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Work of Howard Ben Tré to be displayed in Anderson Gallery
By KRISTIN E.M. RIEMER
Reporter Contributor
An exhibition of the work of artist Howard Ben Tré will open in the UB Anderson Gallery with a reception from 6-8:30 p.m. tomorrow in the gallery, located on Martha Jackson Place near Englewood and Kenmore avenues in Buffalo.
A lecture by the artist, titled "Taking the Personal Vision from the Privacy of the Studio into the Public Space," will take place at 2 p.m. April 17 at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery. The lecture is free with gallery admission for UB faculty, staff and students with valid ID.
Ben Tré is recognized internationally for his unique glass sculptures and large-scale works of art for public and private spaces. His sculpture makes reference to historical architectural forms, industrial shapes and Eastern ceremonial artifacts, while gracefully moving viewers into the 21st century with its futuristic components. Ben Tré's breakthrough technical innovations have extended his mastery of cast glass and allowed him to create monumental sculptures that can survive the rigors of outdoor installation.
The Anderson Gallery exhibition, titled "Private Visions, Utopian Ideals: The Art of Howard Ben Tré," includes sculptures, works on paper and a selection of drawings, models and photographs of Ben Tré's public art projects. The exhibition has been organized by Sandra H. Olsen, director of the UB Art Galleries, in such a way that visitors will leave with a greater understanding of the sculpture-making and urban-planning processes, which Ben Tré engages in his work.
"Nearly always beginning with gestural drawings, the artist's conceptual processes have morphed over the last decade due to technological advancements," Olsen says. "For example, maquettes and detailed scale models have been replaced by digital renderings. We've included in this exhibition many phases of a project's development to illustrate the complex processes involved."
A pioneer in the use of cast glass as a sculptural medium, Ben Tré received a B.S.A. from Portland State University in Oregon and an M.F.A. from the Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, where his home and studio are located. His work is included in more than 85 museum and public collections worldwide, including the Albright-Knox Art Gallery and the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library.
"Private Visions, Utopian Ideals" will be on view through July 24. Admission is free. The Anderson Gallery is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and from 1-5 p.m. on Sunday.