Spirit Animal New Work by Don Gahr Opening August 20

Maiden Rock- Swan Song Contemporary Arts presents “Animal Spirit” featuring new and recent works by Wisconsin sculptor/painter Don Gahr. Opening with a reception for the artist on Saturday, August 20 from 4:00 to 6:00  P.M., the exhibition will be on view at Swan Song Gallery (W3557 Main Street Maiden Rock, Wisconsin) through October 2 during public hours: Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10-5:00 and by appointment. For more information, contact Swan Song gallery director Cynde Randall at 612-250-9222 or cynderandall@centurytel.net.

“Animal Spirit” presents a wonderful array of colorful carved and painted animal sculptures by visionary Wisconsin artist, Don Gahr who has, for more than three decades, delighted young and old audiences alike. His exhibition at Swan Song features the artist’s most recent cast of characters including a leaping lizard, a big blue whale, a running horse, a leaping deer, a stalking fox, school of salmon, a black swan, a begging deer, and elegant birds among myriad  others.

Through his process Gahr captures what is quintessentially “fox” or “bird” in found pieces of wood—carving and painting each to reveal a unique poise, humor or grace. Gahr fuses three artistic sensibilities—the playfulness of folk art, the essential rigor of modernism, and the spiritual intention of aboriginal quest—to manifest his signature style. Both childlike and sophisticated Gahr’s work reveals an eclectic range of artistic influences including modernist sculpture, 20^th century painting, magic realism, Etruscan sculpture, the mapping of Australian dreamtime and the spirited works of Eskimo, Native American, African and Oceanic traditions.

Through his new work Gahr helps us to see that magic happens when we see the world with innocent perception. “You can never make anything weirder than nature,” says Gahr. Appreciating the freedom that this affords him, Gahr encourages us to have fun with his exhibit and invites us to witness our own wonderment of the universe.

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Don Gahr studied painting and sculpture at the University of Minnesota, The Portland Museum Arts School, the Minneapolis College of Art (now the Minneapolis College of Art and Design) and the University of Washington in Seattle. Gahr has exhibited extensively and is represented in numerous private and public collections. He lives and works in Springbrook, Wisconsin.