Wyoming Arts Council

The University of Wyoming Art Museum opened two new exhibitions at the end of May. Curated for the University of Wyoming Art Museum by independent textile curator Alice Zrebiec, Lia Cook: The Embedded Portrait presents twenty larger-than-life woven portraits that illustrate the artist’s exploration of the visual and physical realm where photographic likeness and textured textile meet. Whether in color or black and white, realistic or blurred, the gestures, glances and attitudes of children are imbued with additional presence in hangings of monumental scale and patterned structure.

“We are delighted to present an exhibition of nearly all of the ‘Big Baby’ portraits by Lia Cook; works that reach 16-ft in height,” says museum director Susan Moldenhauer. “Cook is an inventor of new weaving constructs that incorporate photographic imagery with digital loom technology.”

Ralston Crawford: Lithographs and Photographs features 20th century American artist, Ralston Crawford, who created images of the American industrial landscape. Working in a Precisionist style, his imagery is characterized by flat, geometric planes illuminated by shafts of light and shadow. Crawford worked in a variety of media, including painting , photography, lithography, drawing, and film. “Ralston Crawford: Lithographs and Photographs presents Crawford’s work from the 1950s,” explains Moldenhauer. “He worked with master lithographers in Paris to create exuberant images inspired by his favorite city of New Orleans and to experiment with printmaking techniques. His photographs of junk cars and street scenes reinforce the keen eye, intellect, and heart Crawford brought to his compositions.”

For additional information on the exhibitions, call the UW Art Museum at (307) 766-6622 or visit www.uwyo.edu/artmuseum or the museum’s blog, http://www.uwartmuseum.blogspot.com/.

“Imagine learning from the masters” is a guiding principle of the UW Art Museum’s programs. The museum is located in the Centennial Complex at 2111 Willett Dr. in Laramie. The museum and Museum Store are open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free.