Pacific Index

A look at Karl LeClair’s new art exhibition at Pacific University

By: Ezri Thompson 

  The Cawein Gallery at Pacific University is welcoming a new art exhibition called, Undetermined State. The exhibit was created by artist Karl LeClair and features artwork made with ink, paper, and wood. The collection includes different types of artwork, including figurative, landscape, and abstract pieces. Each piece is different, but they all come together to create one large collection throughout the gallery.

   The exhibit also connects art with ideas from quantum mechanics, which is the study of how very small particles behave. LeClair uses these ideas to explore consciousness and the way people understand reality. The different images throughout the gallery are connected together, showing the idea that things may be more interconnected than they first appear. This gives the artwork a deeper meaning and gives viewers something to think about while looking at each piece. 

   One of the qualities that stands out about the exhibition is the amount of detail in the artwork. Many of the pieces use black and white patterns and lines to create different shapes and images. Some pieces are easier to recognize, while others are more abstract and leave it up to the viewer to decide what they see. This makes the exhibit interesting because each person can have their own thoughts and ideas about what the artwork means. 

   Another engaging part of the exhibit is how the artwork is displayed throughout the gallery. The center of the gallery has a larger display made up of several pieces shown together on a wooden structure. The artwork includes different images and patterns that connect the individual pieces. Having the artwork spread throughout the room makes the gallery feel like one large collection instead of just separate pieces on the walls. 

   Karl LeClair lives and works in Hillsboro. He works in a different area of art, including printmaking, sculpture, and installations. His work in Undetermined State shows how different types of art can be used to explore ideas that can be difficult to understand. The use of different materials and styles also makes the exhibit feel like there is something different to notice in each area of the gallery. 

   For students and other members of the University community, Undetermined State is an opportunity to see artwork that connects art with bigger ideas about the world around us. Even if someone doesn’t know much about quantum mechanics or abstract art, the different patterns, images, and arrangements give viewers something to consider. The exhibit allows people to create their own understanding of the artwork instead of having only one way to look at it. 

   The Undetermined State exhibit will be open at the Cawein Gallery from August 31 through September 28, and the gallery will be open everyday during. There will also be an artist reception on Saturday 10 from 5-6 pm.