{"id":52514,"date":"2015-09-09T17:00:00","date_gmt":"2015-09-09T22:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/news.olemiss.edu\/?p=52514"},"modified":"2015-09-14T15:16:54","modified_gmt":"2015-09-14T20:16:54","slug":"um-museum-unveil-abstract-sculpture-collection","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/web20.olemiss.edu\/news\/wordpress\/um-museum-unveil-abstract-sculpture-collection\/","title":{"rendered":"UM Museum to Unveil Abstract Sculpture Collection"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"One<\/a>

One of Butler’s concrete casting pieces unveiled this week for “Intervals and Disturbances” at the University Museum<\/p><\/div>\n

OXFORD, Miss. \u2013 The University of Mississippi Museum is unveiling its next exhibit, \u201cIntervals and Disturbances,\u201d this week. The collection, which features the work of abstract sculptor Ben Butler, opened Tuesday (Sept. 8) and will be on display until Dec. 18.<\/p>\n

An opening reception is set for 6-8 p.m. Thursday (Sept. 10). The reception coincides with the University Museum\u2019s annual Membership Party.<\/p>\n

Butler\u2019s gallery of sophisticated sculptures features intricate woodworking and concrete casting that evokes growth, erosion, accumulation and dissection. The collection traces the emergence of complex phenomena in the natural world, and, as Butler puts it, through the scope and series of delicate processes.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe questions in my studio and the things that I explore always have to do with process,\u201d Butler said. \u201cI\u2019m interested in investigating how something comes into being. For example, I tend to see the natural work not as a series of objects but as pure process. Close observation reveals the processes. In the moment when you\u2019re observing something, if you\u2019re careful about observing it, it becomes clear that it is not a fixed thing. It\u2019s a snapshot of an ongoing process of growth, decay, erosion, expansion, transformation or sometimes all those things at once.\u201d<\/p>\n

Butler has had an interest in art all his life. He attended Bowdoin College, a private, liberal arts school located in Maine. He started college ambitiously as an art and neuroscience double major. In college, he was able to find what he was more interested in within art, and eventually, he lost interest in science due to the rigors and tediousness of the curriculum, he said. Art proved to be the best vehicle for Butler to incorporate his vast array of interests, but science and an investigation of the scientific process have crept their way back into his work over the years.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s something I still love about being an artist,\u201d Butler said. \u201cI can pursue different interests and study up on different things and pick and choose what I end up incorporating into my work.\u201d<\/p>\n

Butler\u2019s gallery features pieces he designed in the past 10 years, while two pieces will be unveiled at the University Museum show. For this exhibit, Butler will introduce a full range of pieces to create a collection of objects that explore new opportunities and spaces.<\/p>\n

\u201cMost of the pieces are done within the last two years and have never been shown in the region.\u00a0There are two pieces I just finished that were brought here on Monday (Sept. 7),\u201d Butler said. \u201cI knew for this show I wanted to assemble a collection of my most interesting objects. I usually respond directly to an exhibition space. This show is object based, as opposed to a site-specific installation, so I\u2019m interested in how the selection of the sculptures and their placement can inform the conversations that they have with each other. I laid out where things would go and realized here\u2019s a blank wall and opportunity to do a brand new piece that would be customized to fill that void.\u201d<\/p>\n

A family activity day will be held at the University Museum on Saturday, Nov. 14, from 10 a.m. to noon. The museum will have activities inspired by \u201cIntervals and Disturbances.\u201d The museum kicked off an Ignite Ole Miss campaign last spring to raise money to support free family days for three years. Museum supporters surpassed their goal by raising more than $6,000, and this fall they will host four family activity days for the community.<\/p>\n

Marti Funke, University Museum collections manager, and Rebecca Phillips, University Museum coordinator for memberships, events and communications, both agreed that while Butler\u2019s show will provide an educational benefit, it will also provide a variation to the normalcy of recent exhibits at the museum.<\/p>\n

\u201cBen\u2019s exhibit is so different than what we\u2019ve typically showcased,\u201d Phillips said. “You look at the exhibition postcard and really can\u2019t tell exactly what it is. It\u2019s exciting. I\u2019ve been here for two years, and we\u2019ve never had any large sculpture pieces. I\u2019m excited to have new visitors and for all ages to enjoy Ben\u2019s artwork.\u201d<\/p>\n

Funke also reiterated the complexity and uniqueness offered by Butler\u2019s upcoming show.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a single artist, rather than a compilation of works from several artists that compile a theme,\u201d Funke said. \u201cAll of the work is so varied, but it ties together. You really do have several dramatic moments as you\u2019re experiencing everything that is in the gallery. It\u2019s done with fewer pieces than we normally have in an exhibition. They\u2019re so multifaceted and interesting that there doesn\u2019t need to be more. You\u2019ll have plenty of interactions. Visually it looks different than anything we\u2019ve had recently \u2014 possibly ever.\u201d<\/p>\n

Funke and Phillips said regular patrons of the museum and the community alike will be captivated and appreciative of Butler\u2019s exhibit.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think people will be pleasantly surprised,\u201d Funke said. \u201cOur regular members are used to the permanent collection, and this just brings a whole other medium. It also brings an opportunity being in the round with the objects in a way that we usually don\u2019t have. I think people will be surprised and excited about it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re always trying to reach a younger audience,\u201d Phillips said. \u201cWe\u2019re a university museum and a lot of university students have not visited here. I think that having this modern exhibit will get college students in the door. Our members are familiar with seeing new artists, and I think it will challenge them in a good way.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

OXFORD, Miss. \u2013 The University of Mississippi Museum is unveiling its next exhibit, \u201cIntervals and Disturbances,\u201d this week. The collection, which features the work of abstract sculptor Ben Butler, opened Tuesday (Sept. 8) and will be on display until Dec. 18. An opening reception is set for 6-8 p.m. Thursday (Sept. 10). The reception coincidesRead the story …<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":60,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[199,203],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nUM Museum to Unveil Abstract Sculpture Collection - Ole Miss News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"http:\/\/news.olemiss.edu\/um-museum-unveil-abstract-sculpture-collection\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"UM Museum to Unveil Abstract Sculpture Collection - Ole Miss News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"OXFORD, Miss. \u2013 The University of Mississippi Museum is unveiling its next exhibit, \u201cIntervals and Disturbances,\u201d this week. The collection, which features the work of abstract sculptor Ben Butler, opened Tuesday (Sept. 8) and will be on display until Dec. 18. An opening reception is set for 6-8 p.m. Thursday (Sept. 10). 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