September 10 – 27, 2018
Gallery 720, Christensen Center
Artist Talk: Thursday, September 27, 5:30 – 7 p.m. Gallery 720, Christensen Center
Going Down South:Music and Cultural Production on the Mississippi River
Max Bray
Statement
I strive to create art that is inspired by the things I appreciate most, which are music and nature. I like these elements to be represented boldly and in a fashion that is hard to ignore. My artwork is presented in a simple format, but it is unique because it utilizes everyday objects in unconventional ways. My best work encompasses a vibrant texture that creates movement while being straightforward and accessible. I think about what it is I want to do by indulging myself in inspiration and being hands on with the objects I am using to create a piece of work. I want to present art that uses objects and materials in a way that that people have not experienced.
For this project, I wanted to explore the idea of the Mississippi River as a potent sources of cultural production in America. Along its banks, through each state it touches, artists influenced by the river have created some of America’s most powerful and timeless music. Representing this music has to be done with a gut feelings and by hand using minimal materials with no second guesses.
Bio
Max Bray is from St. Paul, Minnesota finishing up his 10 years of work toward a B.A. in Graphic Design. Bray uses wood blocks, linoleum, and slabs of ink to share his interpretation of landscape, nature, and music.