Spring Break
'Gulls Gone Wild' flocks to Library art gallery
Noelle Myers
Issue date: 3/24/09 Section: News
03/24/09 -The University of Rhode Island's University Library art gallery is currently displaying local artist Jon Campbell's "Gulls Gone Wild" exhibit.
The installation features about 60 pieces mostly featuring seagulls, which include paintings, sculptures and jewelry.
With his paintings, Campbell said he likes to have fun while creating them, but with his sculptures, he tends to be "more serious about them."
Campbell creates his sculptures out of deer and moose antlers. One piece, called "Wind in his Hair," is made out of moose antler. "Honest Abenaki," is another sculpture of his, in which he made out of an elk's antler.
Campbell said he chose the seagull theme because he has done many seagull paintings over the years. He said some of his pieces were given titles before he began working on them. Campbell said he started working on these pieces about two or three years ago. Some pieces include "Van Gull," and one of his favorites "Gull with a Pearl Earring."
"Seagulls are always around [and] if you live around the coast they are a part of everything. They're amusing," Campbell said.
As someone who grew up and still lives in the Ocean State, Campbell would know.
He believes his variety of artwork is "almost like a group show done from more than one person."
When Campbell put his pieces on display, many students were interested in his work. He said that students should be able to see other artists, as opposed to just the work of other students.
This is the first time Campbell has displayed "Gulls Gone Wild".
"Easily half the work is new," Campbell said. He's shown some of the featured pieces at the AS220 gallery in Providence, and is currently looking at galleries in Massachusetts to also display his work.
Campbell considers himself an average blue-collar worker. He is a certified fire marshal, did carpentry work in earlier years and also had a long career in the motion picture industry, where he did work behind the scenes. He said he has been passionate about artwork since he was a young boy and growing up his uncle and grandfather were artists.
His advice to students and to anyone interested in creating art is to "just start doing it." Campbell believes many people have trouble getting started.
"It's all about finding your voice and your own take on things," Campbell said.
He believes people without education in art should not be afraid to enter the field.
"You don't have to have gone to art school to produce art," Campbell said.
Campbell said he had different jobs throughout his life and art was more of a hobby.
He is currently looking into starting his own business and ideally he'd like to open a studio of his own.
"Gulls Gone Wild" will be on display until March 27.
The installation features about 60 pieces mostly featuring seagulls, which include paintings, sculptures and jewelry.
With his paintings, Campbell said he likes to have fun while creating them, but with his sculptures, he tends to be "more serious about them."
Campbell creates his sculptures out of deer and moose antlers. One piece, called "Wind in his Hair," is made out of moose antler. "Honest Abenaki," is another sculpture of his, in which he made out of an elk's antler.
Campbell said he chose the seagull theme because he has done many seagull paintings over the years. He said some of his pieces were given titles before he began working on them. Campbell said he started working on these pieces about two or three years ago. Some pieces include "Van Gull," and one of his favorites "Gull with a Pearl Earring."
"Seagulls are always around [and] if you live around the coast they are a part of everything. They're amusing," Campbell said.
As someone who grew up and still lives in the Ocean State, Campbell would know.
He believes his variety of artwork is "almost like a group show done from more than one person."
When Campbell put his pieces on display, many students were interested in his work. He said that students should be able to see other artists, as opposed to just the work of other students.
This is the first time Campbell has displayed "Gulls Gone Wild".
"Easily half the work is new," Campbell said. He's shown some of the featured pieces at the AS220 gallery in Providence, and is currently looking at galleries in Massachusetts to also display his work.
Campbell considers himself an average blue-collar worker. He is a certified fire marshal, did carpentry work in earlier years and also had a long career in the motion picture industry, where he did work behind the scenes. He said he has been passionate about artwork since he was a young boy and growing up his uncle and grandfather were artists.
His advice to students and to anyone interested in creating art is to "just start doing it." Campbell believes many people have trouble getting started.
"It's all about finding your voice and your own take on things," Campbell said.
He believes people without education in art should not be afraid to enter the field.
"You don't have to have gone to art school to produce art," Campbell said.
Campbell said he had different jobs throughout his life and art was more of a hobby.
He is currently looking into starting his own business and ideally he'd like to open a studio of his own.
"Gulls Gone Wild" will be on display until March 27.
