Forgers as artists come together at the Hammond Regional Arts Center to create the COPYCAT exhibition. Artists use historical artists as their influences.
Tiffany Nesbit/The Lion's Roar
Every generation has an impact on art history and its culture. One of the newest additions to art culture is forged art work which raises the question “Should it really be considered art?”
This November, the Hammond Regional Arts Center in Downtown Hammond is showcasing their new exhibition COPYCAT. The exhibition focuses on works of art known as “imitations” or “forgeries” and is designed behind the question “Is a forger an artist?” It is inspired by famous artists such as Johannes Vermeer, Piet Mondrian and Mark Landis.
In the art world, forgeries and imitations of other’s works are considered to be a strange but interesting topic.
“As is often the case, the most taboo subjects are also the most fascinating,” said HRAC Executive Director Katherine Marquette. “In the art world, forgery has long been considered such a topic. Thomas Hoving, former director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, speculates that up to 40 percent of artworks hanging in museums are either forgery or misattributed. Shocking as this fact may be, does it devalue or change the experience we have visiting museums?”
According to the recent news release, the showcased artists were given the choice to create their original works based on the COPYCAT theme or to ‘rend copies’ from their favorite masters. Some of the artists used Vincent van Gogh, Matisse, Nevelson and Jackson Pollock, as influences in their pieces. On loan from the LSU Museum of Art, Landis, star of the documentary “Art and Craft,” will also have two pieces on display.
“Rarely seen, LSUMOA’s generosity in making this temporary loan to HRAC makes this exhibition particularly special as does the talent of the artists interpreting the work of masters such as Pollock, Nevelson, van Gogh and Matisse,” said Marquette.
Some other artists in the gallery will be Becky Burt, CB Hume, Elliot Stokes, Heather Kelley, John Wax, Kerry Curtin, Olivia Martin, Orsolya Heim, Pat Macaluso, Sarah Hulsey, Seth Guerra and Loveday Funck.
The exhibition is home to paintings, mixed media, digital media, illustrations and other forms of media. Artists come to the showcase with various influences and ways of portraying their work.
“My digital art takes a surreal approach to a fairy tale landscape, referencing both historical and pop culture sources,” said Funck. “With my work, I explore the spiritual place where the playful whimsy of a fairyscape meets the dark mystery or voodoo magic.”
Local Metalsmith Burt, specializes in using media that shows a dark humor.
“I specialize in the odd and eclectic creating one-of-a-kind pieces that reflect my wicked sense of humor,” said Burt. “Each piece is composed of disparate objects, broken furniture, rusty steel parts, kitchen utensils, combined with traditional metals.”
COPYCAT has been on exhibit since Nov. 4 and will continue to run until Nov. 23. The opening reception is Friday, Nov. 18 from 5-8 p.m. The film showing of “Art and Craft” will be held on Nov. 7 at 5 p.m. To find out more or about upcoming exhibitions, go to hammondarts.org.