Radford University features new exhibit by Paul Frets and Charlie Brouwer

The first summer exhibition at the Radford University Art Museum Downtown features the artwork of emeritus art professors Paul Frets and Charlie Brouwer.

The equilibrium of energy and light, along with the notion of home, are the underlying themes in “Paul Frets & Charlie Brouwer: Deep Space & Domestic Scenes.” The show goes through July 28.

Frets' contributions to the show are large, colorful abstract paintings he created in the 1980s. Abstract expressionist influences inspired his artwork, particularly the gestural paintings of William de Kooning and the Color Field paintings of Mark Rothko.

“As the creative process would have it, the painting process began by trying to resolve the inherent contradictions between gestural and color field painting,” he said. “The struggle is represented in the paintings in this exhibition.”

Frets taught at the university from 1964 to 1996.

Brouwer’s media is sculpture and drawing and in this show, houses or homes play a large role.

“The meaning of home is complicated, and it shifts and changes as our lives unfold,” he said. “Our place at any point can be described in terms of distance from home – sometimes the distance is in miles or in time, but home can also be near or far emotionally or spiritually.”

Like Frets’ artwork, several of Brouwer’s were completed 20 years ago, but he also included several recent pieces. He taught at the university from 1987-2008.

“Frets’ colorful and gestural two-dimensional works and Brouwer’s color-subdued and carefully constructed three-dimensional sculptures together provide interesting contrasts and comparisons, and they wonderfully showcase the artistic talent of these two professors emeriti,” said Steve Arbury, director of the Radford University Art Museum.

Meet the artists from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., July 16, during the official reception for the exhibition. The gallery is located at the Bondurant Center for the Arts at 1129 E. Main Street, Radford. Exhibit hours are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Saturday, until June 18. The gallery will be closed on June 15 and then June 19-29. It will reopen on June 30 through July 28, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Also on exhibit are selections from the museum’s permanent collection at the Radford University Art Museum in the Covington Center. Call for an appointment to see the show.

All events and exhibits are free. For more information, call 540-831-5754 or visit www.radford.edu/rumuseum.