NEC Art Gallery Presents Ragouzeos and deMeng

The Gallery at New England College presents Leonard Ragouzeos: Ink Paintings (Main Gallery) and Michael deMeng: Diablos and Retablos (Balcony Gallery) through March 4, 2011. The public is invited to attend a reception on Thursday, February 10 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

In Leonard Ragouzeos’ Ink Paintings, familiar subjects such as the human figure, vegetables, tools, and everyday objects are used to elicit interaction often associated with non-representational work or abstraction. Ragouzeos uses Yupo, a non-traditional drawing paper, and unconventional tools such as putty knives, spray bottles, ink brayers, and electric hair dryers to produce work rich in texture, illuminating the intense observation of his subject.

“I enjoy working on a larger-than-life scale where the painting process becomes more physical and experimental,” says Ragouzeos. “My expectation for the viewer is to engage and understand the image from a distance, and to be drawn in to view the surface texture of marks, ink spatters, and drips.”

Leonard Ragouzeos taught at universities in Iowa and Pennsylvania while maintaining an exhibition record. He now resides in Vermont, devoting his time energy to his art. Visit http://leonardragouzeos.com for more information.

Michael deMeng - Mescal

Michael deMeng’s Diablos and Detablos exhibits assemblages of transformation, incorporating found objects into collage, painting, and drawing. While using discarded objects, deMeng’s selection process reveals his preference for pop art influence with a post-modern sensibility.

Michael deMeng, of Missoula, Montana, is the author of Secrets of Rusty Things, Transforming Found Objects into Art; and most recently, Dusty Diablos. Dusty Diablos reflects on deMeng’s many travels to Mexico and is the inspiration behind the exhibit. Each piece represents Mexican folklore, religious practice, and iconography. For more information about deMeng’s work, visit http://michaeldemeng.blogspot.com.