Monday, October 15, 2018 to Wednesday, November 21, 2018

Donald Cronkhite: Chasing The Light
Sisson Gallery, Henry Ford College
October 15 – November 21, 2018

In celebration of Henry Ford College’s 80th Anniversary, the second exhibition in the 2018-2019 Sisson Gallery season is a solo exhibition by Donald Cronkhite entitled “Chasing The Light.” Cronkhite was a student at Henry Ford (Community) College from 1990-1992. After the 1991-92 school year, Cronkhite transferred to Wayne State University, where he completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1994. While at HFCC, Cronkhite was a Graphic Design major, and was a recipient of the Mary Ellen Heth Award for outstanding student art work as well as a two week European Travel Scholarship, both in 1991.

Since graduating from Wayne State University, Cronkhite has continued painting and exhibiting his work. Along with being showing his work throughout the state of Michigan, his work has also been on display in Chicago, San Antonio and New York City.

Donald Cronkhite: Chasing The Light, on display in the Sisson Gallery from October 15 – November 21, 2018, features a theme that Cronkhite has been working with for over a dozen years, that of storm clouds. The mystery of the formations of these clouds, the patterns that they make up, as well as the subtle, but sometimes extreme colors that they have are central to subject. Cronkhite’s paintings bring to life how seemingly similar but how vastly unique and different these cloud formations are.

Cronkhite states:
“…(I am) mainly influenced by 17th century Dutch painting and early to mid 20th century modern art, I found myself irresistibly drawn to my current subject (storm clouds) when I realized that something so familiar could present me with so many creative opportunities and challenges. Primarily focusing on the sky in the moments just prior to a storm, when the cloud formations are at their peak volume, affords me the opportunity to explore color, contrast, and form simultaneously.

“As a painter, I’m interested in capturing both the representative and non-representative aspects of this subject in my work. Color, contrast, form and scale are inseparable in communicating my emotional experience to the viewer in sort of an “enhanced reality.” The variations in abstract forms, vibrant and saturated hues, help convey a sense of realism and imagination blended together in my painting.

“The scale of these canvases, filling one’s peripheral vision, are intended to envelop the viewer with a sense of movement and kinetic energy, especially with my larger-than-human scale paintings. I consider scale to be of vital importance in my work, as it speaks almost as much about the subject as the paint.”

Including paintings that range in size from 9” X 14” all the way to 46 ½” X 165 ½”, the exhibition “Donald Cronkhite: Chasing The Light” is sure to be stunning!

There will be a Reception to Meet the Artist on Friday, October 19, 2018 4:30 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Sisson Gallery Location:
The MacKenzie Fine Arts Center (Building F) on the campus of Henry Ford College, 5101 Evergreen, Dearborn, MI 48128.
Sisson Gallery Hours:
Monday/Wednesday/Thursday 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday 9 a.m. - 8 p.m.
The Sisson Gallery will also be open on Saturday, November 10, 2018 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

This exhibition is family friendly, free, and open to the public.