Change of Context
Recent work by Werner Glinka
The 1870 Art Center Gallery presents “Change of Context” a survey of recent work by Werner Glinka. Opening March 19, 2009 and on view through May 3, 2009, the exhibition will feature assemblages and wall sculptures from 2007 through 2009. The opening reception will be held on Saturday March 21, 2009 at 5:00pm.
In his new work, Glinka explores familiar symbols and structures. By tapping into his industrial past, he creates simple geometric structures using materials such as rusted metal bands and discarded electrical porcelain insulators. These cast-off materials provide a stark contrast to the minimalist geometric shapes. His three dimensional work uses light, or rather, its effects to add an additional dimension. Educated as an electrical engineer, a profession that uses mathematics and symbols to communicate its concepts, Glinka draws on this abstract language when creating his work.
Glinka was raised in the industrial city of Gelsenkirchen, Germany, where he developed an aesthetic sensibility shaped by the stark, industrial environment. He came to California in 1981. After he moved to the Santa Cruz Mountains, he developed his unique style of assemblage combining the influences of the sleek, steel-and-glass modernism of the Bauhaus movement with the simple, functional grace of Japanese landscapes.
