Tyler Jeffers | Staff Reporter
The opening reception for the “Ribbons of Concrete” art showcase was held by professional sculptor and Fine Arts professor Jacob Stanley on Thursday, August 28 at 4 p.m. at The Boyle Family Gallery at The J. Scheidegger Center for The Arts.
Stanley graduated from Tennessee University with a master in Fine Arts in 2010 and has been a professor at Lindenwood University for the past 3 years. He claims his two major inspirations for this showcase. The first being a sign he passes on his way to the university that says “August 13, 1956, First Interstate Highway” and the second being the largely known and wildly outrageous internet myth that every five miles of curbed road one mile must be straight. Stanley being fascinated with architecture and recondite system prepared this showcase with the desire to explore and display his interests.
The main theme of this exhibition was clearly roads and railings. Upon entering the showcase, one immediately would notice torn rubber tires carrying themselves into the showcase under glass display walls as if a car crash has happened on the other side. Upon entering the exhibit, an individual can see the large sculptures as a whole yet only with detailed observation can the complexity of the torn rubber and twisted metal be revealed. Many drawings and sketches line out many cities maps pointing out roads, sewers, and underground passages combining as a multi layered patchwork of systems that intertwine and work together.
From the left side of the showroom, bent and broken steel frame work took its place respectively as if they were personified as a lone wanderer with each cut of metal having its own story to tell. The right side of the showroom was dominated by torn tires that have seen better days, as shredded rubber lay to waste on the floor.
“Ribbons of Concrete” is open to the public until September 28. For more information, visit luboxoffice.com.
