”
The Reflection Gallery is located on the second level
of Finlandia’s Jutila Center campus, 200 Michigan St., Hancock.
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