Come see “What Keeps Me Up at Night” at the Eccles Gallery

Local artist David LeCheminant creates meticulously constructed abstract sculptures from wood that crackle and dance with frenetic energy.

Spending his day covered in sawdust, trying to figure out how to make geometrical pieces of wood fit together, literally and conceptually, is often what keeps local artist David LeCheminant up at night, more times than he wants to admit. “At the end of the day, as I lie on my couch thinking about my day, I wonder if my work succeeds at expressing my ideas.”

In a new art gallery exhibition at South City campus, “What Keeps Me Up at Night,” are twenty-five wooden sculptures created by David, from 2017 to the present, showcasing a varied body of work including wall pieces and free-standing sculptures. Deep reds, purples and natural finishes of wood are put together in intricate and unique patterns.

“From afar, the forms are elegant and modern, finished beautifully in vibrant colors. But look closer at the intricate, multifaceted surfaces and something else emerges,” wrote James Walton, Gallery and Art Collection specialist, about David’s body of work. “These sculptures are as much love letters to the unique materials and processes that David has spent decades mastering as they are to the family and friends to which many of the works are dedicated.”

Art exhibitions at South City often feature the works of local community artists and are hosted at The George S. & Dolores Doré Eccles Gallery and LED Exhibition Wall in the Edna Runswick Taylor Foyer throughout the year. These exhibition spaces are free and open to the public and serve as a way to connect students with the larger community and create a platform for artistic dialogue and cultural exchange.

“I believe art can accomplish many things: making statements, expressing ideas (deep or shallow), being beautiful (or curious, odd or interesting), challenging notions, exploring technique and testing materials just to name a few,” writes David in his artist statement. “One of my favorite statements is ‘reality is many different things happening at the same time’ - and I think that is so true of art.”

“What Keep Me Up At Night” is on display in the George S. & Dolores Dore Eccles Art Gallery at South City Campus now through July 13. Also, a new exhibit will grace the walls at South City: “Slip Away” by artist Samantha Snyder will be available to view on the LED Exhibition Wall in the Edna Runswick Taylor Foyer beginning this Thursday, June 29.

The rotating art exhibitions, the annual President’s Art Show in November and a permanent art collection are all facilitated by the College’s Art Committee. For SLCC’s 75th Anniversary celebration there will be an alumni exhibition, to which all SLCC Alumni are invited to submit art for consideration. A call for entries is now open until July 15. Exhibit dates are Aug. 17 – Sept. 29, 2023. See Submission Guidelines for the details.

For more information on the gallery shows, please visit slcc.edu/gallery.