Architectural Elevations
A Print Exhibition of Constructions and Buildings from the Gladys M. Lux Print Collection
November 4 – February 28

Constructions—whether buildings, bridges, dams or of any type—are utilitarian but also have an element of art in their design. The architect, an artist in wood, stone and steel, sometimes is unnamed or may be venerated for a magnificent construction and remembered for centuries. The two dimensional portrayal of constructions by graphic artists often emphasize the artistic elements in an edifice giving these features greater prominence. The artist brings his or her perception to the portrayal of the structure and the surrounding scene, often enhancing the shadows and play of light on the angles, curves, and details in order to stress certain aspects.

However portrayed, the construction image fosters ideas of strength, solidity, spatiality and volume. The setting and location can stir memories or urges to travel to far away places in the viewer. The reason why an artist would choose constructions for a subject is not always known. Lili Rethi made it her life’s work to portray buildings while they were being constructed and after they were completed. Her lithograph, City Skyline of New York City is included in Architectural Elevations. The exhibition gives a nod to a variety of constructions and locales including: Nouméa (New Caledonia) by Aaron Bohrod depicting a building in a south seas city; V.R. Planchet, Arbit Nicolai Blatas, and Louis C. Rosenberg whose images are of constructions in France; while Kenneth Willmarth in Nebraska State Capitol, Dale William Nichols in Winter Scene and Ben Albert Benson in University Hall created iconic images of Nebraska constructions.

Architectural Elevations opens on November 4, 2011 with a gallery talk that evening presented by Susan Soriente, Curator. The exhibition will close on February 28, 2012. It may be seen in the Gladys M. Lux Historical Gallery on the second floor of The LUX Center for the Arts.