Artist Craig Coleman brings new exhibit to Marlor Center

Published 11:55 am Monday, September 21, 2015

Experimenting with film, changing up the way viewers see photographs and working with mixed media are all ways that Craig Coleman has spiced up the art world.

Each artist has his or her own vision for art and what’s most important. For Coleman, it’s all in the way that art communicates ideas and expressions.

“I guess I would say that what I think is the most important thing about art is that it communicates in a way that’s visual and many times goes beyond words; it’s very much like a sophisticated layering of things,” Coleman said.

Creating pieces that gives reverence to differing ideas of living is something that Coleman believes art allows.

“Art lets you communicate ideas about what it’s like to be human,” Coleman said.

His work is mesmerizing and unique because he uses many different techniques and mediums. Trained in photography, oftentimes he uses those skills to enhance his art. 

“I really like exploring lots of different mediums,” Coleman said. “I like using my hands to create things, but I also enjoy using cameras and computers as well. I’m a trained photographer, that’s what I studied in graduate school, but I really have a more expanded view of what that means. I guess I feel more like an artist who uses photography rather than a photographer who uses photography.”

Recently, an impressive and interactive exhibit of Coleman’s was placed in Milledgeville at Allied Arts. The exhibit consists of photographs, displayed mixed media pieces and some interactive projections and videos.

“The work that’s being displayed there is work from three different series that I have been working on for a while,” Coleman said.  “One of those is based on experimental film and using light as a medium. Some of the works there are projections. Some of them are analog projectors and some are digital video projectors, and they’re really meant to explore light as an aesthetic medium to make art with, and motion as well. Another body of work is about trying to look at photography in a different way and looking at the camera in a different way.”

Coleman has taken pictures on his day-to-day travels, but also his long distance travels. These photographs have each been transformed into their own little world, or moment in time. He displayed these photographs in circles as to show patrons a different way of looking at pictures other than as rectangles that are so often presented to consumers of media.

“I’m interested in trying to give the viewer something other than that,” Coleman said. “Mostly as a way to not be limited by a standard size or a standard shape.”

The exhibition, “Resonant Overlay and Other Possibilities,” exemplifies the ideas of breaking down barriers, exploring new ways of presenting artwork and experimenting with light as a medium.

Originally, Coleman’s inspiration for art came from taking drawing and other art classes throughout school. In college, he started out as an architecture major but soon changed his field of study to art. His drawing teacher told him that artists were making a career out of making art, and this inspired Coleman as a young adult to pursue his passions.

“My advice would be to immerse yourself in art and see as much art as possible, Coleman said. “See as much as you can in person and of course make as much art as you can because the more art you make, the more you’ll fund out about yourself and that’s really key.”

Allied Arts is an ally for people pursuing creative and artistic outlets. Community members, students and youth are exposed to art exhibits and events throughout the year, which is important for the sake of the arts.

“It’s an important thing for every city or county to have, an organization to be an advocate for the arts,” Coleman said. “It allows people that live there to be exposed to the arts through events.”

“Resonant Overlay and Other Possibilities” is on display at the John Marlor Arts Center, 201 N. Wayne St. Coleman’s art will be on display from Sept. 20 through Oct. 23. Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The gallery is free and open to the public.

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