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Tag Archives: still life

Ohio’s Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum, Part II

23 July 201716 September 2024

Attracting thousands of visitors each year, Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum was a beautiful way for me to spend a lovely fall afternoon.  Rolling hills, vast open spaces and sporadic woods total nearly 500 acres of canvas displaying over 80 contemporary works of art.

I have assembled a list of sculptures that cover the areas of the park’s North Woods, Central Valley and Overlook Hill as Part II of my visit.  In addition to the artwork, the Ancient Sculpture Museum showcases terra cotta sculptures and old coins, an Egyptian sarcophagus and several other displays within a 10,000 square foot space.  Check out my earlier post that covers the East Ridge of the park.

NORTH WOODS:

Extent / Clement Meadmore

Australian-born, Meadmore’s Extent was created from painted aluminum in 1981.

Ohio Star / Joel Perlman

New York native Perlman’s Ohio Star was commissioned by the park and stands 18 feet tall.  It is one of three of his sculptures displayed at the park.

Still Life / Ed Benevente

California sculptor Benevente claims that his work “is a product of the sum of my life experiences up to that point.”

Adam’s First Breath / Sam McKinney

McKinney’s Adam’s First Breath sculpture was created out of 1800 pounds of bronze.

Keepsake / Antoinete Prien Schultze

Made from granite and glass, Prien Schultze’s Keepsake is over 10 feet tall and 4 feet wide.

Off Minor / Richard Heinrich

Heinrich’s work can be seen at various outdoor sculpture parks as well as galleries in both the United States and abroad.

Untitled / Ken Valmaki

Two Thumbs Up / Ed Casagrande

Ed Casagrande is a Cincinnatian known not only for his metal sculptures, but also his jewelry.

Untitled / John Leon

John Leon is a Cincinnati sculptor who also teaches and provides consulting services.   According to John’s website, the figure seated on the bench is Harry Wilks, the park’s founder.

CENTRAL VALLEY:

Laocoon / Alexander Liberman

Liberman’s Laocoon was constructed from wielded steel in 1982.

Tory’s Comet / Harry Gordon

Gordon first studied ceramics until working with Borias Blai in Philadelphia.

Sky Walk / Joel Perlman

Perlman has studied at Cornell University and continued his education in London and Berkeley.

Wherefore Art Thou / Sam McKinney

The second of McKinney’s pieces at the Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum, he has been a freelance painter and sculptor over 30 years.

Abracadabra / Alexander Liberman

Liberman’s Abracadabra was made of painted steel and created in 1992.

Pteasuaurus II / John Parker

Having attended the Cleveland Institute of Art, Parker has worked extensively with metal fabrication and welding.

Long Wall / Joel Perlman

The Cube / Tony Rosenthal

Rosenthal’s The Cube can also be seen in New York City and on the University of Michigan campus.

J.S. Bach’s Fugue #1 / Tony Rosenthal

White Face / Jon Isherwood

Restoration / Jim Agard

Agard’s restoration measures 10 and a half feet tall and 18 feet wide, constructed from steel.

Cincinnati Story / George Sugarman

Sugarman’s Cincinnati Story was commissioned by the Chiquita Corporation to be placed in front of their corporate offices.

Clash of Arms / Dan Kainz

Kainz, born to a family of stonecutters, spent many hours cutting stone, creating his first sculpture at the age of 9.

Serpentine Column / Christoph Spath

German-born Spath came to the US in 1982.  Serpentine Column is carved from African black granite and stands 126 feet tall, 32 feet wide and 16 feet deep.  Plate glass layers are enclosed in the center giving off a green tint.

Pier Portal / Barry Tinsley

Tinsley’s sculpture was created using steel and cast concrete.

This concludes my second post about my experience at Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum.  For more information about the park, check out my initial post which covers the East Ridge area of the property.

Photos cannot adequately describe my amazing experience exploring this phenomenal sculpture park and I highly recommend you visit in person.

Have you had the opportunity to visit Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum?  What was your favorite sculpture and why?  I would love to hear about your experience if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below.  Many thanks for reviewing my post and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum
1763 Hamilton Cleves Road
Hamilton, OH  45013
Telephone:  513 868 1234

  • Admission Fee:   General admission to the park is $8 for general admission and $3 for children between the ages of 5 – 12.  Art cart rentals are available for $20 for the first hour and $15 per hour thereafter.  Members receive a discount of $15 for the first hour and $10 thereafter.
  • Hours:  From April  – October, the park is open Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 7 PM.  On Saturdays and Sundays they are open from 8AM to 5PM.   During the months from November to March they are open from 8 AM to 5PM seven days a week.  The museum is open from 12 to 5 PM year around.
  • Amenities:  Concerts in the Park, museum, Holiday Lights on the Hill and Annual Art Fair.
  • Length of Visit:   To visit all of the sculptures by car, give yourself at least a couple of hours.  If walking, you will need more time.
  • Tips for Your Visit:  Visit the park and museum’s website for upcoming events and the most up-to-date information. There are benefits of becoming a member and you can research this information on the parks website!

