Norman Baugher: Bison and Other Species
@ Old Town Art Center, Leslie Wolfe Gallery
1763 N. North Park Ave., Chicago, IL 60614
Opening Friday, February 9th, from 5:30PM - 8PM
On view through Thursday, March 1st
BISON AND OTHER SPECIES
Paintings by Norman Baugher
Norman meets the Bison
I first saw live herds of bison, free, unfettered by zoo bars, and parading as lords of the land when I visited Jackson Hole, Wyoming in 2001. It was a sight I will never forget. Though majestic, bison are not pretty. They lack the elegance of horses, the grandeur of elephants, the colorfulness of birds, the friskiness cats, and the friendliness of dogs. But they appear powerful and stoic, and this appearance has made them symbolic of American strength. Picturing these iconic American creatures in and of their environment sent me to my easel to create images that express the relationship between the two. And though this series, “Bison and other Species,” began with bison, I have since used that same approach with other species.
From Designer To Artist
For years I worked as a graphic designer. Painting was something I admired in museums and occasionally experimented with for fun. That changed in 2016 when I was elected to the board of the Chicago Alliance of Visual Artists (CAVA), became a member of the Chicago Society of Artists (CSA) and created an unusual (for me) show I called “Saints and Legends.” During the course of its exhibition at the Old Town Triangle Art Center, I stopped thinking of myself as a graphic designer and declared myself an “Artist.”
The paintings of the Artist Norman are displayed nationwide: in Arizona, California, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, and Wisconsin. Visit this show and his paintings at the Old Town Art Center. And stop to say hello to the “Artist.”
Gallery Hours
Monday through Friday 10 am to 5 pm
Saturday, 10 am to 1 pm
312 787 7025
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