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Artist information:
Scott Gundersen
Grand Rapids, MI
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Scott Gundersen is showing at:
San Chez Bistro & Cafe San Chez Bistro & Cafe
38 W Fulton
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
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Scott Gundersen
Artist bio: Scott Gundersen, a resident of a lively southeast Grand Rapids neighborhood, earned his BFA in Art Education from Western Michigan University in 2002. For seven years, as a full-time high school art instructor, he has been using his knowledge of and passion for art to inspire the next generation. In that time, he has had the opportunity to teach over 2000 students. When not teaching or creating, Scott loves to read, bike, and travel the world with is new wife, Jeanee.
Artist statement: During the summer of 2007, while traveling through Africa, I became acutely aware of simple items I waste. Discarded items like used water bottles and old boxes, were treasured and transformed into toys and tools by my African friends. Upon retuning to Michigan, I thought often of objects I wasted and how I could reuse them in my art. I started saving and collecting items that alone are often thrown away, but together, in great quantities, I could transform into something beautiful. These collections of bottle caps, wine corks, and other items inspire my current series of portraits which are undeniably influenced by two of my favorite artists, Chuck Close and Andy Goldsworthy. These artists surprise and wow me with their process and ability to transform an ordinary mark or object into a great work of art. My work seeks to humbly follow in their footsteps while finding beauty in the mundane and new potential in what I once would have thrown away.
About the work:
Title: My Wife in Wine Corks

Art form: 2-D

Medium: Used Wine Corks

Year created: 2009

Description of work: This work is culmination of two years of saving and collecting over 6,000 used wine corks from friends, family members, local restaurants and a few bottles I enjoyed myself. This mural is made entirely of corks in their original state, no paint or other substance was used to create or alter the stain or appearance of the artwork. Arranging the corks according to their degree of stain, each cork creates a value, which when placed consciously results in the finished product, a portrait of my wife, Jeanee. The mural is housed inside a hand built frame of Oak and Aspen I constructed and crafted specifically for this mural. The art is best displayed in such a way that the viewer can see it from a distance, but also approach to view it close up.

Work statement: The collection, the sorting and ultimately the arranging of the wine corks result in a final mural, which I hope is pleasing to the eye. For me, the final result is exciting, but the best part is the process. I love the act of creating, dreaming up an idea, then working to accomplish it. What started with boxes and boxes of wine corks ends with a mural of the woman I love. Creating order out of chaos is the beauty for me.

Technical details:
Work width: 55 inches
Work height: 68 inches
Work depth: 6 inches
Required venue ceiling: n/a
Required venue door height: n/a
Required venue door width: n/a
Required wall linear footage: 6 ft.
Required venue square footage: n/a
Additional considerations:
Audio/video needed: No
Electrical needed: No
Lighting needed: Yes
Internet access needed: No
Ground floor access needed: No
Indoor space needed: Yes
Outdoor space needed: No

Work Images

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