Where to Stay:

Courtyard by Marriott Hamilton
1 Riverfront Plaza
Hamilton, OH  45011
Telephone:  513 896 6200

Where to Eat: 

Hyde’s Restaurant 
130 South Erie Blvd.
Hamilton, OH  45011
Telephone:  513 892 1287

Serving the community since 1946, Hyde’s is an amazing restaurant to try some down home cooking.  I ordered the breaded cod sandwich with a side salad with ranch.  Should you visit Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum on a Thursday, save room for Peanut Butter Creme Pie.

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The Art of Jason Morgan, A Springfield Museum of Art Exhibit

7 May 201615 September 2024

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Flipping through a copy of Ohio Magazine, I was drawn to an article about a local artist Jason Morgan from Yellow Springs, Ohio.  I learned that he would be exhibiting at the Springfield Museum of Art, and booked a Saturday to see his artwork for myself.   I was fascinated by his amazing still life scenes and wanted to learn more about his artistic style.

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Prior to entering the exhibit, I picked up a small guide with an overview of the artist and his work.  Located at several stations throughout the museum, thought provoking questions were posed to encourage a deeper reflection on some of the paintings.  I found this practice to be very helpful and enjoyed thinking about Morgan’s artwork in a more artistic manner.  Outside of the left wing was Morgan’s “Strange Pilgrims”.

My eyes were first drawn to the Hawaiian-like totem figure and then to the yellow pepper which seemed out of place.  Reminding me of a scene in the movie Toy Story, I was fascinated by the colors in the yo-yo and the reflection of the light on the egg.

The artwork on display was primarily acrylic on canvas dating from 2002 to the present.  I quickly  noticed Morgan’s talent for painting portraits which progressively evolved towards a photographic style.   I provided some of my thoughts on only a small number of pieces on display and separated them into two categories, portraitures and still-life.

Portraiture

I began my exploration of Jason Morgan’s artwork starting with Moonstruck which was painted in 2001.   Compared to the 2012 painting of Dr. Cotton, the images in his earlier paintings had more subtle backgrounds but not as much definition in their facial expressions.

The work titled “Tim & Brooke” was one that first captured my attention in the next collection of portraitures.  The attention to detail and texture is phenomenal in this painting.  I was most fascinated by the natural bunching up of Brooke’s white t-shirt.  The shadowing gave the piece of clothing such a unique three-dimensional feel.

“Acala at Ten” was an extraordinarily elegant black and white portrait.  I was drawn to her eyes and her defined facial features.  The simple background allowed my focus to remain solely on her.

I had reached the “Dr. Cotton” painting and I found this to be one of the most interesting portraitures in the collection.  I was impressed with his use of texture and dimension in the background, especially the brick and the fall-like plants/trees that can be seen through the window.  Of course the main focus was on the doctor himself.  Morgan was able make scrubs look interesting with the use of shadowing and his ability to create an added component of depth is fascinating.  I was mesmerized by the recreation of the doctor’s hospital badge as well as the detail that was not overlooked in the watch and pager.  The detail of the doctor’s hands, all the way down to his fingernails and cuticles, was extremely life-like and photogenic.

The Use of Portraiture and Still Life

“Mirror in the Mirror” seemed like an transition from Morgan’s painting of portraits to still life, incorporating aspects of both people and things.  The girl in the background appeared softer with less detailed features while the items in the foreground took center stage.  I noticed that the painting had a three dimensional feel with the daisy in glass at the front, the skull and pomegranate in the center and the young girl towards the back.  She was paying no attention to the items laid out in front of her, but rather taking more of an interest in the IPhone that she was holding in her hands.

Still Life Paintings

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“Pins and Needles” was another opportunity to explore Morgan’s mastery with the use of lighting and for painting reflections as they would appear on his objects.   Light reflected off, not only the orange, but each pin that had been stuck into the spool.  There were several aspects of the painting that seemed to have been included to challenge Morgan artistically.    First was the orange.  There was a great amount of detail given to the flesh of the orange looking as though it had just been squeezed.  Instead of a perfectly sliced orange, there was an element of experimentation in the modified object.  This could also be said for the re-creation of the photograph of the man and the young child, which brought Morgan’s attention to detail to a whole new level.

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I wandered towards the center of the exhibit where there are samples of objects that Morgan used for his paintings.  The display also provided and explanation of the process for which Jason Morgan creates his designs, using a three-step process.

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The Perfect Photograph

Towards the end of the exhibit, I found myself spending the most time viewing “Indian Four”, an acrylic on canvas.  Mesmerized by the artistic detail of this painting, I noticed the intricate reproduction of each of the motorcycle’s parts and hardware. There is rust on the metal, the chipping away of body paint and the reflective lighting on the bike was incredible.

