The University of Olivet presents the exhibition “Small Spaces” by Professor Emeritus Donald Rowe. The exhibit runs through Friday, Dec. 1 and is housed in the Kresge Foundation Art Gallery, located in the Riethmiller Blackman Art Building at The University of Olivet. The gallery is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public.
Rowe originally created the artwork exhibited in “Small Spaces” as a series of color studies, exploring the combination of colors similarly to the composition of chords and harmonies to create music. The paintings and constructions were intentionally designed on a small scale to draw viewers in, as well as for portability purposes. Raised in a wooded-Wisconsin area, peering through a forest of trees in order to see a house or lake beyond was a familiar sight for Rowe. The work in “Small Spaces” has a similar style. Rather than the traditional focus on foreground or middleground, Rowe’s work on exhibit has an interesting focus on the background.
Before retiring to devote himself exclusively to making art, Rowe taught painting, printmaking, drawing, composition, and art appreciation at The University of Olivet for 45 years. He is also known for his commissioned portraits, drawings and illustrations. His home and studio continue to be in Olivet where the surrounding countryside still inspires his work.
“I make art as communication both to others and myself, but I have never felt the need to aggressively market or show the work. It seems to get out of the studio by one means or another. I find it is enough to have the means and opportunity to make art, the rewards come from the work itself and the occasional connection it makes with other minds,” Rowe said.
Rowe has a Bachelor of Science degree in visual art from the Institute of Design, Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago and a Master of Fine Art from the Hartford Art School, University of Hartford in West Hartford, Connecticut.
For more information about the exhibit, contact Gary Wertheimer, professor of art, at 269.749.7627 or gbwertheimer@uolivet.edu. To learn more about The University of Olivet, contact the Office of Admissions at 800.456.7189 or admissions@uolivet.edu.