Next Exhibition opens March 5th
"Travels with Talismans" - The Art of Tom Umholtz
"Travels with Talismans" - The Art of Tom Umholtz
Working within a monochromatic palette, Tom Umholtz adeptly expresses movement, foreground and background, light and dark, and the mysteries of existence, layered within the context of simplified shapes and patterns, some iconic and readily recognizable and others more closely alluding to something we might know, but can't quite put our fingers on.
A long-time Las Vegas resident, Tom came of age as an artist in the New York art scene of the 1980's and 90's. Tom has been immersed in the study of art for the majority of his life, developing it into a visual language that compels both a deeper journey into the mystical nature of our species and our place in the cosmos, but also sends an invitation for the viewer to engage with spontaneity and play.
Core Contemporary presents an exhibition of select paper works of Las Vegas artist Tom Umholtz. Titled “Travels with Talismans” the exhibition opens to the public Saturday, March 5th, at Core Contemporary, located at 900 E. Karen Ave Ste D222, Wednesday - Saturday from 12-4 p.m. through Saturday, April 23rd.
Core Contemporary will host an opening reception and chat with the artist on Saturday, March 12th, 6-8pm, and a closing reception on Saturday, April 23rd, 6-8pm. Admission to Core Contemporary is complimentary, and select works will be available for purchase.
A long-time Las Vegas resident, Tom came of age as an artist in the New York art scene of the 1980's and 90's. Tom has been immersed in the study of art for the majority of his life, developing it into a visual language that compels both a deeper journey into the mystical nature of our species and our place in the cosmos, but also sends an invitation for the viewer to engage with spontaneity and play.
Core Contemporary presents an exhibition of select paper works of Las Vegas artist Tom Umholtz. Titled “Travels with Talismans” the exhibition opens to the public Saturday, March 5th, at Core Contemporary, located at 900 E. Karen Ave Ste D222, Wednesday - Saturday from 12-4 p.m. through Saturday, April 23rd.
Core Contemporary will host an opening reception and chat with the artist on Saturday, March 12th, 6-8pm, and a closing reception on Saturday, April 23rd, 6-8pm. Admission to Core Contemporary is complimentary, and select works will be available for purchase.
Statement by the Artist:
I make art the old-fashioned way: like a solitary maniac.
I went to art school then lived in New York City for many years. I was completely immersed in the art scene there and I was saturated with art and influences. When I moved to Las Vegas in 2000, I completely lost touch with that world and didn’t look at any more art. I became very inwardly-directed. I developed a personal visual language and a unique way of making prints and collages. Through spontaneity and play I bring up material from my unconscious, or from beyond myself.
I make things the way a child does, by folding and cutting paper, making prints of leaves, collages. I use Elmer’s glue to put them together. There is nothing grandiose or specialized about the process.
I use simple visual elements: background/foreground, light/dark, inside/outside, to create visual games for the viewer’s eye. I want to engage and delight the eye, so the viewer will look longer and there will be an opportunity for subtler emotional communication to come across. Often you don’t immediately know what you’re looking at, and then as you continue to look, new things emerge.
My father was a minister, and I have a religious feeling about art. For me art is a space of complete honesty and complete freedom, where I have nothing to fear, nothing to hide and nothing to prove.
I deal with my deepest and most profound feelings and thoughts by treating them with the utmost lightness and playfulness. I value spontaneity above all else as the indispensable element in my process. I work quickly, to stay ahead of my thoughts.
The energy to work comes from what I see happening in the world. I process my feelings about the world – anger and horror primarily – and transform them into images that are iconic and timeless.
There is a need in the modern world for visionary experiences – things that connect to deeper parts of ourselves, or things beyond ourselves. Art has magical properties and can have very powerful effects on people. I have my own concept of what magic means and how to get there, by disconnecting from mental stories and beliefs and connecting to natural elements and forces. I have some ritualistic practices that I keep secret. I’m a suburban dad and a shaman.
- Tom Umholtz (2022)
I make art the old-fashioned way: like a solitary maniac.
I went to art school then lived in New York City for many years. I was completely immersed in the art scene there and I was saturated with art and influences. When I moved to Las Vegas in 2000, I completely lost touch with that world and didn’t look at any more art. I became very inwardly-directed. I developed a personal visual language and a unique way of making prints and collages. Through spontaneity and play I bring up material from my unconscious, or from beyond myself.
I make things the way a child does, by folding and cutting paper, making prints of leaves, collages. I use Elmer’s glue to put them together. There is nothing grandiose or specialized about the process.
