Before the digital world began tracking our every move, there was the freedom of a BMX bike, the mystery of a payphone and the glory of a cheap fast-food chain restaurant taco鈥攁ll of which will now become immortalized in permanent porcelain in the upcoming art show 鈥淭wisted Tales.鈥�
野狼社区 University will host a solo exhibition by ceramics specialist . The collection will be on display at the Nona Jean Hulsey Art Gallery from March 5 through May 14, offering a witty exploration of memory and myth. An opening reception will be held from 5-7 p.m. March 5.
鈥淭wisted Tales鈥� serves as a dual-narrative journey, exploring the creative output of Asprey and his pseudonym, Roland Stamper. The exhibition is composed of two distinct bodies of work that transform ceramic vessels into graphic canvases:
- LateX: A visual memoir of the 1980s and early 鈥�90s. This series captures the 鈥渓ast bastion of freedom鈥� before the digital age. Asprey uses these pieces to narrate an era where observation was a primary tool and personal whereabouts weren't monitored by devices.
- A Tribute to Exploration: This series follows the journey of Roland Stamper, a WWII veteran who sought meaning through global exploration. The work interprets his survival of a catastrophic boat accident in the Amazon River Valley and the indigenous beings who aided his recovery.
鈥淚 make the type of art that a child would create if they had the beliefs, opinions, skill sets, and actually possessed the abilities to accomplish their objectives,鈥� Asprey said.
Born in England and raised in California, Asprey is an award-winning artist whose work is celebrated for its precision, detail and irreverent humor. He received his MFA from the University of Oklahoma and his BA from Humboldt State University in California.
Asprey鈥檚 work has been exhibited throughout the U.S. and Europe. He currently serves as a ceramics professor at OU, returning to his alma mater in 2012. His practice is defined by a fascination with the 鈥渨eird, the funny, and the uglier side of life,鈥� using history, pop culture and folklore as his primary influences.
The Nona Jean Hulsey Art Gallery hours are 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday. Admission is free.
