The beauty of any art form is that it is open to interpretation.
A serial killer, for example, might see something drastically different from a 93-year-old man. OptiCon, an art exhibit about renewing optical consciousness, builds on that perspective and attempts to force the viewer into actually seeing the piece.
When Matthew Rana planned OptiCon, it was merely an exhibition. But, as with most unique ideas, the concept grew, shifted and transformed.
"OptiCon became an exhibition about seeing," Rana said in his curatorial statement about the show.
The ASA Gallery contains an exhibit that challenges and rebels against common perception. Rana states the show's art asks its viewers, "Should seeing necessarily mean believing?"
OptiCon is an art exhibit that attempts to reconnect society to its "optical consciousness." It aims not just to reconnect but also to renew.
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"These works engage us in different ways, refreshing our eyes, sharpening our sight and, thereby, our perception," Rana said. "We often complacently suspend our disbelief, allowing our eyes to deceive us and distort our perception."
This show attempts to jar people from that complacency and make viewers see the art consciously, instead of just glancing over it and seeing what they think is there. It seeks to rinse the eyes of its audience and replace the habit of gazing with scrutiny.
"One function of a successful artwork and, for that matter, an exhibition, is to compel the viewer to look at the world differently," Rana said in an e-mail interview.
"The works in OptiCon ask us to question what we believe and what we assume," Rana said. "Part of this show's underpinning has to do with engaging the viewer's capacity for perception, to create a contemplative space wherein one can investigate their environment visually and, most importantly, draw their own conclusions."
The wide range of work hanging in the gallery is an indicator of how the artists' drew their own conclusions.
"My approach was to use curatorial restraint and let the artists work with minimal restrictions," Rana said.
Terry Sherlock and Kate Crowe work with intense dimensional effects, challenging the viewer to see what is actually there. John Mulvany creates bold contrasts of colors, forcing viewers to take a closer look to discern the actual piece. Will Robinson's pieces use vague figures. They work like inkblots and make the audience realize what it takes into the gallery with them as far as perspective and expectations.
The show really does press viewers to see each piece consciously, because a glance really doesn't do it justice.
"We must pay attention if we're going to begin to arrive at anything like truth or clarity," Rana said.
What: "OptiCon"
When: Through March 13,
Monday- Friday,
9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Where: ASA Gallery
Price: Free
Ticket Info: 277-1241
