Deeply personal themes and the process of breaking down and building up feature in the drawings of Dan Volenec in a current solo exhibition.
Everyone at some point has a moment of struggle, whether emotional, spiritual, or physical. In the face of adversity, we stand, dust ourselves off, and emerge stronger and more intelligent. This evolution of fall, triumph, and change are the subjects of beautiful and powerful drawings by Dan Volenec. A solo exhibition of his most recent works, at the Plymouth Congregational Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota, runs now through October 20.
“To me, these moments and their accompanying stories are the most fascinating part of the human experience,” the artist writes. “Each piece of my art is like a page from a book. And each page speaks of a vivid, specific instance in our ongoing wrestling with the human condition. But ultimately it isn’t about what I think. None of this is important if I don’t make a connection with the viewers’ life experiences.”
Dan Volenec, “Metanoia,” charcoal, pencil, on paper, 32 x 44 in. (c) Dan Volenec 2015
“Eve” is one of the many moving works in the show. Squeezed into the frame is a painfully detailed rendering of a female subject’s face. So close is she to the viewer that we cannot see her hair or even her ears. The pensive expression, wrinkled skin, and the artist’s masterful attention to detail infuse her with an air of confidence, experience, strength, and sorrow.
An artist reception will take place Sunday, September 27, at 12 p.m.
To learn more, visit Dan Volenec.
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