Exhibit, concert, drawing workshop set at arts center

0

Southern Indiana Center for the Arts is reopening this weekend with a new exhibit, JCB’s 2021 Friday Night Live concert series kicking off and a charcoal drawing class.

Alexander Winch’s exhibit, “Cursed Fate: Labors and Landscapes of Hercules,” will have an opening reception starting at 6 p.m. Friday at the arts center, 2001 N. Ewing St., Seymour.

Center officials utilized the downtime during the COVID-19 pandemic to revitalize the upstairs space to offer more gallery, classroom and studio space. Those attending Friday’s event can check out the exhibit and newly remodeled spaces, meet Winch and stick around for Friday Night Live’s 2021 season opener with Culdesac Renaissance. The Rolling Pig Pin food truck will be set up selling food.

Winch will offer a charcoal drawing workshop from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday for $50. All materials will be supplied. Winch will do a demonstration and offer guidance to participants as they work on their own drawings. Sign up online at eventbrite.com/e/charcoal-drawing-instruction-with-alexander-winch-tickets-153005789435.

Art exhibit

Born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, Winch graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design with a Bachelor of Fine Art in painting in 2017.

He has drawn inspiration from the art, architecture and mythology of the ancient Mediterranean world and summertime visits to his mother’s childhood haunts.

The first series of drawings by Alexander Winch shows the 12 labors of Hercules. Submitted photo
The first series of drawings by Alexander Winch shows the 12 labors of Hercules. Submitted photo

Winch is captivated by the intersection of the fine and decorative arts found in ancient Roman pottery, Turkish miniature painting and Renaissance French tapestries. Artistic framing devices and the relationship between art and its frame is a long-standing fascination of the artist.

His exhibit at the arts center combines two series of works, both relating to the ancient Greek hero of Hercules. The first series is the 12 labors of Hercules.

Hercules was the son of great god Zeus, but his mother was not Zeus’ wife, Hera, but Alcmene, a human. Out of jealousy, Hera made Hercules’ life difficult. In a fit of rage caused by Hera, Hercules accidentally killed his children. As penance, Hercules submitted himself to the King Erystheus, who gave him a series of 12 impossible tasks that Hercules completed over a period of 10 years.

In this art exhibit, the story of Hercules is a jumping-off point to explore how the myth is painted. Instead of making paintings of scenes and having the paintings framed, the painting and its frame are united by painting decorative patterned borders onto the canvas itself.

In much premodern art, a figurative composition was on the same substrate as its frame (think of an ancient Greek vase or a French tapestry). In this series, that technique is updated with modern flair.

The second half of the show is a series of paintings of mountains as seen from his mother’s hometown of Patras, Greece. These landscapes were painted because they also have a Herculean connection.

Legend has it that one of the mountains was next to a river where the centaur Nessus tried to capture Hercules’ wife, Deianeira. Hercules killed the centaur, but just before he died, Nessus gave a small vial of poison to Deianeira for use if she ever suspected Hercules of cheating. Hercules never cheated, but in a tragic mix-up, the poison resulted in both of their deaths.

Alexander Winch’s exhibit, "Cursed Fate: Labors and Landscapes of Hercules," will open Friday at Southern Indiana Center for the Arts in Seymour. Submitted photo
Alexander Winch’s exhibit, “Cursed Fate: Labors and Landscapes of Hercules,” will open Friday at Southern Indiana Center for the Arts in Seymour. Submitted photo

This show is called Cursed Fate because of the 12 labors Hercules had to complete and the story of Nessus and Deianeira.

Concert series kickoff

David Hartung and Donata Cucinotta, who became known for providing cul-de-sac concerts to entertain their neighborhood during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, will present “a musical melting pot of parodies, folk, jazz, pop, musical theater, rock and opera” during Friday’s show.

They became friends and neighbors five years ago and have always shared a love of music in all of its forms, and the quarantine provided a unique opportunity to share their talents with the neighborhood.

Hartung has been a local family doctor in Seymour for 15 years. Originally from Massachusetts, he now calls Indiana home as he and his wife, Monica, raise their three kids in Jackson County. A guitarist and drummer for 30 years, he has been a part of the local music scene as a member of Bad Medicine performing for the last decade.

Singer and guitarist David Hartung performs at Southern Indiana Center for the Arts in Seymour. Submitted photo
Singer and guitarist David Hartung performs at Southern Indiana Center for the Arts in Seymour. Submitted photo

He claimed the title of Mr. Jackson County during the one and only event held by SICA four years ago. Playing folk, rock, country and a list of his own parodies about life in Jackson County, he is happy to be back at SICA for Friday Night Live.

Cucinotta, a soprano, has been recognized for her powerful performances across opera, musical and concert stages.

This season, she was a featured artist for the 34th annual Yuletide concerts with Jack Everly and the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. Last season, she performed with the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic and Terre Haute Symphony Orchestra and sang Musetta in La Bohème with Indianapolis Opera and can be seen on Encore! Pippin on Disney+.

Career highlights include Louisville Orchestra under the baton of Michael Tilson Thomas, Queens Symphony Orchestra at Lincoln Center, singing First Lady in The Magic Flute with Opera Tampa and Aldonza in Man of La Mancha with Asheville Lyric Opera.

She also has performed principal roles at Opera Colorado, Opera New Jersey, Shreveport Opera, Baltimore Concert Opera, Opera Fort Collins and Ohio Light Opera.

She maintains a voice studio in Seymour, where she lives with her family.

No posts to display