"Cargo: The Middle Passage," New Artwork Installation Featuring Oil Paintings by Artist Ron Anderson at The King Arts Complex in Columbus, Ohio

The King Arts Complex in Columbus, Ohio presents "Cargo: The Middle Passage". The new artwork installation features three panels by artist Ron Anderson. Opening reception Thursday, September 22, 2005 at 5 p.m.

(PRWEB) September 22, 2005 -- Three oil paintings in a triptych entitled "Cargo" by artist Ron Anderson have been included in the permanent art collection of The King Arts Complex in Columbus, Ohio.

The paintings measure 93"x48" each and are displayed in the Elijah Pierce Gallery in a new artwork installation that commemorates the Middle Passage /Trans Atlantic Slave Trade.

"Cargo: The Middle Passage" opens with a reception on Thursday, September 22, 2005 at 5:00 p.m.

Ron was inspired to paint "Cargo" after viewing an art exhibit of works by artist Tom Feelings at The King Arts Complex several years ago. Ron offered the following comments about his triptych Cargo":

A few years ago I was fortunate enough to see an exhibit of paintings by artist Tom Feelings at The King Arts Complex. The paintings were in a series depicting the Middle Passage". Each piece, painted in black and white gouache, took on a dreamlike ghostly appearance.

Humans were chained and packed like sardines in a wooden hull. These ships were living tombs for some of the Africans enslaved.

After viewing this exhibit I felt inspired to make a statement of my own. One of the things that people are drawn to in my work is the size of my paintings. Viewers of my paintings feel a part of the action or the event. They often feel as if they are a part of the drama unfolding or could step into the canvas.

I did not feel that I could make the statement about human suffering much stronger than artist Tom Feelings had in his own work. I could however create a work of art on a large scale where you could live in the moment. That became my goal as I began to create Cargo".

The four feet in height of the paintings illustrates the amount of body space in the confined space the slaves were packed into. I painted in a cool palette, so you could sense the despair of being in a dark, damp, cold lifeless tomb.

The rays of light that pass through various parts of the ship give hope when there appears to be none. I hope that you are affected by the images the way I was when I first saw the illustrations of artist Tom Feelings. Maybe then, you will want to make a statement of your own."

Ron Anderson is an oil painter and an art educator and resides in Columbus, Ohio with wife Robin Anderson and sons Christopher and Brandon.

His artwork is included in several Corporate and personal art collections including; the Springfield Museum of Art, The Ohio Statehouse, The Supreme Court of Ohio, and the Absolut Spirits Company. View Ron's paintings at http://www.ronandersonstudio.com.

Contact The King Arts Complex for more information about "Cargo: The Middle Passage" by calling (614) 645-5464 or visit http://www.thekingartscomplex.com

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