Contributed photo.
WSCC News is a presentation of West Shore Community College in partnership with Mason County Press.
VICTORY TOWNSHIP — West Shore Community College is hosting “Go, Color. Go!,” an exhibition featuring the work of Onekama artist Jamey Barnard, at the Manierre Dawson Gallery through Sept. 18.
The exhibition, which opened June 12, presents a series of colorful and playful paintings that use a graphical visual vocabulary often bordering on pure abstraction. Barnard’s work transforms everyday objects and scenes into imaginative compositions that invite viewers to explore familiar subjects in new ways.
“The paintings, with their vibrant colors, are a feast for the eyes,” said Eden Ünlüata-Foley, WSCC art professor and curator. “They offer a joyful perspective on mundane objects and settings while playfully inviting us to see the beauty right in front of us.”
Barnard, who is based in Onekama, began his professional career as a journalist after studying at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. His curiosity and attention to detail later influenced his artistic pursuits while working in Chicago’s advertising industry.
After relocating to Michigan, Barnard raised a family and developed a long career as an artist in the West Shore region. His work has been featured in numerous exhibitions throughout Michigan and the Great Lakes area.
The exhibition highlights Barnard’s use of abstracted imagery and inventive compositions that draw on viewers’ natural curiosity. His playful arrangements have been compared to Rube Goldberg-style settings that encourage exploration and discovery.
A closing event featuring a pasta bar is scheduled for noon Thursday, Sept. 17, at the Manierre Dawson Gallery in the Arts and Sciences Building.
The exhibition is free and open to the public.
Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday. The gallery is closed on weekends.
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