Swedish Artist Exhibit, Reception Tonight at TAMIU

Swedish artist John Rasimus’ exhibit, “Embracing Darkness and Living Your Dreams,” will open with a reception on Thursday, Oct. 15 from 5 – 7:30 p.m. at the Texas A&M International University Center for the Fine and Performing Arts (CFPA) Gallery.

The event is free and open to the public.

The exhibit features drawings, large-scale woodblock prints, video and animation by Rasimus.

In an interview with artist Richie Budd for the Web site, examiner.com Rasimus revealed that his work is about creativity.

“It’s the art of ‘making’ and having ‘fun’ (to a point),” he said.

Rasimus elaborates in his artist’s statement: “I draw constantly. I see my art as an uninterrupted series of images, like individual frames in an ongoing movie. I chose some images to develop into more elaborate scenes. Since 2002 I have made large scale wood-block prints on canvas or paper. I often show the wood-block itself, the resulting canvas or large paper-print, and the series of drawings form where the imagery originated, together. The labor, the processes and the continuous flow of ideas are important aspects of my work. I reinterpret figures, situations and imagery from mass-media and literature to fit ‘my movie’ and hope that I am able to create a coherent personal story that is of interest to others as well as me.”

When asked how he started in the art world, Rasimus responded, “It just happened … don’t know how … all of a sudden the time flew and it’s been 22 years since my first art school. I’m surprised myself and this is my job?!”

Rasimus currently runs a collaborative art gallery, Galleri Se Konst, in Falun, Sweden.

He holds an M.F.A. from the Academy of Fine Arts in Umea, Sweden.

The exhibit will be on display through Friday, Nov. 27. Admission to the CFPA Gallery is free.

Hours of operation are 12 – 5 p.m., Monday – Thursday and by appointment. To have an event reminder sent by email or text or downloaded to your calendar, visit the University’s online calendar, @TAMIU, located at tamiu.edu/calendar

For more information, contact Alma Haertlein, associate professor of art, at 326.3041 or e-mail almah@tamiu.edu

You may also contact the Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at 326.2180, visit offices in the Sue and Radcliffe Killam Library room 268 or e-mail prmis@tamiu.edu Information is also available on the University’s Web site, tamiu.edu, Facebook and Twitter.

Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at prmis@tamiu.edu