Page 66 - Southern Oregon Magazine Fall 2021

neck of the woods | theatre
t he g o o d l if e | ar t

SAYAKA GANZ RECLAIMED CREATIONS

bringing harmony out of seeming chaos

lynn leissler provided by grants pass museum of art

GRANTS PASS MUSEUM OF ART FALL EXHIBIT
OCTOBER 29 – DECEMBER 18

e too often despair at the sight of plastic litter on the things, and friends give her objects or direct her to garage sales. Her
street, in the forest, at the beach. Artist Sayaka Ganz, sculptures are mostly monochromatic, and include found plastic items,
however, doesn’t merely lament. She sculpts exqui- wire, cable ties, and hardware.
Wsite creations from such discards. “If we value our
resources, we will waste less,” she says. “I want to convey the message Ganz sees her work as bringing harmony out of situations appearing
about the environment in a fun and inspiring way.” chaotic. “When observing my sculptures up close, one might see gaps,
holes, and items being held only by small points; step away, however,
Sayaka Ganz Reclaimed Creations has appeared in museums in a dozen and the sculptures reveal the harmony created when the objects are
states across the country. We in Southern Oregon will have the oppor- aligned to the same general (but not identical) direction.” Such perspec-
tunity to view her work at the Grants Pass Museum of Art this fall, tive is also gained by stepping back to view a large painting. She believes
from October 29 – December 18. Hyla Lipson, Executive Director, that in an era when people are often distanced from the natural world,
feels privileged to showcase an exhibit of this caliber with the help of artists have opportunity to either introduce or re-introduce them to
The Miller Foundation, The Autzen Foundation, and The Pacific Corps that world.
Foundation. Due to the size of many of the pieces, the exhibit will arrive
in pieces with videos on how to assemble. One piece weighs over 200 Museums and art galleries should be available to everyone, to follow
pounds, and many will be cabled from the ceiling. guidelines of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Hyla feels the environment
needs a place at the table as well. “It all started because we wanted to
Growing up with Shinto beliefs that all things have spirits, Ganz feels have an exhibit with things that shouldn’t go in the ocean or the dump,”
sadness when she sees discarded items, whether on the streets or on a she says. To that end, she looks forward to children coming with families
thrift store shelf. Using mostly common plastic household items with or on field trips and seeing the value of not throwing something away.
their variety of form and color, she creates dynamic animal forms that Children will be offered coloring sheets and a picture-coded scavenger
have a sense of movement. “I manipulate and assemble them together as hunt. Adults will also have a scavenger hunt sheet, but with words as
brush strokes to create an effect similar to a Van Gogh painting in three clues. She plans to contact local garbage companies and ask them to
dimensions.” She achieves what she calls 3D impressionism. She collects make recycling brochures available.
64 www.southernoregonmagazine.com | fall 2021