The show also reflects the artist's love of travel, including service in the Peace Corps in Zaire, now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Jodi Griffith, MNA exhibits installationist, was carefully installing and labeling works in the show Thursday morning. Looking at a row of wood and twig models of rustic homes, she speculated, "I think those harken back to his Peace Corps days." An interest in journeys to other countries is also reflected in four canvases in the "Crayola Series," including "Travels Abroad," which depicts two animals happily dressed for travel and about to board a blue plane.
Congo Kinshasa RPCV Jake Brookins was an inspirational leader in the arts as director of the Art Institute for painting, sculpture and metalwork at the Museum of Northern Arizona
A whimsical body of work
BETSEY BRUNER Arts & Culture Editor azdailysun.com |
Posted: Sunday, October 10, 2010 5:00 am | (0)
Capiton: A piece of art titled "Ancestors" is an assemblage of hundreds of ceramic bones, displayed on black cinder, in the retrospective show of the work of Jake Brookins at the Museum of Northern Arizona. Photo: Betsey Bruner/Arizona Daily Sun
Ceramic bones strewn in a field of black cinder. A row of miniature models of twig houses. A tiny pottery head of a rhinoceros. A kangaroo in a colorful striped apron, saying "Oh My!" and 30 sake cups sitting in individual wood cubicles.
Whimsy is the name of the game in "Jake Brookins -- Dreams: Realizations: Contemplations: Fantasies," a new retrospective exhibit of engaging work by the artist, on display through March 2011 at the Museum of Northern Arizona
WAY TO PAY TRIBUTE
Brookins, who has lived in Flagstaff for more than 40 years, was an inspirational leader in the arts here for about 30 years, until he contracted Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig's disease).
"I've always felt Jake has not been sufficiently recognized within his own community," commented Robert Breunig, director of MNA and a friend of the artist. "I felt that doing a retrospective of his work was very important, as a way to pay tribute to him and to thank him for his life of creativity."
Breunig said he met Brookins in the 70s, when they both worked at MA.
At that time, Brookins was the director of the Art Institute for painting, sculpture and metalwork at the museum.
The two men remained friends and stayed in touch over the years, Breunig added.
"I've always been amazed at his versatility," the director said. "He's got a dry sense of humor. When my daughter was a little girl, he made this little ceramic dog with its tongue hanging out. He gave that to her. She still has that and has treasured it."
A VERY FUN SHOW
An interest in human relationships, the meaning of community, and the notion of communities over time, mixed with influences from archaeology and geology, are central to Brookins' work.
"I see Jake's work as a profoundly heartfelt and whimsical reflection on the human community, and our place in the world," said Alan Petersen, an artist and educator who is the curator of fine arts at MNA.
Petersen said he went to the Brookins home in the Cosnino area to select pieces for the show from the copious amount of art all around the home and grounds.
There he found a number of ceramic bones packed in boxes, which had been exhibited together in previous installations.
Today, hundreds of the ceramic bones are part of a large installation titled "Ancestors," which occupies center stage in the exhibit at the MNA Donald Ware Waddell Special Exhibits Gallery.
"I think people should come see the show because it's fun," Petersen said. "I think one of the most important aspects of the exhibit is its multi-faceted perspective on human nature. I like the contrast between the light-hearted works and those that appear to be a bit darker and perhaps even a little dangerous."
COMING BACK TO 'HERE'
Brookins, who is helped today by his wife, Jean, is known for artwork that is defined by his passionate exploration of life and art.
Brookins said in his artist's statement that in the broadest sense his art is about the journey of the self and humanity, the human community.
"It's about being here, leaving and coming back," he reflected, meaning "here" in the universal sense
From an early age, Brookins was fascinated by rocks and minerals, and objects left behind by earlier people, according to an MNA press release announcing the show.
He earned two Master of Fine Arts degrees in sculpture and design and came to Flagstaff in 1969 to join the NAU Art Department, where he taught art and design courses and ran the student art gallery and workshop programs.
BOARDING A BLUE PLANE
The many ceramic vessels and the several forged-metal pieces in the exhibit show the influence of a variety of cultural traditions on Brookins.
"He was strongly influenced by Japanese and Korean ceramic traditions from his studies there with traditional potters," Breunig explained. "His larger vessels are inspired by objects found in ancient Mesopotamian archaeological sites. Still, as a longtime resident of the Flagstaff area, you can see influence of the Colorado Plateau, and its environment and history in his work."
The show also reflects the artist's love of travel, including service in the Peace Corps in Zaire, now the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Jodi Griffith, MNA exhibits installationist, was carefully installing and labeling works in the show Thursday morning.
Looking at a row of wood and twig models of rustic homes, she speculated, "I think those harken back to his Peace Corps days."
An interest in journeys to other countries is also reflected in four canvases in the "Crayola Series," including "Travels Abroad," which depicts two animals happily dressed for travel and about to board a blue plane.
Betsey Bruner can be reached at bbruner@azdailysun.com or 556-2255.
