What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
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MARCH 21-27, 2021 WHAT'S UP! 5 Spring In Bloom 'Flower Power' blossoms on the walls of Brews BECCA MARTIN-BROWN NWA Democrat-Gazette I always try to invite a combination of artists who work in different mediums," says John Rankine of the exhibitions he curates at Brews, a coffee/craft beer establishment in Eureka Springs. The current show, "Flower Power," includes mediums from watercolor to found- object sculpture captured in a photograph created by 25 regional artists, both those well known for their florals and those who are showing for the first time. However, in this case, Rankine's primary goal was simple, not profound: "I just wanted something colorful and non-confrontational," he says, "although with Eureka Springs artists, nothing would surprise me." Rankine's own entry in the show, "Blind Faith," might not be controversial, but it is certainly bears his signature mark of the unusual. "I received a call in 2020 from a patron (and now friend) about doing a special photograph for his wife's birthday in June," he begins the story. "I had never done a commission piece before and was a little nervous, but excited about doing it." Rankine says "it's hard to describe the creative process in the photographs I take using inanimate objects. It's a very intuitive process that usually starts with an object that speaks to me on some unconscious level. In this case, it was a ceramic doll mold. "Talking with my client, I found out his wife was a big Georgia O'Keeffe fan. She loved her work, especially some of her painted skull series. I have a large collection of bones that I frequently use in my work and pulled out the large cow skull. "Like O'Keeffe, flowers are also important subject matter in my work," Rankine adds. "The flowers in 'Blind Faith' are bougainvillea, a tropical flowering vine that I had transplanted to my greenhouse from when I lived in Key West almost 25 years ago." While he hopes for beauty, "like all my work, 'Blind Faith' is open for interpretation," he concludes. The client owns No. 1 in the limited edition photograph, and No. 2 is on show at Brews. "Blind Faith" by John Rankine is an archival inkjet photograph of one of his found-object sculptures. It brings together a doll mold, a cow skull and bougainvillea and is inspired by artist Georgia O'Keeffe. It is on show now at Brews in Eureka Springs. (Courtesy Image/John Rankine) See Spring Page 6 EUREKA SPRINGS FAQ 'Flower Power' WHEN — Through April 13; hours are 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday-Thursday & until 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday WHERE — Brews, 2 Pine St. in Eureka Springs COST — Admission is free; works are for sale INFO — Email johnrankine 69@gmail.com