Just how do three aspects of time — the past, present and future — shape our sense of reality and how we deal with each other?
Addressing this weighty question through paintings and mixed media works are — appropriately — three Columbus artists. Marcus Blackwell, Rob Jones and AJ (Alicia Jean) Vanderelli will show dozens of works in the exhibit “Conjuring Roots,” opening Thursday at the McConnell Arts Center in Worthington.
“As human beings, we all conjure — our identities, belief systems, everything about us,” Blackwell said. “Conjuring is a human activity.”
And “roots,” added Jones, refers to human culture and history — roots facilitate means of communication. “I think of a root system of trees, how they communicate with each other,” he said.
Columbus Museum of Art:Scantland collection on display
Jones, 48, an elementary school art teacher who lives in Clintonville, took on the “past” segment of the exhibit, creating oil and watercolor portraits of accomplished artists who have been largely neglected by the history books — women and people of color especially. His painting, “Ripples in Eternity,” shows the Black American landscape painter Robert Duncanson.
“He was one of the best, but I had never heard of him, and I minored in art history,” Jones said.
Dealing with the present is Vanderelli, 48, of Columbus, who works in oil, collage and printmaking. Her works — some figurative, some abstract — are often inspired by models from the queer community. As she works, Vanderelli said, she listens to music and contemplates how she is living in the present.
Perhaps the trickiest concept — the future — was left to Blackwell, 58, a largely self-taught Columbus artist who works in multimedia, mixed media and digital art.
His works, in a surreal and personal style, anticipate what’s to come with both hope and dread.
Art at Main Library:Exhibit shows artists’ depictions of ‘what public libraries mean’
“You can’t think about the future without thinking about what’s happening now and what came before,” Blackwell said. “I think the future weighs heavy on all of us and the funny thing is, the future never gets here.”
These three artists were tapped by Columbus artist and curator Stephanie Rond, who came up with the idea for the exhibit. “Conjuring Roots” will be seen in the Main Gallery and the Corridor Galleries, with the works of the three artists interspersed.
In addition, the artists have planned interactive stations pertaining to the exhibit as well as an “artist-guided experience” to take place from 6-9 p.m. Oct. 17. The opening reception for the exhibit is 6-8 p.m. Thursday.
Blackwell, Jones and Vanderelli all said they were delighted that the McConnell Arts Center is paying attention to the works of local artists.
And, Jones said, “I’m excited for people to see the connections between we three artists.”
While brainstorming the plan for the exhibit, the three artists came up with the title “Conjuring Roots.”
“I thought about the things that got me here as an artist,” Blackwell said. “Triumphs, angst and conjuring ways to move forward … One of my favorite mantras is that hope is a strategy and pessimism is that thing that kills forward thinking.”
At a glance
“Conjuring Roots: AJ Vanderelli, Marcus Blackwell, Rob Jones” will be on view Sept. 14-Nov. 2 at the McConnell Arts Center, 777 Evening St., Worthington. Hours: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Call 614-431-0329 or visit mcconnellarts.org.