The James Rosenquist exhibition at the SU Gallery on Syracuse University’s campus is nothing short of exquisite.  I went to the opening last night and I was seriously moved to tears.

For me, this IS art.  I can see his hand, taste his brushstroke, hear his narrative and feel everything I imagine he felt when creating these enormous paintings, breathtaking prints and inventive mixed media collage works.

I love him.

I am definitely going to plan a field trip so that I can share this experience with my Studio in Art students.  In addition to the Rosenquist pieces, the university has an eclectic collection of ceramics from many cultures, as well as 15th century paintings and things lurking around the corner that are shockingly unexpected. What a gem of a place.

The exhibit runs through November 22, 2015.

According to the gallery literature, this show was “developed in collaboration with Oklahoma State Museum of Art and curated by Sarah C. Bancroft, co-curator of the artist’s 2003 retrospective at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum.”  During her brief speech at this event, Bancroft shared that Rosenquist wanted to do this exhibit because he enjoyed the idea of inspiring students.  It’s been thirty years since I was an undergrad and yet, I felt exactly like the student I was as I stood in front of and breathed in the life of each work of art.  I told her how I felt and she said, “I’m glad you liked it.”

A symposium is scheduled for October 22, 2015 at 7:00 pm in the Slocum Hall auditorium on SU campus.  Titled The Rosenquist Network, it will “explore (the) role that the printmaking workshop has played in contemporary American art, and in particular in the career of artist James Rosenquist.”