On Play and Art, Reviewing “The Essence of Joy: Celebrating the Art and Legacy of Lester Goldman”
May 30th, the last day of the exhibition, I visited the Leedy-Voulkos Art Center to view "The Essence of Joy: Celebrating the Art and Legacy of Lester Goldman." Lester Goldman’s work spans mediums, including but not limited to realism, abstract expressionism, sculpture, installation, and performance art. The show was curated with help from the artist’s family and honors the impact he had on students and the art world at large. Thanks to the help of Lester Goldman and patrons Linda and Brad Nicholson, Studios Inc.'s mission of supporting mid-career artists was born. Ever since hosting Goldman as their first artist in residence, Studios Inc. continues to foster relationships between artists and patrons.
Studios Inc. Assistant Gallery Manager Jaede Bayala recently visited Goldman’s Show “The Essence of Joy: Celebrating the Art and Legacy of Lester Goldman" at the Leedy-Voulkos Art Center.
The Leedy-Voulkos Art Center crafts a delightfully energetic exhibition honoring the legacy of artist Lester Goldman. As a dedicated artist and educator for several decades, there was no shortage of exciting work to be exhibited. Standing amongst Lester’s work, I am reminded of what it means to use play as an art practice. Defining the word in this situation means to create free from worry and societal pressure; to make freely. In a world with political instability, war, and man-made natural disasters, artists can utilize play as an act of resistance. In the artist’s work, humans levitate while forms twist back and forth and into each other, with wooden sculptures dancing off the walls. Each work is highly expressive and has an energy that captivates the viewer, drawing them into his world. Staring up at paintings that take up an entire wall, I try to piece together where each layer begins and where it ends. The sculptures commune with the paintings, performing in a carousel of wonder. His drawings remind us of what it means to “use the whole page”, a phrase familiar to all art students. Thick strokes of paint in bright reds and blues are layered on the paper, and I am saddened only when I reach the end of the page, as one can imagine these works continuing on infinitely. In Lester’s world, anything is possible, and I am left with my imagination running at full speed, carrying me out the door to discover what play means for myself.
Learn more about Lester Goldman and his legacy at https://www.leedy-voulkos.com/copy-of-lester-goldman-legacy-page
