(AAPNW) – Opening Tuesday, October 5 with an artist reception from 6:00-8:00 pm, “A Common Center: Benjamin Knepper & Kenneth Morgan” is a two-person exhibition of computer-generated digital monoprints and two-sided paintings, on view in the Main Gallery at the Dublin Arts Council in Dublin.
Columbus artist Benjamin Knepper and Connecticut-based artist Kenneth Morgan first met in the 1970s in New York City when they were both working on art installations in a commercial gallery. About a decade ago, the two reunited at the Ohio State University and has kept in touch, both long distance and in person, developing a friendship. Both always respecting each other’s passion, they knew shared sometimes are similar with parallel approaches. As their very compatible visions have evolved, there was much common ground that led to new artistic forms where the two painter’s current work embeds a common center.
The wood forms Artist Knepper uses now as his surface to create his two-sided works, evolved from when he allowed paint to flow on the canvas with his compositions. His artwork has been featured in solo and group exhibitions throughout Ohio and across the United States, including New York, Tennessee, Maine, Texas, Louisiana, Connecticut, and California. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts and Master of Fine Arts from the Ohio State University.
For more than two decades, Knepper has also served as Exhibition Preparator/Designer for the Ohio State University Galleries/Wexner Center for the Arts. Currently he works as Exhibition Consultant/Curator for Dublin Arts Council.
For Ken Morgan, his artwork explores the colors and sensations that surrounded him during his travels. “A recent stroke has forced me to reinvent myself,” said Morgan. “And in doing so, I have befriended the computer.” His digital inkjet monoprints are full of vivid geometric shapes. The circles represent a takeoff on arcade pinball machines or the target in a pitch game on a carnival midway; inspirations with which the artist is intimately acquainted.
Born into a first-generation family acrobatic act, Morgan and his father, two brothers and a sister performed throughout New England, Canada and Tennessee, as “Al Morgan and His Toy Boys.” They began in local bars and eventually moved through county fairs, carnivals and a commercial for unicycles to perform at Madison Square Garden and in Don Ameche’s televised International Showtime. Morgan ran away from the circus to enter art school at age 18. His artwork explores the colors and sensations that surrounded him during his travels.
Spanning 35 years, Morgan’s exhibition history includes solo and group exhibitions throughout the US. He is the recipient of grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, Connecticut Arts Commission, Pollock-Krasner Foundation, the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, and Artists’ Fellowship Inc. He attended Vesper George School of Art in Boston and obtained a Bachelor of Arts from University of New Haven and a Master of Science from University of Bridgeport, Connecticut. He will also have a major installation of his work at OK Harris gallery in New York City in January as well as his work will be included in an invitational exhibition in Beijing in 2011.
For more information about any of Dublin Arts Council’s programs, exhibitions and events call 614.889.7444 or see: www.dublinarts.org.