Opening Reception Planned November 13th to Kick-Off Art Exhibition by Ritch Branstrom

News

Bay College announces the opening reception for the exhibition, New Works- by Ritch Branstrom, in the Hartwig Gallery on Tuesday, November 13th from 2 PM to 4 PM. The exhibition will be on display from November 12th through January 11, 2019.

Ritch Branstrom is a found object sculptor from Rapid River, Michigan who draws both inspiration and material from the environment in which he lives.

Artist Statement:

Working with found objects as a material is one of the most challenging yet possibly rewarding aspects of my life. When working I examine and choose objects for properties such as strength, shape, structure, color, and texture, yet also take into consideration the original intended purpose; it’s design and past use, along with its personal history and story. Objects, just like people, have a history; they've been traveling through space and time and there is an energy to them. If only they could speak. I’m sensitive to this when I work, open to letting the material guide me instead of the other way around.

One unintended outcome to my past 30+ years of working with found objects has led me to become a ‘keeper of stories’ of sorts. I’ve taken on collections of people- and their stories- a lot of people, and in most cases these objects are the cumulative physical embodiment of their whole lives. There’s history and energy there.

A truly successful piece, for me, has a particular moment where it seems to take on a presence or a ‘life of its own’. This seems absolutely reasonable and expectable with so much energy already embodied in the individual pieces to begin with.

The exhibition of his work can be viewed in the Hartwig Gallery from November 12- January 11, 2019 and the Opening Reception and Artist Talk is Tuesday, November 13 at 2-4 pm. While Branstrom’s works vary in size from large-scale to small, there will be plenty of opportunities to find the perfect piece on November 13^th to take home with you for a holiday gift! What better gift than one that exemplifies creativity and is made by a local artist from right here in Delta County.