Greely Myatt exhibits to cover 20 years of whimsy — with a recycling zeal
If sculptor Greely Myatt, with his quilts made of wood scraps and his thought clouds made of old tin boxes, were not already one of the city's most visible artists, he will be within the next month or so. To celebrate Myatt's 20 years in Memphis, eight sites will feature examples of every kind of art he has made since he came to teach at Memphis State University in 1989, along with new work at David Lusk Gallery.
Photo by Jim Weber
With his "what you see is not what you get" method, sculptor and University of Memphis professor Greely Myatt (in his South Main studio) has been turning found objects into art for two decades.
Among Greely Myatt's works is ''Banner,'' at David Lusk Gallery.
Photo by Jim Weber
"A Fool w/ an Idea or Two", 2000, reclaimed wood, electric light, and electricity, 84" x 42" x 14", by artist Greely Myatt.
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Myatt resists the word "retrospective" for the group of nine exhibitions, but he doesn't object to terms like "extravaganza" or "Greely-palooza." In fact, he laughs somewhat ruefully at the effort expended to install all of these shows in time for their various openings, including two today.
"Yeah," he said Monday, taking a break from installing work at the National Ornamental Metal Museum, "we're getting pretty close to being under the gun."
Whatever the venue, all the shows carry the same title, "Greely Myatt and exactly Twenty Years," with a line striking through "and exactly", an expression of Myatt's ambivalent feelings about career-survey exhibitions.
"It's just the past 20 years," he said. "I made a lot of work in the years before that."
Myatt's sculpture embodies the recycling ethic with zeal. Viewers of his work can expect to see reclaimed wood and metal, window frames, mattress springs, florescent lights and found objects of many kinds incorporated with abandon. His "what you see is not what you get" method includes making cupcakes from wood and light bulbs from concrete. A sense of exaggeration leads to giant rocking chairs and teddy bears, while his rural Southern roots are revealed in rainbow-hued washboards and pitchforks with gourds for handles. In everything, Myatt firmly erases all boundaries between what was once considered high and low art, accomplishing his purpose with humor based on serious aesthetic principles and impeccable craftsmanship.
The shows are or will be at the Art Museum of the University of Memphis; Clough-Hanson Gallery, Rhodes College; David Lusk Gallery; Dixon Gallery and Gardens; Memphis Brooks Museum of Art (opened Aug. 15); Memphis College of Art's On the Street Gallery; the National Ornamental Metal Museum; P & H Center for the Arts, and Power House Memphis.
The segments of "Greely Myatt and exactly Twenty Years" displayed at the Dixon and the Metal Museum open today without ceremony, but in September there will be receptions for different exhibitions every Friday night. Since Power House Memphis is closing Monday, plans for the Myatt show there remain in question. Janice Herbert, vice president of the Power House board, said that negotiations are under way with the leasing agent to keep the space open temporarily. "If that doesn't work," she said, "we'll try to find an alternative venue."
Myatt, born in Aberdeen, Miss., in 1952, received a bachelor of fine arts degree from Delta State University in 1975 and an M.F.A. from the University of Mississippi in 1980. After teaching at Arkansas State University for four years, he came to U of M in the fall semester of 1989. In his first class sat Hamlett Dobbins, a second-year biology major who under Myatt's influence changed his major to art.
A widely recognized artist now and director of the Clough-Hanson Gallery at Rhodes, Dobbins and his former teacher were talking at a party a couple of years ago, "and at some point," said Dobbins, "we realized that his first class was the one I was in and I thought that was pretty convenient, making it almost 20 years, and maybe in 2009 we should do something, like have the big stuff at AMUM" -- the Art Museum of the University of Memphis -- "and the little stuff at Rhodes and get a grant for a catalog."
Unexpectedly, though, Dobbins said, the concept expanded. "It was like every week Greely would say, 'Well, I was talking to so-and-so and the Brooks wants to do something' or 'I was talking to so-and-so and the College of Art wants to do something,' and it just grew."
As proof that just about everyone in the local art community knows everybody else, Myatt relates how Dixon Gallery and Gardens came to be showing some of his large works.
"Well," said Myatt, "I was pumping gas in my car and Kevin was at the next pump and he said, 'I was talking to Cameron. How can we get involved in this thing?'" Kevin Sharp is the Dixon's director; Cameron Kitchin is director of Memphis Brooks Museum of Art.
The situation has changed a great deal since 1989, Myatt said. "Twenty years ago, I couldn't find a place to show, and now I can't find a place not to show. But it's been fun to see these old pieces. I mean, the work is amazingly the same."
"Greely Myatt and exactly Twenty Years"
Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, 1934 Poplar in Overton Park; through Jan. 3.
Dixon Gallery and Gardens, 4339 Park; today through Nov. 14. No reception.
National Ornamental Metal Museum, 374 Metal Museum Drive; today through Oct. 5. No reception.
David Lusk Gallery, 4540 Poplar Ave. in Laurelwood; Tuesday through Sept. 26. Opening reception, Sept. 4, 4 to 6 p.m.
Clough-Hanson Gallery, Rhodes College; Sept. 11 through Oct. 16. Opening reception, Sept. 11, 6 to 8 p.m.
Art Museum of the University of Memphis, Sept. 12 through Nov. 7. Opening reception, Sept. 11, 4:30 to 7 p.m.
P&H Center for the Arts, in P&H Café, 1532 Madison; Sept. 18 through Oct. 9. Opening reception, Sept. 18, 8 to 10 p.m.
Memphis College of Art's On the Street Gallery, 338 S. Main; Sept. 24 through Oct. 17. Opening reception, Sept. 25, 6 to 9 p.m.
In addition, Myatt has curated a show of work by former students. "On the Brink of Collapse" will be displayed at Marshall Arts, 639 Marshall, Sept. 18 through Oct. 5. Opening reception, Sept. 18, 6 to 8 p.m.
The artist will give a talk about his work at Memphis Brooks Museum of Art on Sept. 10 at 7 p.m.
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