Insects Illuminated: Photographs, Prints and Drawings by Evan Summer

Evan Summer’s last exhibit at the Reading Public Museum was not typical, nor did it emphasize the beauty of nature rather it exuded darkness, moodiness and foreboding – void of life. Insects Illuminated: Photographs, Prints and Drawings by Evan Summer is quite different. In fact, it focuses on the beauty, color, textures, patterns and forms of the very alive world of insects. The exhibit opens in part on September 17th in the Cove Gallery with the remaining exhibit opening on September 24th in the Central Gallery. It runs through January 8, 2006. The opening reception is Saturday, October 1st. Photographer David Haas will speak at 5:30pm on “Ansel Adams and the Art of Light” and Summer will be speak at 6:00pm about his exhibit. A reception sponsored by the Friends of the Reading Museum will follow from 6:30-8:00pm in the Atrium. The reception is free to members, regular admission charged for non-members. The exhibit is sponsored in part by grants from Kutztown University, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, and the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Admission to Insects Illuminated: Photographs, Prints and Drawings by Evan Summer is included with the regular Museum admission: $7 adults (18-60), $5 children/seniors/students (w/ID) and free to members and children under 4 years old. The Reading Public Museum hours are Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday 11am to 5pm; Wednesday 11am to 8pm; and Sunday 12pm to 5pm.

During the past two years Evan Summer became very interested in insects as subjects of art. He’ll tell you they provide an unbelievable variety of color, texture, pattern and form. “I’ve studied and photographed specimens in the collections of the Reading Public Museum and Mr. Bob Natalini,” said Summer, “as well as insects I’ve collected mostly through purchases on E-Bay.” At first, Summer used high-resolution digital photographs as reference for drawings and prints. Photography enabled him to see details that were just too small to see without magnification. Later he began thinking of these photos as finished artworks. “They allowed a level of detail that I wasn’t able to achieve in drawn images,” comments Summer, “and this will be the first time I’ve exhibited photographs.” Most of Summer’s artwork is in printmaking and drawing which will be included in this exhibit as well.

Interestingly, part of this exhibit consists of photos of insects in the Reading Public Museum’s collection. They were taken in an area of the Museum where rarely seen specimens are stored in old glass-covered wooden drawers. Most of these specimens were collected and mounted 50 to 100 years ago. Some are even older and bear the labels of Levi W. Mengel, who was an entomologist and the Reading Public Museum’s founder and first Director. “These specimens have a unique beauty and show the effects of time. Some colors aren’t as vibrant as they once were and numerous wings, legs and antennae have fallen off. … They are part of local history,” continues Summer, “and show something about the history of scientific display and the history of scientific taxonomy. These pictures are about the displays as much as they are about the specimens. They are a tribute to those who collected, mounted and preserved these insects.”
Evan Summer lives in Kutztown, PA with his wife and four children and has taught printmaking for 18 years at Kutztown University. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at the State University of New York at Buffalo and his Master of Fine Arts degree in printmaking at Yale University. He is represented in many distinguished collections including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, National Gallery of Art, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and has had a number of solo exhibitions including an exhibit at the Corcoran Gallery in Washington D.C. in 1999. He is the recipient of numerous printmaking awards and prizes including the Tai-he Masterpiece Award in the 2003 Beijing International Print Biennial. And he is a member of the National Academy of Design in New York City, where he was awarded the 1999 Leo Meissner Prize and 2003 Cannon Prize for printmaking.

Related Programming:
Museum Shop Event - Bob Natalini: Insect Artwork - Sunday, October 2, 2005 - Noon to 5:00pm – Free. Bob’s artwork uses exotic insects that come from sustainable use markets and insect farming projects that help protect rainforests and provide income to indigenous peoples. This unique insect artwork comes in many forms - key chains, jewelry, shadow boxes, and more. Museum admission separate.

Drawing from Natural Specimens - Sunday, October 16, 2005 - 1:00pm to 3:00pm –
Ages 15 & up. Join artist Evan Summer and learn to draw using the specimens from his exhibit.
Participants will learn proportion, dimension, and shading techniques as well as how to observe detail. Here's your chance to learn from this master! Cost: $8 Members, $13 Non-Members (includes materials fee). Limit 15. You must pre-register by calling 610.371.5850 ext. 229. Deadline to register is Sept. 30th.

Conversation with the Artist: Evan Summer - Wednesday, October 26, 2005 - 7:00pm – Free with Admission. Join artist Evan Summer as he leads us through his exhibit. The artist will give a brief introduction, and then through dialog and questions from the audience you will learn some of the artist’s ideas, techniques and research. Discover too, how Evan used specimens from Levi Mengel's collection in his work. Bob Natalini’s Insect Artwork will also be available this evening for sale in the Museum Shop.