"ACCESS DENIED," a solo exhibition featuring sculpture by Eric McGehearty opens Saturday with an artist's reception from 2-4 p.m. The exhibit continues through June 12.

 
The large and small scale sculptures in metal, wood and concrete explore the theme of dyslexia and its impact on the human condition. McGehearty's work is inspired by his personal struggles with dyslexia, which limits his ability to read. The exhibit features books embedded in concrete; books trapped within stainless steel cages; books speared by steel rods; books pierced by tree branches; plexi-glass pages created with warped text; copper sheets that cast shadows of unreadable text on the wall; and digital video with distorted text. All the work conveys a sense of isolation when the written word is inaccessible, according to McGehearty.

"It was two and a half years ago when I was working on pieces about the interpersonal struggles with books and reading," said McGehearty in a phone interview. "Someone asked me if I had incorporated dyslexia into the series. I hadn't but that spurred me to continue." The artist has done several solo exhibits with the series but this will be the first show in Denison. McGehearty is glad to be showing in the new art hub that is Denison.

"I'm excited that Denison has a strong arts community and that I'll be part of it," he said.

McGehearty's conceptually-driven work is created with the intention of raising awareness for learning disabilities. In addition to his sculpture, he is interested in exploring new and digital media installations in conjunction with his "object making."

"A lot of the new work further explores this idea of awareness," explained McGehearty. "It takes the concept to a new level; it isn't quite as direct. It has more wide reaching appeal without being so explicit."

According to McGehearty, he uses several types of media in his artwork and it shows in this series.

"To me, it's as important as the concept," he explained. "The material has a relationship to the idea; the idea is the media. This drives the material choice." He used concrete and stainless steel as examples.

"Concrete has that gritty quality and steel is beautiful and attractive; it draws the viewer in," said McGehearty. "Then, the viewer is confronted with the books that are not accessible. It's that 'attraction-denial' thing."

McGehearty has only been a full-time artist for about one year but art has been part of his life since middle school. He credits an early art teacher with not only introducing him to art but helping him understand art. To understand the impact, realize that he is right-handed.

"I broke my arm that year and instead of letting me sit around and do nothing, she saw it as an opportunity rather than an impediment," recalled McGehearty. "I put brushes between my toes and markers in my mouth and did art the entire time. We talked a lot about overcoming handicaps, which correlated directly with my dyslexia." He added that that short period set the stage for a lifelong endeavor into art; and life.

"It was a strong parallel. I realized that if the broken arm couldn't stop me from succeeding, then I wasn't going to let dyslexia stop me," he said with conviction. "I was inspired by that teacher and even though I still can't read, I am succeeding."

McGehearty graduated from the University of North Texas with a Master of Fine Arts degree in Sculpture last May and teaches at several metroplex college campuses.

McGehearty's work has been recognized by modern art collector Raymond Nasher and one of his pieces is scheduled to be shown in a group exhibition at the Dallas Museum of Art later this month. He was recently awarded a public art project in Fort Worth to create a large sculpture for Fire Station 8, which is set for completion next year.

But first, he will unveil the next in his 'life imitating art' series in Denison Saturday.

"It's going to be great," he said. "I'm excited about the new work."

 For more information, contact Linda Matthews, gallery co-director, at (903)463-0416 or visit www.416westgallery.com.