Two Sculptors in Two Dimensions

Two Sculptors in Two Dimensions: Donna Dodson & Andy Moerlein

Prints and drawings by sculptors Andy Moerlein of Bow NH and Donna Dodson of Boston MA are currently on view at University of New Hampshire School of Law, Two White Street, Concord NH. This show features two dimensional works paired with photographs of Dodson’s and Moerlein’s completed sculptures. The experimental nature of the art on display represents uncharted paths for these two sculptors. The exhibit is open to the public, free of charge, daily from September 7th through October 29th. For exhibit information, please call the University of New Hampshire School of Law at 603- 228-1541. The exhibit is on view on weekdays from 8 AM – 5 PM and weekends from 10 AM – 5 PM; closed on all legal holidays. The public is invited to meet the artists at a reception on Saturday October 9th, from 1p – 3p during Art Concord.

These well-known artists, each of whom has extensive portfolios of individual sculptural work, collaborated in the public arena on several large installations this summer. “Moose Myth” is a 22-foot-high structure built of saplings that dominates Bicentennial Park in Nashua NH. A twin “Moose Myth” sculpture is installed in Market Square in Portsmouth NH. In August, Dodson and Moerlein created and then burned a 22-foot-wide winged Phoenix as a part of WaterFire, the spectacular art event in Providence RI.

Dodson’s and Moerlein’s drawings and prints, paired with photographs of their sculptures, reveal their process of working. In particular, monoprints evoke their investigation of the “Moose Myth” concept and show a deep imagining of moose and human mythology.

Donna Dodson relates her two-dimensional work to her sculptural vocabulary. “Sculpture is the result of methodical decision making. My carved wood pieces represent a commitment to the material as well as an investment of time. Every gesture results from multiple carving techniques and tools. My drawings and monoprints, on the other hand, are more spontaneous and have a raw immediacy.” A series of monoprints depicting Dodson’s iconic elephant goddesses show her process of using flat works to explore various possibilities of form and color. These investigations invigorate her as an artist.

Andy Moerlein says, “My drawings are a necessary step in creating the work and they document my process of working. I must plan on paper what I hope to build, especially for any large scale installations. Because my outdoor sculptures often require vast amounts of material and assistance, I have little time on site to challenge proportions, scale, color or design.” Included in this exhibit is a series of prints “Hanging by a Thread.” These vivid images are explorations of ideas for a yet unrealized work.

Both sculptors are represented by Mill Brook Gallery in Concord, NH and are members of the Boston Sculptors Gallery.

Update: There will be an artist talk at the Bedford Library, 3 Meetinghouse Road, Bedford, NH 03110 on Monday September 13th at 8pm, sponsored by the Manchester Artists Association. The artists will present their individual & collaborative works.

Moose Myth I, monoprint, 2010 by Donna Dodson
Moose Myth, graphite, 2010 by Andy Moerlein