SVSU’s own art professor shows his work in the gallery for the first time.
Mike Mosher has taught at SVSU since 2000 and hasn’t had his work in the gallery until now.
“I helped Dave Littell curate a show in 2005 and brought several artists to the gallery,” he said.
According to Mosher, this is his first one-man show in a long time.
“In 2002, I did a two-man show with Clark Most, a photographer at CMU at Studio 23 in Bay City.”
Mosher has been involved in group shows in Michigan and California throughout the years. Prior to SVSU, Mosher resided and taught in California. “I was a teaching adjunct at San Francisco State and University of San Francisco, but wanted full time so I came to SVSU,” he said.
In relation to his teaching, he also worked graphically for tech companies in California.
This exhibit, “Visual Engineering,” circulates many different interpretations.
“There are images about war, woman athletes and dancers, electrical engineering plants, and painted electronic schematics that tie in the figure.”
In order to create his work, Mosher begins with a collage as his first sketch. “I find ads from magazines and pictures of anything interesting that I can incorporate in my work,” he said. He also uses elements that past students can find in his paintings such as old pictures of models from his Art 111 class, skunks, and skulls that he often uses for still life drawings.
This exhibit was an opportunity for Mosher to get back into painting. He mentioned that he has worked digitally lately, and this exhibit was a way for him to get back into painting.
The materials Mosher uses to complete his work are Politec Mexican acrylic paints used for murals, Styrofoam, foam core, gold leaf, and China Marker for his drawings done on architect diagrams.
He began his planning and construction in the fall of 2007 and finished during the summer and fall of this year. Out of the works in his show, Mosher’s favorite piece is a series of four, 4 feet by 8 feet paintings.
“I like the challenge of putting something complex together and making it work,” he said. The outside contours are cut away in some images and are very pointy and fragile.
“Another fun challenge with this piece was getting it out of the house all the way down from the attic.”
Based on Mosher’s pieces in the exhibit, certain styles and influences are shown through his work. Mexican murals, pop art, and even contemporary Japanese pop art are reflected through his work. Mosher traveled to Japan during the spring of 2002 to teach with the Faculty Exchange Program. This contributes to some of the Japanese pop art seen in his work. Mosher’s central theme in his artwork, displayed in “Visual Engineering” and other works he has done, is war.
“In 2008, artists should acknowledge those themes in their work.”
A reception for Mike Mosher will be held in the University Art Gallery Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m.
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