Venvi Art Gallery is delighted to present "Painters Do Sculpture", a joint exhibition of works by Ray Burggraf and Mark Messersmith. The exhibition will be on display from June 6th to July 12th. In this exhibition, Burggraf and Messersmith put down their canvases to showcase their sculptural works. The opening reception will be held on June 6th from 5-8pm.

"Painters Do Sculpture" showcases over a dozen works by Ray Burggraf and Mark Messersmith that share the color vibrancy and craft with their painting. But, over the years, due to smaller scale the 3-D work, until now, has received little attention. But both have always loved the carving, shaping, and emphasis on materials of sculpture. So, this exhibition is a decision to bring that to the forefront for the first time. Not to neglect their painting, Venvi has arranged for patrons to visit by appointment Ray's Art Studio just down the road, which has the artist's works that are so big that they emphasize how painting can go well beyond human scale. In both shows you will find an extreme contrast in artistic style. The realism of Mark Messersmith contrasts strongly with Burggraf's geometric abstraction. An astute viewer, however, will begin to pick out the similarities in color harmonies and graceful shapes they try for in their work. They both appreciate the beauty and excitement to be seen in nature and let you know it. See gallery manager Rachel Smith for details.

Ray Burggraf primarily works with wood and acrylic, with the occasional use of UV light and plexiglass. His work portrays a more abstract representation of the beauty of landscapes around us, mainly through his incorporation of vibrant colors and gradations within his pieces. When looking at his pieces, one would assume they were made using an airbrush. However, Burggraf created these distinct gradations by hand. Burggraf earned his BS in 1961 from Ashland University, his BFA from the Cleveland Institute of Art, and both his MA (1969) and MFA (1970) from University of California Berkeley. He also has been a huge part of Tallahassee's art community for most of his art career. In 1981, he was a co-founder for the 621 Gallery in the Railroad Square Art Park, where he was the first president of the gallery. Burggraf retired from teaching at Florida State University in 2007 with Emeritus status. His work can be found in many museums, private collections and in his own studio located at the Golden Commerce Center in Tallahassee, FL.

Mark Messersmith works primarily with oil paint and canvas for many of his paintings. His sculptures incorporate wood and acrylic paint. Messersmith's work builds upon stories, observations and concerns for wild animals. His work also focuses on the relationship of humans and wild creatures. He obtained his BFA in painting from Fontbonne College in St. Louis, Missouri and studied painting from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. Messersmith has also received the Joan Mitchell Foundation Painting Award in 2006, and numerous art fellowships. His work can be found in many museums and private collections, most notably, The Butler Institute of American Art Youngstown, Ohio , The Columbus Museum, Columbus, Georgia, El Paso Museum of Art, El Paso, Hunter Museum, Chattanooga, Tennessee, Ogden Museum of Southern Art New Orleans, Louisiana, Orlando Museum of Art , Orlando, Florida, The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, Sarasota Florida, and Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond, Virginia.

"Painters Do Sculpture" will be on display from June 6th until July 12th at Venvi Art Gallery and Ray Burggraf's studio. Venvi Art Gallery is located at 2901 E. Park Avenue Unit 2800 Tallahassee, FL 32301. Burggraf's studio is located at 2821 Industrial Plaza Dr. Building F. Tallahassee, FL 32301. For more information about his studio, directions to it and its availability, contact Venvi Art Gallery at (850) 322-0965 to schedule a tour. To learn more about this exhibition, check out Venvi Art Gallery's website at www.venviartgallery.com.


Artists: Mark Messersmith, Ray Burggraf