Swartzentruber's 'Totem Triptych' Is The Art Of The Game
Posted
David Slone-dslone@timesuniononline.com
Don Swartzentruber doesn't have a problem sharing his opinions on life through his art.
However, for his latest work, he's been letting people add their own thoughts about his "Totem Triptych" paintings on his Web site at www.swartzentruber.com/13-surreal-art.htm
The paintings also will be exhibited at the Village at Winona Art Fair June 5 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and June 6 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. His booth will be in front of Signature Studios on Park Avenue.
"Totem Triptych" is a collection of 36 triptych paintings. The art pieces took him three years to complete. Each panel is the same size - 6 inches by 8 inches - so they could be exchanged with other panels. According to Swartzentruber, if a person mixed up the panels, they could create 46,656 different triptychs.
During an interview Friday morning, he said he opened up his work to interpretation from others from around the world. Writers from Australia, England, New Zealand, Canada and across the United States submitted their thoughts. Those interpretations are posted on Swartzentruber's Web site.
"Some of these are quite interesting," he said.
Creating them and then reading others' writings has been fun, he said. "As I created them, I had certain ideas."
Previously, Swartzentruber has shown his work at a museum in Lima, Ohio, and at The Lincoln Center in Colorado. Next weekend's art fair will be his first air fair for the work, and his first time participating in the Village at Winona Art Fair.
Before painting the pieces, Swartzentruber sketched them all out. They are oil paintings, but include textured "little things" in each panel to give it textured depth, he said. "Just to break the flat surface up a little bit," he said.
While each piece will be sold individually, he plans to offer a discount price if a person purchases more than one.
"I always kind of hoped they would end up in one big collection," he said.
Of the different triptychs, Swartzentruber said he's received the most kudos for the one of a mischievous goat absorbed in entertainment. Its horns incorporate a chess board and pieces, it has a slot machine for an eye and a crossword puzzle is on its chest.
Swartzentruber teaches art at Warsaw Community High School and Grace College. The goat triptych was inspired in part by his students who come into his class tired because they stayed up until 3 a.m. playing video games.
"When do video games become destructive?" he said.Every triptych was well thought out, he said. Each one is his own little editorial on life.
"I've never had a problem with people disagreeing with me as long as they are willing to talk," said Swartzentruber. "My work typically draws dialogue. It has surreal elements to it, but it's clear enough."
Swartzentruber said he still wants people to visit his Web site and leave their writings about his pieces there. It would be fun, he said, if people like Warsaw Mayor Ernie Wiggins or Biomet co-founder Dr. Dane Miller would take a stab at what they mean to them.
Two of the most prolific commentors on the Web site have been award-winning author Marc Harshman and British author Cleveland W. Gibson. Gibson is attempting to put a book together featuring his comments on Swartzentruber's art.
