"The Cathedral Is"

The Cathedral Is

Slated for demolition.

John Ashbery



Infra-Friday

Photos from the opening of last night's show, "Infrastructure:  Abstractions by Alex Bartenberger, Evan Hildebrandt, Chad Rasmussen, and Michael Weber."

Larry Higdon, Thunder-Sky, Inc. Board Member and Raymond's friend, takes the magnifying glass to check out one of Raymond's drawings...

Thunder-Sky, Inc. Board Member Krystn Shopp and Thunder-Sky, Inc. Artist-in-Residence Michael Weber standing beside a Michael creation.

 

"Citybeat" Recommonds "Infrastructure"

"Swishing," Michael Weber, acrylic on wood panel, 2011.

"Featuring four local artists, this show starts off the New Year with the proverbial 'bang.'"



Click on the link for more:  "City Beat" Recommends.

"Every Artist Is Abstract"

"Abstract literally means to draw from or separate. In this sense every artist is abstract... a realistic or non-objective approach makes no difference. The result is what counts."   Richard Diebenkorn



(Below are photos of the installation of paintings in "Infrastructure:  Abstractions by Alex Bartenberger, Evan Hildebrandt, Chad Rasmussen & Michael Weber, with a portfolio of abstracted poster prints extracted from Raymond Thunder-Sky drawings.  Show opens January 6, 2012, reception 6 to 10 pm.  Closing reception February 11, 2012, 6 to 10 pm.)

Alex Bartenberger

Chad Rasmussen

Chad Rasmussen

Michael Weber

Michael Weber

Evan Hildebrandt

Evan Hildebrandt

Evan Hildebrandt

Alex Bartenberger

Alex Bartenberger

Michael Weber

Chad Rasmussen

Raymond Thunder-Sky "abstractions"

Infra-mation about "Infrastructure," Opening January 6, 2012 at Thunder-Sky, Inc.

Michael Weber

Alex Bartenberger

Evan Hildebrandt

Chad Rasmussen

"Infrastructure: Abstractions by Alex Bartenberger, Evan Hildebrandt, Chad Rasmussen and Michael Weber." Opening reception January 6, 2012, 6 to 10 pm. Closing reception February 11, 2012, 6 to 10 pm.



"Infrastructure" is defined as "the most basic level of organizational structure in a complex body or system that serves as a foundation for the rest." The four artists in this exhibit foreground basic aesthetic structures and systems and transform them into the actual finished product. Their spare, color-rich paintings symbolize both obsession and resolution. Raymond Thunder-Sky's drawings often fetishize the "infrastructures" of buildings, streets, and even social systems. In a portfolio of prints created exclusively for "Infrastructure," we'll be "abstracting" from some of Thunder-Sky's most elemental drawings, allowing a new way to approach and examine his work not as representations but as preoccupations with what's underneath both reality and the way we perceive it.



Alex Bartenberger: Alex Bartenberger is an artist from Cincinnati, Ohio. His chosen medium is oil on canvas, and his canvases are usually large in scope. Rich and vivid, his paintings have a vastness and grace to them reminiscent of Abstract Expressionism. More information: www.alexbartenberger.com.



Evan Hildebrandt: Evan Hildebrandt started making art in 2003 while working for a top car company in Northern Kentucky. He started drawing with sharpie markers and soon amassed several dozen drawings. He continued to draw and started to explore oil paint and other artistic mediums. Over the course of several years, Evans prolific nature and hard work paid off and he began to sell his artwork. After seven years of working at a “normal job,” Evan felt it was time to take the plunge and become a full time artist. He quit his job and jumped with both feet into the art world. Art became more than just a hobby for Evan and he soon became sought after by many high end clients and designers. Evan’s art has been on display and sold at Voltage furniture, Cincinnati’s music hall, Switch lighting, The Ascent, and Jose Garcia’s development at 2801 Erie Ave. Evan is currently the gallery director at Bromwell's Art Gallery, downtown Cincinnati.



