Lara Sinangil
Senior A&E Writer
On April 7, 2015, Walter Zurko, professor of art at The College of Wooster launched his exhibition, “looking up to look down,” at the College of Wooster Art Museum (CWAM).
During his recent research leave, Zurko carved a variety of works inspired by the Chinese scholars’ rocks which are prevalent in the “scholar’s studio” in China during the Song Dynasty (A.D. 960-1279). At the time, scholars’ rocks were used by academics to enhance their train of thought and to notice the beauty of the natural world. Combining the elements of the scholars’ rocks and nature, Zurko used wooden products in order to recreate objects influenced by mountains, promitories and other awe-inspiring forms of nature. Although scholars’ rocks were traditionally made with limestone or fragments of roots, Zurko chose to use man-made, inexpensive products for his exhibition, including plywood, cardboard and oriented strand boards. Deviating from his usual hand carving techniques, Zurko also made the decision to carve with power tools in order to gain the correct aesthetic.
Free and open to the public, the exhibition will continue through May 10 in CWAM’s Burton D. Morgan Gallery, located in Ebert Art Center. Museum hours are Tuesday through Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 1-5 p.m.