Greetings,

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WHO: Standing Rock Cultural Arts with the cooperation of  The Robert E.Wood Legacy Committee presents

WHAT: 9thAnnual Robert E. Wood Legacy Project Art Exhibition

-Drawings,Paintings, Prints by Robert E. Wood.  (July 20, 1943-February 4,2012)

-Work will be for sale with proceeds going into a Robert E. Wood Legacy Fund.  The purpose will be to construct a cultural art center, in Kent, that houses a Robert E. Wood Gallery in the future.

WHEN: Saturday, February 8,2025.

-Open Reception, 6-9pm

-Music by DJ Luis

-Screening of “Year Zero” featuring Robert E. Wood 8pm.

-Food,Beverages

-Exhibit runs through March 15,2025

WHERE:

-SRCA Gallery. 300 N. Water St., Suite H. Kent

CONTACT:330-673-4970

GALLERY HOURS: Wednesday-Saturday, Noon-5pm or by appointment.

www.standingrock.net for updates

“The advantage of being a folk hero is that you get to speak from the grave” -FJ Kluth.

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THE ROBERT E. WOOD LEGACY COMMITTEE

The Robert E. Wood Legacy Committee is proud to present a wide array of artistic works by the late Robert E. (Bob) Wood. The Robert E. Wood Legacy Committee was formed to commemorate the uniqueness which was Robert E. Wood. Not only was Robert deeply entrenched in Kent culture, but his art and philosophies struck a chord with many of the city's residents. On the evening of February 8,2025,we invite you to join us at 300 North Water Street, Kent to share in the world that Robert experienced and created.

Come prepared to share your stories of Robert and perhaps take home apiece of his history.

ROBERTE. WOOD EXHIBIT DESCRIPTION

Excerptedfrom an article written by Elaine Hullihen - September 1, 2011

Theshow is a retrospective of works by Kent artist Robert Wood.

Woodlived in Kent since the 1960s and had been active in the art scenesince he stepped foot on this black squirrel soil.

Ifyou ever went to an art event, lecture or performance, while he wasalive, it's likely saw him examining the work or asking in-depthquestions of his fellow practitioners.

Hecould be found on most Saturdays at the Haymaker Farmers Marketmanning a table covered with binders upon binders of his own art forsale — at a reasonable price.

If,instead, you were a late-night bar enthusiast, perhaps you saw himworking, bent over a darkened table in the corner of your favoritewatering hole, glancing up periodically to memorize another part ofthe scene before bending down to record his findings.

Whatmost people don't know, however, is the full breadth of his lifetimeof diligent study in the theory and production of art.

Woodmoved to Kent from his hometown of Struthers, OH, and earned hisbachelor's degree in studio art in 1968. That was followed by amaster's degree in painting in 1973 from KSU.

Over the years, he won numerous awards in juried regional exhibitionsin Akron and Youngstown. In 2003 he received an Ohio Arts CouncilIndividual Artist Fellowship Grant. He was also recognized in The 2ndAnnual May Show at Lakeland Juried Art Exhibition for a digitalprint.

Recognitionaside, Wood was more interested in the cultural critique andphilosophical ideas in his art than anything else. After a briefstint in the 1970s working "menial" jobs, he firmly decidedto be a full-time artist and dedicate his life to these endlesslyinteresting topics.

Whenasked about this decision in 2011, 6 months before his passing, hesaid "It's such a major concern it's hard to answer. Art is allI really wanted to do. I never wanted a real job anyway — and stilldon't."

Thehuman figure has been central to Wood's artwork for many years. Frompaint to watercolor to marker, Wood was always interested in drawingfrom the model and has, it seems, thousands upon thousands of 81/2-inch-by-11-inch drawings in his collection. They are "morethan just studies to me," Wood said.

Inone work, done in the 1980s, Wood used markers to boldly hash out twofigures that are both glaring and keen. The figure on the left peersat you over a full hand of cards while the figure on the right iscutting off his own head with a handsaw.

Inthe 1990s, Wood found a new art-making medium — the Xerox machine.In the old days of the 1990s, Xerox machines printed in black and oneother color. That color varied depending on the machine. The Riddle,the sole piece in the show that was made using this method, wasprinted on up to 15 times.

Withthe Xerox machine Wood used the same process an artist would use tomake a traditional print. "The artwork is built up one layer,one image, one color at a time," he said.

Sinceeach machine had only one color, Wood traveled from machine tomachine searching for new colors to print over his work. Oftentimeshe found himself meandering back and forth between Kinko's (now FedEx) and to slowly build these pieces.

Woodwas also interested in how these machines could corrupt his images.Sometimes a machine would be "out of order" and Wood justtook the sign off to see what kind of partial, striated or faintimage he would get.

Theprints made this way are now limited edition because that type ofmachine is no longer carried by either copy place.

Woodthen began to use computer files to experiment with image corruption.These large computer prints are sometimes striated and look like somesort of file error. The original image is still visible, but througha type of screwed-up technological lens.

Othertimes the computer prints are a collage of symbols and images thatare layered upon each other, transparent, fleeting and seeminglychaotic.

Not wanting to give away all of his secrets, Wood divulged that the way he creates these works is dependent upon the file extension. Exactly what he did or which programs he used, however, will remain a mystery.

Wood approached technology, which many see as a pinnacle of our modern life, like a child with fingerpaints: smearing codes, disorganizing visual order, and compressing data to discover new ways to communicate.

The exhibit will be up through March 15, 2025.

LINKS TO ARTICLES:

OBITUARY LINK: http://patch.com/ohio/kent/kent-bids-farewell-to-tragic-hero-who-overcame-labels

Standing Rock Cultural Arts

300N. Water St., Suite H

Kent,OH  44240

330-673-4970

www.standingrock.net

Standing Rock Cultural Arts is a non profit, 501(c)(3) charitable organization.  We invite and welcome sponsors to help cover expenses for our art and educational activities.   Donations are taxd eductible

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