Art Exhibition Enhances Experience through
Social Media
The City of Lake Charles
will host “It’s What You Make of It” by Bennett
Sewell, MD at Historic City Hall Arts & Cultural Center at 1001 Ryan
Street. Join us for a special opening reception with Dr. Sewell and his cast of
characters in the second floor gallery during the annual Gallery Promenade
event on September 28 from 5-9 p.m. The event
is free and open to the public. The exhibition will run through January 12, 2013.
Dr. Bennett Sewell is a
retired physician living in Shreveport, the nephew of famed Louisiana artist
Clyde Connell, and a storyteller. He uses found
objects, scrap metal and wood, to construct unique sculptures that resemble dogs
dressed as people who take on human mannerisms and personality traits. These metaphors are coupled with a monologue that
accompanies each sculpture to highlight the human
condition. Many of the sculptures will also be accompanied by the
character’s dialogue through listening stations.
This exhibition
will also entertain and enlighten by utilizing social media to reach out and
engage the audience. To meet the characters, go to www.facebook.com/BennettSewell
and enter comments about their personality and/or
behavior. Comments can be it insightful, humorous, or a memory link to a
previous experience you’ve had in real life.
A
couple of his characters who frequent the Dew Drop Inn Beauty Shop and Extreme
Makeover Salon are Billie Bell the “casserole lady”, and Hattie Mae who has a
little something to say about everyone. Hattie Says,
“I’m so happy for you join me in talking about the behavior of my siblings and
neighbors. I’ve been living with them a long time and frankly sometimes I could
use some help. We all should have fun and learn something. For example,
if you’ve raised children, does Viola speak to you or do you have anything to
say to her? What might you say to Henry about common traits? You may
just wish to compliment Mavis about her hair or her show. Like one of my
siblings said, ‘You never know what you get until you give it a go.’ My family
and I also would like to extend our personal invitation to you to come to the
opening on September 28th. Yours in the bond of fellowship, Hattie”
Dr. Sewell says “My work is
about living; it is about what people make of it. So many of our fundamental
ways to live are formed early without the benefit of experience. These
decisions are many times fixed in place by childhood emotions and not by
rational thinking. The behavior that results is fascinating to watch and
to recreate in a metaphorical sense. I use dogs anthropomorphically
because they naturally exhibit human characteristics. I use objects that
people have used, animal bones, and parts of wood in what I construct.
The final structure says something about behavior, as does the accompanying
dialogue. I do all of this because it is fun to think
about how we live, to have new thoughts and to create something from that
experience.”
Also on exhibit will be
“Retrospective” by Francis Pavy through November 10
and “The Artisan’s Gallery” through October 27. Historic City Hall
is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2
p.m. Admission is free, but donations are gladly accepted. For more
information, please call 491-9147 or visit www.cityoflakecharles.com.
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