Chad Rasmussen: Chad Rasmussen attended the University of Michigan as a double business major and later returned to minor in theatre and dance; he also attended the University of Hofstra in Long Island for art therapy and the University of South Florida in Tampa for fine art. Chad has exhibited his work in L.A. where he was born, New York City, Tampa and many parts throughout the Midwest; as well as internationally in Copenhagen. Chad currently lives in Cincinnati, OH where he lived a large part of his life; he also belongs to an international group of artists known as the Emotionalists who exhibit their passionate works together throughout the world. His personal philosophy on art: "Art is what you make it.” Chad recently teaches at Evergreen/Wellsprings Retirement Community ever since August 2009 and just started teaching acrylic painting at Michaels in Westchester. He uses his skills as an art therapist and artist for both forums; "Art is therapeutic as is all forms of learning; I'm just especially fortunate to be able to specialize in a form of learning that has the potentiality to include anything and everything that is possible! It is also a form of communication, in which it has the absolute power to bridge the gaps of every type of language.



Michael Weber: Michael Weber is an Artist in Residence at Thunder-Sky, Inc. His main artistic focus is experimenting with what materials and media can do, including paint, found objects, and wood. He produces sophisticatedly simple works that have a complex spirit and an innate sense of order and splendor.

"Infrastructure"

"Infrastructure: Abstractions by Alex

Bartenberger, Evan Hildebrandt,

Chad Rasmussen and Michael Weber."

Opening reception January 6, 2012, 6 to 10

pm. Closing reception February 11, 2012, 6 to

10 pm. "Infrastructure" is defined as "the most

basic level of organizational structure in a complex

body or system that serves as a foundation for the

rest." The four artists in this exhibit foreground

basic aesthetic structures and systems and

transform them into the actual finished product.

Their spare, color-rich paintings symbolize both

obsession and resolution. Raymond Thunder-Sky's

drawings often fetishize the "infrastructures"

of buildings, streets, and even social systems. In

a portfolio of prints created exclusively for

"Infrastructure," we'll be "abstracting" from some of

Thunder-Sky's most elemental drawings, allowing a

new way to approach and examine his work not as

representations but as preoccupations with what's underneath

both reality and the way we perceive it.

Documenting Raymond's World

Raymond left behind many toolboxes, satchels, and suitcases filled with an incredible assortment of items (brochures, pictures, toys, VHS tapes, etc.) that document his life like nothing else can. We're opening a few now and scanning in the items for a digital archive. This is the first satchel we're documenting: a Samsonite piece of luggage filled with these scanned items (and a lot more we'll get to). These objects describe Raymond and his life in ways words just can't. (PS: we are currently on Drawing # 710 in our journey of digitally archiving all the drawings Raymond left behind. We'll keep you posted.)

Raymond carried around a variety of tool-boxes, briefcases, suitcases, and satchels.   We have several of them in the archive, filled with items he either took with him on his travels and/or "souvenirs" he picked up on his way.  Above is the first satchel we're archiving.  Note the little cut-out window.  This is something Raymond customized on all the cases he carried.  Some people say he have have done this to let bad spirits out -- or maybe it's just so he could see what was inside without having to open the case.

The open case.

Priority # 1 (outside of drawing) for Raymond was getting a job.  Here's a note he may have written to someone at CG&E (or to himself about CG&E employment possibilities).  It's been slipped inside a Ziplock baggie.

Backside of the CG&E memo.

Notes to himself on scrap pieces of paper.

Random flyer.  All his tool-boxes and cases are stuffed with random information like this -- stuff he grabbed from different places as he went about his travels and artmaking.

Raymond was a major volunteer.  He did a lot with Habitat for Humanity, as well as this event at Notre Dame.

Raymond was an avid Polaroidist.  He customized many of his Polaroids of demolition and construction sites by cutting away the white cardboard framing.

Part of Raymond's Construction/Clown drag.

Who knows? 

Raymond wrote this on the back of his pay-stub from Goodwill.

A flyer from one of his favorite places.  He often would go to King and other wrecking companies and the secretaries would tell him where the next demolition site would be, and then he would be off, catching a bus to the site with his art supplies.

Un-customized Polaroids.

Goes without saying.  Lots of these kinds of publications are in the cases, as well as a lot of circus and carnival-inspired coloring books.

Dream Tool-bag.

Raymond wrote this on the back on an envelope he received from Goodwill.  Don't know why.  Inside the envelope is a monthly Goodwill Newsletter to donors.

Raymond's birth certificate.