November 2013

Spartanburg Art Museum in Spartanburg, SC, Features Contemporary Art from Switzerland

The Spartanburg Art Museum at Chapman Cultural Center in Spartanburg, SC, is presenting From ‘Bourg to ‘Burg, an international exhibition, featuring works by nine artists from Fribourg, Switzerland, on view through Dec. 21, 2013. A reception will be held on Nov. 7, from 5-8pm.

This collection of contemporary artwork includes over 40 paintings, photographs and mixed media works. Six of the nine artists will be in Spartanburg in early November attending receptions, conducting workshops and informal gallery talks at SAM, Chapman Cultural Center and USC Upstate. All of the scheduled programs are free. This promises to be a fantastic opportunity to share cultures, provide international exposure and promote the exchange of ideas.

What began back in the spring of 2010 as an idea to share the works of these Visarte Fribourg artists with the Spartanburg community has culminated into a collaborative cultural art exhibition and visiting artist exchange. (Visarte Switzerland is the country’s professional artist association, and Fribourg has approximately 60 members) A call for participation was presented to the Visarte artists back in 2011. The Swiss American Society of the Piedmont and Spartanburg Art Museum supported this idea, and the exhibition grew from there.

Exhibiting artists include: Marie Vieli, Cornelia Patthey, Catherine Liechti, Francesco Ragusa, Magdolna Rubin, Andre Sugnaux, Olivier Zappelli, Hafis Bertschinger, and Karin Kurzmeyer.

The participating artists are at various stages in their careers from emerging to mid-career to well- established. Karin Kurzmeyer, a photographer and conceptual artist is the youngest of the group, in her mid-twenties. Her work in this exhibition involves a large projection as well as four other works including a plaster cast of an actual Swiss mountain peak.

Magdolna Rubin is a trained architect and her work created out of recycled corrugated cardboard is minimal in form and color, but full of rhythmic texture. Olivier Zappelli’s three paintings are the most humorous and whimsical with surprising details worth seeking out. Francesco Ragusa’s photographs capture interior spaces that are composed of clean and minimal architectural lines that exhibit well in contrast to Cornelia Patthey’s design oriented paintings on vinyl.

The three abstract painters, Hafis Bertschinger, Marie Vieli and Andre Sugnaux all use bright palettes and loose brushwork, and their paintings vary from large to small compositions.

“There are many opportunities for the public to come and engage with the artists, learn about their studio practices and discuss the cultural differences of living and working in Fribourg, Switzerland compared to Spartanburg, South Carolina,” Elizabeth Goddard, Executive Director of SAM, said.

A number of related programs will be offered in conjunction with this exhibition, contact the Museum for further information.

Spartanburg Art Museum is grateful for its sponsors and supporters who believe in the value of this wonderful cultural exchange; The Swiss American Society of the Piedmont, Mark Zimmerli, Kathy Zimmerli Wofford, Anonymous Donor and USC Upstate.

For further information check our SC Institutional Gallery listings, call the Museum at 864/582-7616 or visit (www.spartanburgartmuseum.org).

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