Visual artists reimagine the landscape in Stein Galleries’ new exhibition

“Untitled (kite at sunset)” by Miguel Arzabe

Works by four contemporary artists who engage with the concept of landscape in new ways are featured in the latest exhibition at Wright State University’s Robert and Elaine Stein Galleries.

Above and Below will be on display Wednesday, Jan. 15, through Sunday, March 2. A public gallery talk will be held Sunday, Jan. 19, from 3 to 4 p.m., followed by a reception until 5:30 p.m.

The exhibition includes video and photography by Dayton native Miguel Arzabe, now of New Mexico, paintings by Ben Gardner of Iowa and Nina Rizzo of Illinois, and paintings and works on paper by Amy Sacksteder of Michigan.

“Thrown Stones” by Amy Sacksteder

Danielle Rante, assistant professor of art and art history at Wright State, curated the exhibition.

“Benjamin Gardner and Amy Sacksteder piece together visual and emotive qualities of the landscape to reveal unseen connections and interworkings on a personal or spiritual level,” Rante said. “They disregard common inherit qualities of the landscape such as perspective and horizon lines and instead focus on experience.”

“The video work of Miquel Arzabe relies almost entirely on the horizon as a constant to the shifting objects,” Rante added. “Nina Rizzo’s tabletop landscapes of sushi alongside celestial bodies and icebergs each evoke the horizon on grand and intimate ways.”

“Iceberg” by Nina Rizzo

The exhibition is made possible with support by the Ohio Arts Council, the Friends and Members of the Galleries and the College of Liberal Arts.

Gallery hours are Wednesday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Thursday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday, noon to 4 p.m. All galleries events are free and open to the public.

All visitor parking areas on campus are free, and parking at the Creative Arts Center is unrestricted after 4:30 p.m. Fridays and weekends. A dedicated parking space for galleries patrons is available during school hours.

For more information on upcoming events and exhibitions or for driving directions, contact the galleries at (937) 775-2978 or visit wright.edu/artgalleries.