Visible/Unvisible Looks To Bring Out Inner Emotions
Brant Bollman takes in the many different art pieces at the opening of Visible/Invisible show opening at the Oskaloosa Art Center.
Oskaloosa, Iowa – The Oskaloosa Art Center has become a focal point for cultural events within the Oskaloosa community, especially since its move to the downtown area.
Brant Bollman is an art teacher for the North Mahaska School District, and also has three pieces in the gallery on display during the art exhibit.
Bollman says he’s always been an artist, “even before I knew what that was.”
Collage is Bollman’s favorite medium and in particular acrylic and collage. “I collage a lot from dictionaries and magazines and pages of the Bible. Don’t tell my grandma.”
“I paint on top of those, and I use a lot of layerings,” added Bollman.
Bollman gets to help students at North Mahaska bring out their artistic ability, often a journey of discovery. “Some kids have a real natural talent, and you can take them just about anywhere. You also get kids who say ‘I can’t draw,’ and it’s amazing to watch them because they make such a huge leap.”
“It’s actually magical to actually see from one week to the next, how much they can grow,” said Bollman of students ability in the arts.
“It’s really neat to see all these different people with different styles and medium. We had a topic we were supposed to talk about. Things that are seen and unseen. We all had such different takes on that,” said Bollman.
Matt Kargol with the Oskaloosa Art Center worked to bring the show to reality and continues to book shows for the center, even as far out as 2019.
Kargol said that as an artist he has come to respect many individuals art, “and wanted to reach out and give them an opportunity to be a part of this.”
“I also wanted to bring something a little different to Oskaloosa that maybe challenges some people’s perception of what is art and what art should be and what it should look like,” said Kargol.
“The idea of art that reveals things but also maybe obscures things. Art that talks about ideas or things we understand but can’t necessarily give a form to,” added Kargol.
The exhibition will be on display throughout the months of September and October.
Upcoming shows include a pastel artist in November and December, with January bringing the works of a regional photographer. In February, a skateboard show may be making its way back into the art center.
In March and April, a Des Moines area artist that builds robots is scheduled to be showing at the center. “Her robots respond to movement,” said Kargol. “I’m looking for opportunities to work with our STEM students and STEM program at the high school, and the George Daily as well, with that particular artist.”
