Bronze Sculpture by Kyle Hanton Exhibited at the Tarble Arts Center

Oct 3, 2013 6:46 AM

The focus on sculpture continues at the Tarble Arts Center at Eastern Illinois University. On exhibit through October 27 are small-scale bronze and plaster sculptures by Kyle Hanton. The exhibition is in the Tarble’s eGallery.

Michael Watts, Director of the Tarble Arts Center, told WRJM News that Hanton’s exhibition is presented in conjunction with the Tarble’s EIU alumni sculpture exhibition Skulpcher Werkz, curated by EIU art faculty member Jeff Boshart.

When it comes to the length of how long a particular exhibit might stay on display at the Tarble Arts Center, Watts said that it really varies, but can usually expect to be on display for about a month.

Hanton taught sculpture at Montana State University when Boshart was a student there in the 1970s. Hanton became a life-long mentor to Boshart.

Coincidentally, Tarble Arts Center Director Michael Watts met Hanton about the same time through Hanton’s position as President of the Montana Art Gallery Directors Association (MAGDA). Watts was then the director of an art gallery and house museum in Montana. Hanton helped to create MAGDA, a collaborative of non-profit Montana art galleries and museums organization that is still active today.

A graduate of the University of Michigan, Hanton also attended Harvard’s School of Design. Originally a sculptor and educator, the bulk of Hanton’s career was in architecture. In 1999 he began to, once again, concentrate on fine art.

Hanton’s art has been exhibited at many venues, including: the Yellowstone Art Center (Billings, MT), Institute of Contemporary Art (London, England), Hunter Gallery of Art (Chattanooga, TN), Boston Center for the Arts, University of Washington Henry Gallery (Seattle, WA), and the Ecole d'Architecture, University of Paris (France).

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Many of Hanton’s Modernist works are based on classical sculpture, echoing back to the art of the Renaissance and of ancient Greece and Rome. His artwork had been termed figural abstraction, and Hanton himself refers to himself as a “abstract classicalist.”

The titles of many of Hanton’s sculptures suggest their classical roots – Aphrodite (the Greek goddess of love and beauty), Circe (a Greek goddess of magic), and Centurion (a Roman army officer).

Hanton’s sculptures also have titles with more contemporary themes, such as After Erte – referring to the early 20th century French graphics and fashion designer, and Godot’s Arrival – inspired by the 1953 play by Samuel Beckett.

Other works of Hanton’s have a more playful bent, such as Circus and Prima Donna. And three works are modeled after birds, and one is titled Bison. But all of the sculpture is created in varying degrees of abstraction, regardless of the subject.

The plaster sculpture, painted to resemble bronze, could be cast in bronze, but the price of bronze casting has gotten very expensive. So now Hanton only has the plaster works cast into bronze after he sells an existing bronze sculpture, or on commission.

As far as picking exhibits to put on display at the Tarble Arts Center, Watts told WRJM News that it is a collaborative effort between many different members of the staff.

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Tarble programs are made possible through Tarble Arts Center membership contributions, endowments in the EIU Foundation, and other donations, grants and co-sponsored as announced.

The Tarble Arts Center is located at 2010 9th Street on the Eastern Illinois University campus in Charleston. Admission is free. Open hours are 10am-5pm Tues.-Fri., 10am-4pm Sat., 1-4pm Sun; closed Mondays and holidays. Contact the Tarble at 217-581-ARTS (-2787) or tarble@eiu.edu.