The Dayton Art Institute's latest exhibition begins the Year of Classical Elements with a celebration of contemporary light artists.
Into the Ether Exhibit Sheds New Light on a Classic Theme
I wasn't sure what to expect when I arrived for preview night of the Dayton's Art Institute's latest exhibit Into the Ether: Contemporary Light Artists. What I found was a fun, interactive collection that left me wanting more at the exhibit's end.Into the Ether is the first of three special collections this year to feature the classical elements of the natural world: fire, air, water, earth, and ether. It is this last element, the place where matter connects and light exists in the space between us, that gives the collection its name.
What makes Into the Ether unique is how it inspires playfulness and wonder in visitors of all ages. The usual quietness of the galleries is missing, replaced by conversation and laughter as exhibit goers immerse themselves in the artwork.
Attendees to the show are greeted by Leo Villareal's Star, a burst of LED lights that grabs attention with its flashing lights and hypnotic movements. In another gallery, a pair of holograms by Light and Space movement artist James Turrell seem to materialize out of thin air. This puzzles the members of a curated tour that is passing by and I watch as they circle the artwork, hoping to learn its secrets.
At artist Diane Willow's Chromosphere, visitors line up for a chance to walk through a path of light. Once inside, they can turn a color dial that transforms the LED lights into the warm red and orange hues of a summer sunset, the deep blues of the ocean, or the lush green of spring buds and freshly cut grass.
If my visit is an indication, a crowd favorite of the exhibit is Daniel Rozin's Snow Mirror. Visitors to this work move in front of a camera to see their image projected in black and white on a large silk screen. I chose not to participate, but to step back and watch the other adults jump and dance and flail their arms upon the screen in spontaneous acts of play and creativity. This, I thought to myself at the time, is what art should do as it is meant to be not only seen, but experienced.
My favorite work in the collection is another of Rozin's works, Brushed Metal Mirror. This piece uses a camera to record the silhouette of an onlooker and project it onto the face of a wooden slab containing over 700 metal mirrors. I watched in awe for several minutes as the artwork changed to reflect the shapes and shadows of visitors flowing in and out of the gallery.
While I don't want to give away the magic of the last work in the exhibit, the lights and vibe in the gallery did launch me back in time to my teenage years and school skating parties at Rollerworld Bus Stop. As I sat in a bean bag chair and enjoyed those last few moments Into the Ether, I found myself already anticipating the next two installments in this year's series.
You will, too, once you've seen the light of this glorious exhibit.
Into the Ether: Contemporary Light Artists is on display now through June 26, 2016. Admission, which includes access to the exhibition and the museum's permanent collections, is $14 for adults, $11 for seniors 60 and over, $11 for active duty military personnel, $11 for students 18 years and older with ID, and $6 for youth ages 7 to 17. Admission is free for DAI members and children under 6. Museum hours are Wednesday through Saturday 11 am – 5 pm with extended evening hours on Thursdays until 8 pm and Sunday Noon – 5 pm. The museum is closed Mondays, Tuesdays, and major holidays.
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