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Rapid River artist featured in exhibit

Sculpture “Robin” by artist Ritch Branstrom.

ESCANABA — Bay College will have an opening reception for the exhibition New Works by Ritch Branstrom from 2 to 4 p.m. Eastern time Tuesday in the Hartwig Gallery.

The exhibition will be on display through Jan. 11.

Branstrom is a found object sculptor from Rapid River, who draws both inspiration and material from the environment in which he lives.

“Working with found objects as a material is one of the most challenging yet possibly rewarding aspects of my life.” Branstrom said. “When working, I examine and choose objects for properties such as strength, shape, structure, color and texture, yet also take into consideration the original intended purpose; its design and past use, along with its personal history and story. Objects, just like people, have a history; they’ve been traveling through space and time and there is an energy to them. If only they could speak. I’m sensitive to this when I work, open to letting the material guide me instead of the other way around.

“One unintended outcome to my past 30-plus years of working with found objects has led me to become a ‘keeper of stories’ of sorts. I’ve taken on collections of people and their stories — a lot of people — and in most cases these objects are the cumulative physical embodiment of their whole lives. There’s history and energy there.

“A truly successful piece, for me, has a particular moment where it seems to take on a presence or a ‘life of its own.’ This seems absolutely reasonable and expectable with so much energy already embodied in the individual pieces to begin with.”

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