For the City Times

PORT EDWARDS – The Alexander House Center for Art and History will welcome a new exhibition, “Pastiche,” featuring “Sculptural Installation” by Laura Newman, Wisconsin Rapids and “Collage and Printmaking” by Jason Ruhl, Madison.

 An opening reception will be held on Oct. 18, 5-8 p.m., with artists present.

Visual artist Laura Newman creates abstract and representational artworks using multiple materials including, steel, clay, wax, and glass, to create moving pieces that deal with fragility, strength, and temporality. Newman earned a BFA degree in photography from University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, and went on to earn an MFA in ceramic sculpture from Illinois State University. Between degrees, she was a post baccalaureate student at University of Wisconsin-Madison.  Newman has exhibited her work regionally and in Pittsburgh, PA, and Brooklyn, NY.  She is a native and current resident of Wisconsin Rapids.

Exhibiting with Newman is Jason Ruhl from Madison, who works predominately in print-based media, taking fragmented pieces of graphic ephemera and reworking them into simplified, enigmatic images. His current practice includes two bodies of work. The first is the result of a collaborative process in which Ruhl solicits lists of songs from friends and acquaintances. These songs serve as the inspiration for unique printed and collaged artworks which Jason Ruhl then gifts back to the participant. Ruhl’s other body of work utilizes second hand materials as source material for abstract collages. Jason Ruhl received his BFA from Minnesota State University and his MFA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is the studio manager and one of the master printers for Tandem Press.

The exhibit will continue through Dec. 3.

The Alexander House, a Center for Art and History, is located at 1131 Wisconsin River Drive in Port Edwards. For more information, call 715-887-3442, find them on Facebook @ Alexander House Center for Art and History, or visit alexanderhouseonline.org.