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Assistant Professor of Art John Rudel displays artwork at ArtGallery in Norfolk, Va., June 21 – August 9.
By Tara Kinard '08
John Rudel teaching art class in the fall of 2007.
Virginia Wesleyan's Assistant Professor of Art John Rudel has two careers: teaching and artistry; and luckily they also happen to be his two greatest passions in life. For Rudel, the two are inseparable.
"A sincere engagement in the creative process helps me to teach," said Rudel. "It makes me sensitive to the struggle that students face in making artwork, and it also helps me to describe the creative process to my students."
A native of North Carolina, Rudel has shown at galleries and museums throughout the country, and has won a variety of juried competitions including the 2004 Mississippi Art Commission Artist Fellowship sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts and the 2002 New American Paintings Magazine MFA Annual Competition.
His latest exhibition entitled, "Odds and Ends," will be displayed June 21 – August 9 at ArtGallery located in Norfolk, Va. The opening reception will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 21, with Rudel's gallery talk beginning at 7 p.m.
Gun, Grease Pencilon Stainless Steel, by John Rudel.
Rudel's collection includes more than 30 drawings created over the past year, with sizes ranging from 10" x 10" to 62" x 72". The pieces selected for display are complimentary of the exhibition title, said Rudel, as the works are odds and ends from his personal environment that strike him as being symbolic of his personal experiences.
"It [the exhibition] started with an Incredible Hulk doll that belonged to my children," he said. "I drew it many times and it inspired an emotional chord that I began to look for elsewhere."
After visiting the ArtGallery, Rudel introduced himself to the owner, who also happens to be Virginia Wesleyan alumna Lorrie Saunders '79. From there, the duo discussed and finalized Rudel displaying his artwork, and the two ultimately decided on the final title of his exhibition.
Saunders said that she is excited to have Rudel's exhibition in her gallery for the public to see.
"I feel this exhibition will not only be a successful and enjoyable experience for Rudel, but it will also introduce locals to a type of artwork they have not yet seen," said Saunders. "John has been a joy to work with, and he has a lot to offer… Virginia Wesleyan is lucky to have him as a professor."
Rake, by John Rudel.
As with any artist, a primary concern for Rudel is the sincerity of his work, which naturally involves a certain degree of emotion.
"The inspiration is really founded in emotion…an understanding of the brevity and vanity of the human experience," he said.
Rudel explained that throughout his artistic process he was forced to abandon pieces he had dedicated several hours of work to in order to ensure his work was created with sincerity. The decision to discontinue work on his drawings was because he either had lost the initial emotional charge, or the direction of the work did not perpetuate the essential feeling of the show.
"I would get six to 10 hours into a piece and then have to demolish it and start over," he explained.
While Rudel acknowledges this is a difficult part of the process, he considers it important because it "prevents things from being too precious," allowing the creator to maintain focus on the intended direction of the piece.
Between Thought and Action, by John Rudel.
According to Rudel, his favorite pieces are the ones he is working on now in preparation for the show, and he readily admits once they are finished his favorite pieces will be in the future. Once he completes any drawing, it becomes ineligible for even being considered a favorite. For him, it's just another component of artistry.
"I think artists need to believe their best work is in the future," he said.
While preparing his exhibition, Rudel worked with eight Virginia Wesleyan senior art majors, who were also working on their own exhibitions. He described his time as outstanding.
"Their sincere and labored investigations inspired me and reminded me what it's all about," he said.
"Odds and Ends" will be exhibited at ArtGallery, located on West 21st Street in Norfolk, Va. The opening reception will begin at 6:30 pm. on Saturday, June 21 and the show will run through August 9.
06.18.08