East Patchogue artist Mark Van Wagner will present his first solo exhibition, "Mark Van Wagner: Repercussions," at Gallery North in Setauket, with an opening reception scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 19.
The opening reception will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. and is free to the public, as is ArTalk on Saturday, March 14, from 3 to 5 p.m.
The exhibit will run through April 4 and will feature a variety of works, including Sandbox sculptures. The exhibition is curated by Director of Exhibitions Kate Schwarting.
“I’ve seen some of her previous exhibitions, and they’re perfectly curated…. I’m curious to see how it all comes together,” said Van Wagner, 66.
The title “Repercussions” refers to cause and effect, a concept Van Wagner associates with sand, which he considers “the breakdown of all matter” and a reflection of its geological area.
Van Wagner said artists have experimented with sand since the early 1900s, but he has abandoned paints altogether, deriving color, texture and three-dimensional effects from sand collected from beaches ranging from Australia to Armenia.
“Wherever I go I’ll collect sand and bring it back because it’s about the place and about history,” he said, adding that other travelers have contributed sand as well. He said living near Lake Michigan sparked his interest, which grew during years of residency in Kauai, known for its glass beach and brightly colored sand.
“I wanted a material that wasn’t going to break the bank,” he said. He uses recycled cardboard boxes as his canvas. “In essence if these things were to be left outside, they would just dissolve back into nature.”
Van Wagner said he is glad to be back in New York and working out of a converted studio in East Patchogue. He said Long Island provides ample access to sand.
A graduate of the Art Institute of Chicago, Van Wagner has exhibited worldwide and has held a solo show in Vienna, Austria. He said art has been his “salvation,” particularly during childhood struggles with dyslexia.
“Back then they didn’t know about dyslexia…I’m just happy I had art,” he said.
For more information about Gallery North and the exhibit, visit the gallery’s website.