I use simple visual elements: background/foreground, light/dark, inside/outside, to create visual games for the viewer’s eye. I want to engage and delight the eye, so the viewer will look longer and there will be an opportunity for subtler emotional communication to come across. Often you don’t immediately know what you’re looking at, and then as you continue to look, new things emerge.
My father was a minister, and I have a religious feeling about art. For me art is a space of complete honesty and complete freedom, where I have nothing to fear, nothing to hide and nothing to prove.
I deal with my deepest and most profound feelings and thoughts by treating them with the utmost lightness and playfulness. I value spontaneity above all else as the indispensable element in my process. I work quickly, to stay ahead of my thoughts.
The energy to work comes from what I see happening in the world. I process my feelings about the world – anger and horror primarily – and transform them into images that are iconic and timeless.
There is a need in the modern world for visionary experiences – things that connect to deeper parts of ourselves, or things beyond ourselves. Art has magical properties and can have very powerful effects on people. I have my own concept of what magic means and how to get there, by disconnecting from mental stories and beliefs and connecting to natural elements and forces. I have some ritualistic practices that I keep secret. I’m a suburban dad and a shaman.
- Tom Umholtz (2022)
AND SO YOU ALWAYS KNOW WHERE WE STAND ...
Core Contemporary is open to all people and affirms its commitment and dedication to diversity, inclusion, equity, and cultural awareness. We welcome everyone, including people of color, immigrants, adherents of all belief systems or religions and those that do not profess or practice a religion, people of all genders and sexual orientations, and all other members of marginalized communities or oppressed groups. We encourage discovery and learning in our space, where all people are respected and protected. Within our space, we seek to protect everyone from all forms of hostility and oppression, including sexism, misogyny, ableism, ageism, racism, classism, xenophobia, homophobia, transphobia, and religious persecution.
As an art gallery, we defend intellectual freedom, oppose censorship, and uphold our commitment to the free and open exchange of ideas and viewpoints that is the very foundation of democracy and a part of our gallery mission. We honor the voices and lived experiences of all members of our community. We see it as fundamental to the gallery's mission to foster a sense of belonging and to provide welcoming and inclusive surroundings where all people are treated with respect and dignity.
- Core Contemporary denounces systemic racism and is commited to being leaders in confronting racism.
- We condemn violence and structural racism evident in our society.
- We affirm our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion as stated below.
- We stand with our community in opposing xenophobia and racism.
- We know we must do better, both as individuals and as an organization, to support our artists, staff, volunteers, and visitors who identify as BIPOC, to ensure justice and a safe community for all, and to stamp out a system of white supremacy from which many continue to unfairly benefit.
Core Contemporary is open to all people and affirms its commitment and dedication to diversity, inclusion, equity, and cultural awareness. We welcome everyone, including people of color, immigrants, adherents of all belief systems or religions and those that do not profess or practice a religion, people of all genders and sexual orientations, and all other members of marginalized communities or oppressed groups. We encourage discovery and learning in our space, where all people are respected and protected. Within our space, we seek to protect everyone from all forms of hostility and oppression, including sexism, misogyny, ableism, ageism, racism, classism, xenophobia, homophobia, transphobia, and religious persecution.
As an art gallery, we defend intellectual freedom, oppose censorship, and uphold our commitment to the free and open exchange of ideas and viewpoints that is the very foundation of democracy and a part of our gallery mission. We honor the voices and lived experiences of all members of our community. We see it as fundamental to the gallery's mission to foster a sense of belonging and to provide welcoming and inclusive surroundings where all people are treated with respect and dignity.
CORE CONTEMPORARY is a unique venue for aficionados looking for a diverse and sophisticated art experience.
Located near the Las Vegas Strip and Convention Center, this 3,000sf gallery provides an engaging setting in which to
experience remarkable art, meet working artists, enjoy immersive educational forums, and host private events.
CORE CONTEMPORARY also supports an artist-run nonprofit (Core Arts Concord Inc. - CACI) providing opportunities
for working fine artists living in Las Vegas and arts and culture experiences for the local community.
Located near the Las Vegas Strip and Convention Center, this 3,000sf gallery provides an engaging setting in which to
experience remarkable art, meet working artists, enjoy immersive educational forums, and host private events.
CORE CONTEMPORARY also supports an artist-run nonprofit (Core Arts Concord Inc. - CACI) providing opportunities
for working fine artists living in Las Vegas and arts and culture experiences for the local community.
While we continue to endeavor to provide for free or low cost arts & culture experiences,
we are completely self-funded. If you, too, feel a healthy community depends upon keeping
these types of experiences and opportunities readily available, we welcome your support.
