Downtown Tucsonan - December 2007 - (Page 22)

arts lictenhaun adix doogan Th e Ey e O f Th e B e h o l d e r : Da n L e ac h by Dolly Spalding e’s the top of the list—if you would pick anyone to come to your show, it would be dan Leach.” nancy tokar Miller, a tucson painter, shares this sentiment with other local artists who have been fortunate enough to encounter dan Leach, a private art collector who has lived in tucson since the mid-70s, and who shares 180 works of art from his collection of 1,400 through January 6 in the tucson Museum of art’s exhibit “an Eclectic Eye.” Leach started collecting seriously three decades ago. “I guess it forms my identity,” he says about his passion for acquiring the varieties of artworks that comprise his collection. “My parents were inveterate accumulators.” clearly, Leach has followed their lead. as a young man, he pursued a career as an opera singer and actor, attending Mannes college of Music in Manhattan and playing off-off Broadway and in avant-garde productions of the anti-Vietnamwar genre. He was introduced to art in new York, through a friendship with artist Joseph diGiorgio. and, as a result of his world travels, he knows “everyone” in the arts: musicians, writers, artists, performers of all nationalities and types. Involved with the tucson Museum of art for 20 years, Leach recently announced that he intends to donate his entire collection to the museum. the yearlong process of preparing for this show—inventorying and cataloguing his beloved art works, not to mention acquiring permissions from the artists for inclusion in the catalog was, Leach says good-naturedly, “a learning experience.” curator Julie sasse conducted the inventory for the show and, though she and dan collaborated closely, she made the final decisions about inclusion. Her criteria were, specifically, the significance of the work in Leach’s life, as well as more traditional notions of beauty, craftsmanship, general art history and even space considerations. “she allowed me a great deal of input,” Leach says, adding, “I do wonder, though, if everybody is going to think this is a hodgepodge.” the design for the layout of the show, as conceived by the Museum staff, demonstrates a subtle thread of connection between genres, styles, media, size, subject matter and palettes. Following the natural flow through various levels, the viewer is first led from landscapes to abstracts that display exuberant color and texture, to ceramics, glass and small sculptures, and even wood-turned bowls. the scope of Leach’s vision is such that not a single work is less than superb. Even the smallest piece radiates artistic vision, intent, care, and craftsmanship. an impressive number of the artists showing in this exhibit are locals—yet another tribute to Leach’s commitment to his community. among the first of the works you’ll encounter are Phil Lichtenham’s acrylic “Fire in copper creek,” Bailey doogan’s oil on panel “Rain” and david adix’s “Lost Memory,” a sumptuous mixed-media collage. Linking these abstracts with the next grouping is Flagstaff resident James turrell’s “Penzance Eclipse,” a dreamy figural abstract. a group of 10 portraits offers a variety of media, with powerful examples of local talent on display. Just beyond is another group of 11 figures ranging from photorealism to semiabstract, dominated by large, dramatic, theatrical showstoppers, including masterful paintings by Vincent desiderio. Venture down a level to a room filled with abstract and surrealistic landscapes, imposing works in both bright colors and monotones. Here the hues of the seven art glass pieces reflect and complement their two-dimensional companions. the hallways too are graced with works that successfully join the larger spaces, thematically and chromatically. For instance, between the first and second levels, a series of smaller, intimate drawings, prints and paintings all share a sense of the domestic, inanimate objects quietly inhabiting their share of the exhibition space in an almost introspective manner -- subdued, graceful and exquisite. the lowest level contains some of the outstanding pieces in the show (in other words, trek down to the bottom – it’s worth it). one acrylic in particular, “a.M. soul,” by Jim Gleason, compels attention with its enigmatic sense of the impending and mysterious. the crowning touch is a room of black-and-white and color photographs, with absorbing subject matter. this exhibit is so intense and full of meaningful encounters with great art, or art that will ultimately take its rightful place next to established masterpieces, it’s like a magnet—it lures us in, and it makes us want to stay and look and look some more, until we’re saturated with artistic superiority and sublime visions, some the stuff of lovely dreams, some of nightmares, but all compelling, all unforgettable. “dan Leach has lived his life well,” says tom Philabaum, tucson’s legendary glassblower. “others collect boats and cars, but dan has invested in the careers and lives of many promising artists, helping us to establish credibility and respect. I believe Leach understands, instinctively, what is important and significant. so he collects it.” “H This exhibit shows through January 6. Hours: Tuesday - Saturday, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Sunday, 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m., closed Monday and major holidays. Admission: $8 general admission, $6 seniors (60+), $3 students (13+) FREE for members and children 12 and under, first Sunday of the month is FREE to all. 22 downtown tucsonan.december.07

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Downtown Tucsonan - December 2007

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