“Speed bumps are everywhere. Except in places where there are no speed bumps. They force people to slow down, slower than they were going. Some people really like speed bumps and some don’t. This gallery is about that.”
That was the fine print hanging on the wall of The Speed Bumps art exhibit last week. The gallery displayed photos and paintings by five student artists. University junior from West Linn, OR., and exhibit curator Adam Bergman said the exhibit represented “metaphorical speed bumps.”
Bergman’s painting displayed in the exhibit evolved from recent news that his father had a possibly cancerous tumor. He created the abstract painting shortly after receiving the news of his father’s illness.
“This painting emits more emotion than any other artistic endeavor that I’ve had,” said Bergman. “As long as I look at it I will always remember that day.”
Bergman’s father underwent surgery on April 2, the opening day of the exhibit and Bergman’s 21 birthday. Bergman has since received news that his father’s tumor was not cancerous and has been completely removed.
Bergman’s main goal for the exhibit was to give the artwork recognition while creating new friendships along the way. The other four artists featured in the exhibit were all friends of Bergman.
As an art major, Bergman says he’s interested in surrealist art and has a particular focus in drawing. He said art piqued his interest at a young age and that his parents always supported his projects, encouraging him to attend art classes.
Bergman credits his style to famous eccentric artists Salvador Dali and M.C. Escher, claiming their work has greatly affected his own.
“Dali and Escher would be my biggest influential artists,” said Bergman. “I only recently started painting this year.”
University student Julia Damon attended The Speed Bumps exhibit.
“It’s a nice show. I like the splatter paintings because they show that something’s been moving very fast and came to a sudden stop, as one would at a speed bump,” said Damon. “The physical nature of the paint is used well to express that theme.”
Damon visited the exhibit multiple times and complimented Bergman on his work.
“The photographs first caught my eye but I was really captivated by the paintings,” Damon said.
Bergman said he’s sold a few of his drawings and prints to friends and hopes to sell more of his art. He also wants to hold more exhibits in the future.