The Rodak exhibition at the Abraham Art Gallery ends next week
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Wall of Dragons by John Rodak
Provided by Hannah Wells/UMAThe exhibition ‘HERE & NOW: The Pointillist Illustrations of John Rodak’ at the Abraham Art Gallery Malouf Abraham Family Art Center at Wayland Baptist University is open until December 2.
A native of Ohio and now living in Houston, John Rodak describes himself as an illustrator, instructor and graphic designer specializing in creative visual communication. He attended the University of Cincinnati and began his career in public education in 1972 teaching art classes; now an established artist, he also gives private lessons in creative art. His first exhibition, “HARVEST: Twilight of the Barn in Ohio,” was a series of original illustrations depicting the state of barns in Ohio, which toured the state from 2002 to 2004.
Influenced by his wife, Lan-Hsi Nancy Wen, his upbringing and his travels, Rodak seeks to challenge not only himself as an artist, but also his audience. He specializes in pointillism, a neo-impressionist painting technique developed by Georges Seurat, which traditionally uses a set of small, individual, colored dots that blend together to create an image. Rodak, however, applies his dots with ink and graphite to create a grayscale impression; his monochromatic approach allows him to capture contrasts, shadows and detailed outlines with understated drama. His illustrations focus on structures such as statues, sculpture and architecture. Rodak prefers to depict man-made structures for the historical dignity and resilience of those who cared for them while depicting the various states of neglect to emphasize the passage of time in a world preoccupied with immediate gratification.
The Abraham Art Gallery is located at the atrium level of the WBU Mabee Learning Library and Resource Center. Hours are Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. For more information or to schedule a visit, please call 806-291-3710.
