A Visit to the Rollins Museum of Art

"Protesters I-IV" by Pedro Reyes (2017) 

The last time I was in the Orlando area, we didn't make it to the Rollins Museum of Art. I made sure to get there this visit, and it's a real gem. As a bonus, admission to the Museum is free because it's part of Rollins College. 

When I entered the Museum, these wonderful sculptures by Mexican artist Pedro Reyes immediately caught my attention. They're the type of work that I find myself nearly running (okay, jogging) to see. 

Reyes' work often has a political message. Here we have four anonymous protesters coming together to support their cause. The placards are blank and the bullhorn is silent, giving the viewer the freedom to decide for herself what that cause is. The wallcard notes that the figures' lack of facial features enhances the feel of the collective. These are anonymous people who have come together to promote change. 

An article in OPUMO Magazine noted that the figures stand on plinths, which more commonly provide support for sculptures of military or political heroes. Reyes commented on the works by saying, "I envisioned the anonymous protester as the incarnation of a contemporary hero." My visit was off to a great start. 

"April 9, 2020" by Fred Tomaselli (2020)

I was intrigued by Fred Tomaselli's painting using an edition of the New York Times in lieu of a canvas. Tomaselli created this work early on in the pandemic, with this article about the impact of Covid serving as its foundation. 

Of course we all know now that any optimism about the progression of Covid was not in fact warranted in April 2020. But weren't we all a bit relieved to read a headline heralding that maybe, just maybe, things weren't as bleak as they seemed? 

Our reliance on news outlets to shape our views of the world is an embedded part of Tomaselli's NY Times series. As Tomaselli noted in an interview, even the most responsible media outlet operates in a subjective manner as the powers that be decide what to spotlight and what to ignore. In these works, Tomaselli sees himself as having joined the Times team as another editor, one with a different viewpoint. Super interesting. To hear Tomaselli talk about this series, click here. And to see a few more of his works, click here. 

"La Isla de Las Nostalgias" (2020-2022)

The work of Elsa Maria Melendez was on view both at Rollins Museum and at the Orlando Museum of Art. At Rollins, an entire exhibit of her textile work was on display. One of Melendez' embroidered works was included in the Outwin Portraiture exhibit sponsored by the National Portrait Gallery and received a commendation. I warmed up to her work, but it didn't immediately grab me. The thread in some of her embroidered pieces is so light that it was hard for me to make out the image, even when I was on top of the work. This wasn't the case with her "La Isla de Las Nostalgias (Island of Nostalgias)."

In "Island of Nostalgias," Melendez is recalling an earlier time when her home of Puerto Rico was thriving. As the wall card explained, this work explores "the significant exodus of Puerto Ricans from the Island due to crippling laws that limit the growth of the middle class and favor the acquisition of local properties, natural resources and businesses by foreign investors." 

Melendez feels this sense of emptiness both in her community and in her personal life. Her son recently left Puerto Rico to go to college in the States. The skirt in this self-portrait of the artist is made primarily of used socks her son left behind. The work was rounded out with socks donated by friends and relatives. 

I assumed that the eye-shaped object above the figure was a reference to Hurricane Maria, another factor in migration from the Island. But you know what they say about assuming. Instead, the open eye symbolizes "being awake, aware, observing, and taking action." To see more of Melendez' work, click here. 

"This Painting (Pollock)" by Jonathan Monk (2022)

This has been a bit heavy, so I'll leave you with a work that made me laugh. Rollins College owns the Alfond Inn in Winter Park, and the hotel is filled with works from the Museum's collection. On display were a couple of Jonathan Monk's works from his "These Paintings Should" series, including this homage (?) to Pollock. 

Monk is a conceptual artist who takes his cue from the work of acclaimed artists. His mantra is that originality is a thing of the past. As a result, most of his work involves some sort of appropriation. Hmm. 

I read about a couple of Monk's projects/works that particularly piqued my interest. The first is his "Deflated Inflated" series that depicts a series of inflated rabbits -- a la Jeff Koons -- in different stages of deflation. The press release for the exhibit noted that "As Koons raised everyday mundane objects to iconic status, Monk literally deflates this monumentality using a characteristic whimsical twist..." Click here to see Koons' "Rabbit." (As a bit of an aside, one of the three versions of "Rabbit" sold at auction in 2019 for $91,100,000. That's a lot of zeros. The work originally sold in 1986 for $40,000.) And click here to see Monk's "Deflated Inflated."

Then there is Monk's series of restaurant receipts collected during his 18-month stay in Italy. He drew images of works by other artists on the receipts and then sold them for the cost of the meal. In that way, the collectors bought him and his family and friends dinner. I kind of love that (and wish that I'd had the opportunity to pay for one of those meals.) 

In his "These Paintings Should" series, Monk is a bit less on the nose in his appropriation. But by referencing a particular artist in each work, Monk is engaging in a dialogue with that artist and inviting viewers to do the same. Monk's use of the word "ideally" for the placement of his work conveys a sense of ironic hope that his painting should be considered in the same breath as that of the iconic artists he names. Maybe not, but I still enjoyed discovering Monk's work. For a great interview with him, click here. And for more of his "These Paintings Should" series, click here. 

Next time you're in the Orlando area, make sure to include a stop at the Rollins Museum of Art. I know I will. For more about the Museum, click here.