Mars Landing Galleries presents a unique collaboration between sculptural wood artist Jim Brandon and pastel artist Mike Wurman with their show Against the Grain: Landscape & Sculpture. The exhibit, which runs Wednesday, June 4, through Thursday, June 12, showcases eight paired pieces where Brandon’s wood sculptures serve as the inspiration for Wurman’s landscape paintings. “Each work pulled the sculpture into the landscape, which then grew into a deeper, more personal story,” says Brandon. “So, we felt we should also write that story as well, to accompany the matched sets.”
A Final Farewell. Mike Wurman, artist
Brandon’s sculptures, crafted from trees that have fallen near his home, are infused with a deep connection to nature. “Touch is very important in my work,” he explains. “I encourage people to interact with the sculptures, to feel the smooth surfaces and connect with the materials.”
For Wurman, this collaboration marked his first experience working with another artist. “I had to step outside my comfort zone and paint scenes I’d never seen before,” he says. “But Jim didn’t just hand me a sculpture and say, ‘Good luck.’ It was definitely a collaboration as we’d discuss each piece and visualize where it might be and the story behind it.”
A Final Farewell. Jim Brandon, artist
Each pairing in the exhibit is a reflection of the artistic process, which wasn’t immediately perfect. “Mike is an amazing landscape artist, but he can be pretty literal,” says Brandon. “He really wanted to paint my literal sculpture into his landscape, which looked out of place. Once we figured out how to convert the edges of the sculpture into a silhouette, and then blend that form into the landscape, it all fell into place.”
Wurman echoes this sentiment, highlighting the rewarding aspect of the process. “Each and every piece posed their own set of problems,” he says. “How was I going to place Jim’s sculpture in a real world environment? This is when I felt more an artist than I had ever before.”
Against the Grain offers an exploration of how two artists working in different media can push each other’s boundaries and create something greater than the sum of its parts. “Each scene came alive and created its own dialogue,” says Brandon. “Now, each time I look at one of these sets it makes me smile, because I think it clicked.”
There will be an opening reception for the exhibit on Friday, June 6, from 5–8 p.m. Mars Landing Galleries is located at 37 Library Street, Mars Hill. Learn more at MarsLandingGalleries.com or by calling 828.747.7267.
