Art, from the male perspective

Men will rule at one show this First Friday, as the work of more than 30 male artists is unveiled at the Black Door Gallery.

"Man Art" consists of 40 pieces from artists from all over the Midwest, and includes work in sculpture, paint, prints, photography and mixed media. Gallery owner and local artist Craig Thomas said this show has many strong works.

"We've got to keep up with the girls," Thomas said. "Basically, this is nothing more than a group of artists who all happen to be male. But there is definitely a difference between the gendered shows."

Zach Peto, a student at Southeast Missouri State University and one of the show's artists, said the male and female perspectives in art can be both the same and different at the same time.

"It's less of a woman to man difference, and more of a person to person change. We all have our own individual creativity and unique ways of expressing it," Peto said. "Art is personal, and not something that is confined within roles or rules."

“Man Art” artwork from one of the artist on display at the Back Door Gallery.

“Man Art” pieces are on display from 5 to 9 p.m. today at the Back Door Gallery.

Craig and wife Elizabeth Thomas created the gallery's "Feminine Perspective" show five years ago as a response to what they saw as many male-dominated shows filling the art circuit. Their aim was to establish an exhibit where female artists' work would be the focus. After calls for a male equivalent, they added "Man Art" last year.

One of the show's strengths, said Craig Thomas, is its variety. Peto's piece is an abstract printed with a wood block.

"It has a strong sense of water, and that's purposeful," Peto said. "I want it to express how we're all connected, and how we all connect, through water. I think we all forget just how much plain water means to all life as we know it."

Recently retired Southeast art professor Ron Clayton contributed an abstract oil painting on canvas, which he said conveys conflict and nature.

"I'm always concerned about resolving the conflicts of the man-made world with Mother Nature. It's architecture verses landscape, geometric structure verses organic growth," Clayton said. "My piece takes a metaphoric use of symbols and tries to bring both sides together for the viewer."

Craig Thomas, whose art will be included in the show, said he was reluctant to do an exhibit devoted solely to male art, but demand from audiences was overwhelming.

"‘Man Art' is really a response to ‘Feminine Perspective,'" Craig Thomas said. "There may not be an obvious need for an all-male show, considering men's dominance throughout history, but we always have so many people asking us when we were going to have our next male exhibit, that we decided to start one."

Elizabeth Thomas said the real catalyst for "Man Art" came when her husband and a friend were discussing the idea after one of the "Feminine Perspective" shows and began throwing around ideas.

"They were joking about what the show would be called and what kind of art would be exhibited if it were all male artists," Elizabeth Thomas said. "They came up with names like ‘tools,' and ended up calling it ‘Man Art' because it had a kind of caveman quality to it."

Clayton said the gender difference can sometimes come through in one's art, and when it does it's noticeable.

"Females are often more introspective with their work, while males tend to look more at the world around them," Clayton said. "It's not true in all instances, but these things happen. Some female artists I know say that men have their head in the clouds. Regardless, we can all relate, especially when art reflects on issues such as death or politics."

While the Black Door Gallery hosts shows for women and men, Craig Thomas said separating art by gender is unnecessary.

"Some people feel an emphasis should be placed on who creates the art," Thomas said. "But I don't care where the art comes from, so long as it's good."

"Man Art" runs through Aug. 30. Black Door Gallery's First Friday reception will be from 5 to 9 p.m. today. For more information, call the gallery at 225-7734 or go to blackdoorgallery.com.

jsamons@semissourian.com

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