‘Illuminate’ Art Exhibition Information

See the Light: Illuminated Artwork to be Showcased in West Valley Arts Council Exhibition this Summer
Exhibit Debuts Aug. 12

PHOENIX — At most art exhibits light is shined on the art. At “Illuminate,” the light is integral to the work itself. “Illumination refers not only to the way light is used to create the work, it also addresses what we hope people will feel from seeing it,” observes award-winning sculptor Kevin Caron, whose glowing large-format, 3D-printed sculptures will be featured in the show along with artwork from Phoenix artist Larry Ortega and Mesa artist Ceri Jones. Sponsored by the West Valley Arts Council, the exhibition debuts Friday, Aug. 12 at WVAC’s Arts HQ Gallery at 16126 N. Civic Center Plaza in Surprise.

“People really ‘get’ these lighted sculptures,” says Caron, a Phoenix-based artist known for the 3D-printed and metal sculptures that he creates for public and private places. A pioneer in the field, Caron has been printing large-scale 3D-printed sculptures on his 8-foot-tall Gigante 3D printer for eight years and fabricating metal sculpture for 20. His simply complex sculptures can be seen in public and private places across the United States as well as overseas.

“I’ve created some very special pieces for this exhibit, though,” says Caron, who is lighting his translucent sculptures from the inside. Included will be 3-foot-tall SuperSize, a yellow sculpture that reaches for the sky, as well as Wormwood Light and Wormwood Dark, which handle light differently despite being made of the same purple filament. Other artists include Larry Ortega, a classically trained painter practicing as a self-taught sculptor. His work is created using media that absorbs and animates light and color in the dark; and Ceri Jones, who lights her ethereal metal works from the inside to cast shadow and beauty outside.

“The ‘Illuminate’ exhibition will shed light both literally and metaphorically on new and unexpected ways to look at art,” says Michael Denson, who conceived the show. Denson is now interim executive director of the West Valley Arts Council, which serves to connect communities to art and culture opportunities that encourage beauty, unity and positive human connection. The exhibition debuts with its opening reception Friday, Aug. 12, 4 – 7 p.m. For more about the exhibition, call 623-584-2626, visit westvalleyarts.org and stay in touch on social media: #illuminateartevent.

About Kevin Caron: Known for his swooping, towering and often confounding creations, artist Kevin Caron’s inspired sculpture can be seen in public and private places around the country as well as overseas and online at kevincaron.com The 2018 Phoenix Mayor’s Visual Artist of the Year, Caron and his artwork were featured in a national ABC TV episode of 20/20.

His more than 50 commissions include his monumental sculpture “Top Knot,” commissioned for the Civic Center Plaza in Surprise, Arizona. His monumental sculpture “Wherever You Go, There You Are” was purchased and now stands in front of the Whitaker Museum for Science and the Arts in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. In addition to his metal works, Caron is a pioneer in creating 3D-printed sculptures as large as five-and-a-half feet tall. His YouTube channel at youtube.com/kevincaron has more than 25 million views and 95,200 subscribers.

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