The next three pieces that were painted from 2011 to 2013 were, in my opinion, the most developed in the way of lighting and the detail of reflection.  The positioning of items in the painting “Enzo” was unique as the items are facing away from viewer.  The back lighting gave the painting a distinctive depth in the ridges of the cantaloupe and the marble’s reflection on the table was perfectly executed.

The same could be said for “Grapes of Wrath.” A partial mirror image of the light bulb was painted on the table which was a result of the lighting.   “One for Steve” took the reflective concept a step further showing the table’s reflection in the plum.  Impressive was the remaining peel left by a bite in the piece of fruit.

It is clear that Jason Morgan is successful in capturing the details and textures that come from his intense strategic placement and lighting of his subjects.  Whether portraitures or still life images, the attention to each element is clearly exhibited in the artwork he creates.  I look forward to seeing where his talents take him and hope to see more of his work in the near future.

Do you have a passion or love for art?  What draws you to a specific artist?  If you visited the Jason Morgan exhibit, I would love to hear your thoughts about his work.  Please take the time to let me know about your opinions and comments about my post in the comments below!  I would love to hear from you!

What to See and What to Do:

The Springfield Museum of Art
107 Cliff Park Road
Springfield, Ohio  45504
Telephone:  937 325 4673

If you would like to explore Jason Morgan’s fascinating artwork, visit his website at www.jasonmorganportraits.com.

  • Admission Fee: Adults for $5, Students with Valid ID for $3; Seniors 65+ for $3; Children 17 and under are Free and Wittenberg students are Free.  Special exhibitions may incur an additional cost, so check the website prior to visiting
  • Hours:  Wednesday – Saturday: 9AM to 5PM; Sunday: 12:30PM to 4:30PM; Closed Monday, Tuesday, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, Easter Sunday, Independence Day and the Sunday after Art Ball.
  • Amenities:  Partnership with the Smithsonian, Exhibitions as well as Workshops and Classes
  • Length of Visit:  1 to 2 hours
  • Tips for Your Visit:  Check the website to confirm any additional fees for special exhibits.

Where to Stay:

Marriott Courtyard, Springfield Downtown
100 South Fountain Avenue
Springfield, Ohio  45502
Telephone:  937 322 3600

Where to Eat:

Seasons Bistro and Grille
28 South Limestone Street
Springfield, Ohio  45502
Telephone:  937 521 1200

My favorite item on the menu is the Bibimbap, a Korean rice bowl with marinated beef strips and seasonal vegetables served over white rice.  Topped with a fried egg and Korean chili paste.

Another seasonal favorite that is offered on a limited basis is their grilled Chilean sea bass.

  • Schuler’s Donuts:   Their chocolate cream-filled doughnut is their best seller…”home of homemade”. The bakery has several locations in Springfield.
  • Simon Kenton Inn:  This historical home is an inn, restaurant and entertainment venue.  With great food, I love the atmosphere of the Simon Kenton Inn.
  • Guerra’s Krazy Tacos:  One of my favorite places to eat in Springfield, Guerra’s is known for their unique gourmet tacos.
  • Salato Deli:  I love stopping by this deli for their charcuterie board
  • Le Torte Dolci Bakery;  Located next to the Salato Deli, this European French bakery also serves amazing gelato.
  • Mike & Rosie’s Deli:  This staple of Springfield is located near the Wittenberg campus and I am extremely fond of their Reuben sandwich.

Where to Drink: 

  • Mother Stewart’s Brewing Company: Springfield’s only brewery, Mother Stewart’s showcases nine craft beers produced onsite.

What to Read:

  • The Book of Springfield, Ohio, 1906, by Springfield Commercial Club
  • Springfield, Ohio:  A Summary of Two Centuries, by Tom Dunham
  • Ridgewood in the Country Club District, by Tamara K. Dallenbach
  • Still Standing:  A life of pain, adversity and perseverance, by James Cooper
  • Hometown Killer, by Carol Rothgeb

Photo Guide for Springfield, Ohio:  

  • Hartman Rock Garden
  • Westcott House, Frank Lloyd Wright House
  • Glen Helen Nature Preserve in nearby Yellow Springs
  • Heritage Center of Clark County
  • Tecumseh Land Trust in nearby Yellow Springs
  • Ohio Caverns in nearby Bellefontaine
  • Oakes Quarry Park in nearby Fairborn, Ohio

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Here is another look at part of the process…From cute bunny stuffed animal…

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To adorable painting of bunny hopping over mushrooms!  A Great Escape

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Display in the exhibit to explain Morgan’s artistic process

Disclosure:   Please refer to our blog disclaimer tab for more information.

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I have had a passion to travel for as long as I can remember and landed my dream job at the age of 19 on a cruise ship. The Suite Life of Travel is about those experiences as well as my future endeavor to explore this amazing world!

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