The Golden Mean, or Golden Ratio, is in every single piece of art Tom Woodhouse creates. Plato believed that if a line was divided into two unequal segments, with the smaller segment relating to the larger in the same way that the larger segment was related to a whole, a special proportional relationship results.

Tom Woodhouse: System As Medium opens at the Art Association on Friday, November 2, with a reception from 5:30-7:30 pm. Woodhouse, the Art Association’s new head of Painting, Drawing and Printmaking, will host an exhibition of his new prints, paintings and sculptures. Earlier this week the Art Association’s Drawing studio was overflowing with Woodhouse’s angular, motion-pitched, brightly colored works. Though he thinks of each painting he does as a landscape, to our eye his work might portray street scenes, people, scary dogs, or be gloriously, wildly abstract.

Woodhouse’s figures started out as specific people, but have become unidentifiable figures in space. Concentratring on composition and color, he analyzes perfect proportion to create aesthetically pleasing compositions. Is there a system for doing that without making the same work over and over again?

“It’s mathematics,” says Woodhouse. “There are seven naturally occurring patterns in nature that reoccur in my work: spirals, whirls, meanders, branching, chaos, 120 degree angles and radial patterns. People respond positively to my shapes because they are based upon what we see in nature, how we exist in the natural world around us. Everyone here has a strong connection to the land, but I try to take that concept and push it about five steps beyond.”

The same evening, same time, Influencing Visions: A Selection of Work by Art Association Instructors also opens. A diverse selection of vessels, paintings and all kinds of neat works will be on exhibit. Participating artists include Valerie Seaberg, Dean Stayner, Emily Boespflug, Sharon Thomas, Glenn Ronning and Taylor Glenn.

Both shows remain on display through November 30th. “The Art Association features Tom Woodhouse: System As Medium in recognition of his long dedication to developing the Painting, Drawing and Printmaking Department,” says the non-profit. Congratulations, Tom!  We can feel things changing already! www.artassociation.org. 

•

They would call to keep you safe.

This is important: “Handmade for Hope,” a sale of crafts, art, jewelry, clothing…and probably more…takes place at the Wort Hotel, downtown Jackson, on Saturday, November 3rd, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm.  The sale benefits Jackson’s phenomenal Community Safety Network, a safe house and resource for women needing help with abuse and violence. Local artists and craftspeople participate, and I can tell you from experience that there are wonderful items for sale. All price points. I love my knit hat and earrings I purchased last year. For information, phone Rachel Stam at Knit on Pearl, 307-733-5648. You may also visit www.communitysafetynetwork.org.