"Retrospective"

Chuck Bickel to exhibit months of September and October at The Lift.

Opening Reception Friday, September 4th 6-9pm.
 
Title of show: "Retrospective".

Artist Statement and Bio Below Photos

 Artist Statement

Art is theorized and philosophized about because it is purely human. The gods create, man does art. Man is not a creator he only rearranges the atoms that Mother Earth has provided us with. Craft making is this process of rearranging of atoms to create a new object or improve an existing one. All objects have two merits to be measured by, form and function. The engineer focuses on function the artist is called on to transform the object to a higher level—to create beauty with the form. High art is the creation of the nontangible. Once the form and function have been tended to the true artist can treat the object to interact with the viewer. If art is to be taken to the highest level it needs to interact with the inside of the viewer where the artist work can be a catalyst for feeling, learning and thinking. It is only at this level that humans can create. Humans create through art—dance, poetry, painting etc. only if the viewer interacts with the art. Art will always be with us because we need it. We will always need to judge art. Let the art be judged by two merits, skillfulness of craft and the creation of the nonconcrete. The color, contrast, movement, composition and other traditional merits are always considered when I create but it is also the spirit of the piece that I try to address—how does this art make me feel? Art gives man a glance at what it is like to be a god—to create.

I believe all humans that feel can create art because we, as social animals, need to communicate our feelings about our universe. When people tell me, “I could never do that.” I believe them only because they have built their own limits. Art for me is not an option. The quote goes “Only the natural born artist has what it takes to become an artist”. The natural born artist is in us all, and if cultivated, can produce tools for communication and growth on both a personal and a social level. Art is elemental and profound. Nietzsche said, “Life without music would be a mistake.” For us life without art would be impossible.

 
 
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CHARLES FREDERICK BICKEL III                                

Chuck Bickel began studying traditional oil painting under Demitar Krustev in 1984. After studying under Krustev Chuck studied graphic design at DMACC, he then moved to California and became a member of the Santa Ana Artist’s Village throughout the 90’s. At the end of the 90’s Chuck came back to Des Moines where he received his BA in Art with a Spanish minor from Drake in 2003. He opened Bickel Studio with his cousin Dan shortly after graduating where they did painting, graphic design and photography. SACMI (Società Anonima Cooperativa Meccanici Imola) is a company based out of Italy with their US base out in Des Moines, a small collection of Chuck’s work is on permanent display at the Des Moines office. Chuck is currently residing in Des Moines, where he enjoys being a father, managing a division of Gremler Financial Group and still finds time to paint.

This is a collection spanning the last two decades including two pieces from the new Backyard series. In Chuck’s early work his infatuation with visual representations and pop icons come blazing through with the juxtaposition of his icons, images and styles. Through direct appropriation he used the aid of computer printed canvas in his earlier work but this dissipates in his later work. It has been said that all artists after 1839 have to come to peace with the photograph and in these pieces it appears Chuck is making peace with not only the photograph but Photoshop and pop-culture as well. When viewing the Lift Collection in a linear timeline we see an artist evolving from overtly Pop to paintings dealing with process. Chuck can be contacted at 515-988-7147 or “cyber-stalked” on FaceBook where a large collection of work is available to view.

Other questions or concerns please call:
Carlos Garza
The Lift Art Curator
515-556-5004
msbobcat@hotmail.com

Read the article in Juice by Choyon Manjrekar on Lift Art

Read the article in The Des Moines Register by Amanda Pierre on the Davinci Dress Code.

See photos on the Art page.

See Pics of Previous Art Shows Here including "Big Time"

See Pics of Previous Art Show "Davinci Dress Code"

See Pics of Previous Art Show "Artoons"

See Pics of Previous Art Show "Bottoms Up"

See Pics of Previous Art Show "Four Fine Floosies"

See Pics of Previous Art Show "Shooting From The Hip"

See Pics of Previous Art Show "Heroes, Villains, and the Madness in Between"

See Pics of Previous Art Show "Resolution"

See Pics of Previous Art Show "Simple is True"

See Pics of Previous Art Show "Live Free"

See Pics of Previous Art Show "The Chimera"

See Pics of Previous Art Show "All Mixed Up"

See Pics of Previous Art Show "Getting A Signal"

See Pics of Previous Art Show "My Images Personal & Assignments"

See Pics of Previous Art Show "Oranges and Lemons"

See Pics of Previous Art Show "Dividing Lines"

See Pics of Previous Art Show "Another Visitation"

See Pics of Previous Art Show "Substitute"

See Pics of Previous Art Show "Lets Not Get Carried Away"

See Pics of Previous Art Show "Phil Thompson"

See Pics of Previous Art Show "Jason Scott Hoffman"

See Pics of Previous Art Show "Tessa Rollins"