{"id":271,"date":"2015-07-22T15:11:26","date_gmt":"2015-07-22T20:11:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.maryville.edu\/mpress\/?p=271"},"modified":"2016-03-04T14:31:27","modified_gmt":"2016-03-04T20:31:27","slug":"the-nature-of-adam-longs-art","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.maryville.edu\/mpress\/the-nature-of-adam-longs-art\/","title":{"rendered":"The Nature of Adam Long’s Art"},"content":{"rendered":"

Reading time: 3 minutes<\/em><\/font><\/p>\n

Adam Long, \u201993, adjunct instructor of foundational drawing in the Art & Design<\/a> program, creates award-winning art that continues a series he began as an undergraduate student at Maryville.<\/p>\n

Most recently, Long won the Best of Show for 3D Art award for his sculptures at the Spring Art Fair at Queeny Park. Hosted by the Greater St. Louis Art Association, the event is known for attracting quality artists from around the country. Among the more than 60 three-dimensional artists entered in the show, Long was awarded the top prize, which includes free entry into the next exhibition held during Labor Day Weekend and a cash prize.<\/p>\n

\"Mourning<\/a>Of the 20 or so sculptures Long entered, the judges were fascinated by one piece in particular, Mourning Moss. If that sounds familiar, it\u2019s because the piece was featured in an alumni exhibit held several years ago in Maryville\u2019s Morton J. May Foundation Gallery<\/p>\n

Long\u2019s art reflects his appreciation for nature. \u201cMy work explores humankind\u2019s connection to the natural world around us through experiential paths, scientific discoveries and environmentally conscious themes,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

His Forest Figures began while he was an undergraduate student at Maryville.\u00a0\u201cI was creating a figure sculpture for a course taught by John Baltrushunas called Teaching Art in the Classroom,\u201d says Long. \u201cSince this was a course for the education portion of my BA in art education and not one of my art classes, I didn’t really have a goal in mind for the piece. It was just something to churn out.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sometimes those \u201canything goes\u201d moments open the door to extra creativity, according to Long. His inspirations come from many sources, including materials found in his own backyard, as well as recyclables.\u00a0\u201cI took a bag of pine bark I had picked up out of the backyard of my mother’s home and started gluing it on the twisted human figure on a whim,\u201d says Long. \u201cI had previously been interested in combining natural forms with human anatomy, but never to this degree.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Seeking<\/a>
‘Seeking Wonders’<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

With this artwork, Long experienced a \u201cwow moment.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe piece was magical, energetic and exciting,\u201d he says. \u201cI consider it very primitive by my standards today, but it was the sculpture that started me down the visual and conceptual path I have explored for many years.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Long was honored to receive an award during the Queeny Park art fair. \u201cThe artists exhibiting from around the country were first selected by jury just to be in the show,\u201d says Long. \u201cTo then be selected the \u2018Best in 3D\u2019 was fantastic. I was competing against very talented and creative artists.\u201d He hopes to use the prize to expand the reach of his art around the country.<\/p>\n

<\/i>Love<\/span>0<\/span><\/span><\/a> <\/i> <\/i>