Mark Hartung New Work - Velvet da VinciVelvet da Vinci

Mark Hartung, Fold-a-Boat, Copper, prismacolor pencil and black patina

Mark Hartung

An exhibition of new sculptures by the Cleveland based metalsmith

April 15 – May 8, 2016

Artist’s Reception: Friday April 15, 6-8pm

Initially trained as a glass artist, Hartung received his BFA from Kent State University in1982. After seven successful years of running a glass art business with his wife and business partner Gretchen Goss, Hartung began to focus on a completely different body of work after enrolling in a Jewelry/Metals class at San Diego State University. Upon this experience, he began working primarily with metal, focusing on includes copper and steel, as well as other materials such as wood, found objects, prisma color pencils and patinas. Since then, the artist has received grant funding through the Ohio Arts Council. His work can be found in prominent collections across the US.

Hartung states the following:

“Untrained artists and their direct approach to making objects has had an influence on my way of working. I am impressed by their use of materials and the basic methods used to make their work. Another significant influence on my work has been a fascination with toys from the turn, and first half of this century, especially tin toys.

Often, I feel the ingenious design in these toys is overshadowed by the simplistic nature of the toys themselves. I am equally intrigued with artists who make work with sophisticated mechanical movements but choose low-tech options of production over the high technology accessible to us all.

It has been my preference as well to explore my work through basic means of production. The images presented in my work are derived from objects I encounter and collect, lyrics in music, my life and personal history. The work is often a collage from fragments of all of the above.”