Luke Ahern: "Fences and Courts"

Selected Works on Paper
Mixed media on handmade paper and Rives BFK
2016

Luke Ahern: Fences and Courts is currently on display at Illinois Wesleyan University in the Merwin & Wakeley Galleries in Bloomington Illinois. The exhibition will be on display until November 3rd, 2016. Luke Ahern is an artist and educator living in Marysville Ohio. Ahern has a bachelor of fine arts degree from Bowling Green State University, and also a master of fine arts degree in painting from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Ahern works as an assistant professor of art at Ohio’s Denison University, along wth that he has shown his work in exhibitions across the country. Ahern is a father and husband in a mixed race family. The exhibition shows Ahern’s works that combine image making with his experience dealing with racial identity in today's society

Fenced in Pink and Hurt
Solid Marker, enamel, silicone, crayon, acrylic, inkjet collage on canvas
2016

Fenced in Rust and Dust
Acrylic, collage, oil, paper, inkjet print, dirt on canvas
2016

Luke Ahern's exhibition was extremely unique to be able to see up close. The pieces in this series were very eye catching and over exaggerated. The use of bright colors like hot pink to create the fence pattern and then the use of thick jet black layered acrylic to stand off the canvas are very fascinating. The collage technique within each piece never leave your gaze at a stand still but has your eyes constantly moving and seeing something new every time you look at it. The pieces give off a child like feel with the colors, material and layout but the deep meaning of the fence keeping you locked in pulls you back down to earth.

Morning, Noon and Night
Beeswax crayon, walnut ink, acrylic on Rives BFK
2016

My opinion on Luke Ahern's exhibition is very positive. I have just recently taken my first painting class and I could relate to his technique of layering acrylic to make the fence pattern stand off the page. I love how each of these pieces has something unique about them. Within one of the fence holes is a piles of rocks glued on and a few inches down has what looks like dryer lint. Now I do not know for sure what each unique little feature means but I love how he does what he feels. 









His "not so eye catching" works somewhat drew me away from the meaning of the exhibition. My eyes seemed to get lost in his smaller paintings and his The Force of Horse with Colors piece, therefore I couldn't understand  the idea of race and identity to these as well as  could feel the idea of his major fence pattern works.

Selected Untitled Small Works
Mixed media
2016

The Force of Horse with Colors
Gesso, metallic enamel, paper, flashe on un-stretched canvas
2016

I would recommend everyone to go see Luke Aherns exhibition. Ahern shows off his wide range of technique and material uses. He does an amazing job of presenting the emotions he  must go through being a father and husband in a mixed race family in a very unique way that I have never seen before.