The Noble Amateur: Lewis Colburn @ NAPOLEON by Krista Schaefer

Image courtesy of Napoleon

Located in the same building as Vox Populi on the second floor is Tiger Strikes Asteroid. In this exhibit that opened October fourth there are many great artist, but the solo exhibition of the newest Napoleon member Lewis Colburn’s work; Titled The Noble Amateur, grabbed my immediate attention. He presents to us three installations, all of which recite an American monologue, and create the argument for authenticity.

It was a relief upon entering to see no pedestals in sight, his work owned the space, and has a narrative quality telling its own story. There was no feeling of immediacy to know these stories, but instead a time to observe the process making you could see the artist had preformed developing these pieces.

As someone who is involved in the theater world I quickly noticed Colburn’s space to have the same hand as a set or costume designer, which again was apart of the narration quality his pieces held.  

The first installation you encounter is Centennial (American Still Life).  This installation is furnished with small-scale sculptures of dripping paint can, wooden rifles, and a red military dress coat positioned on top of stacked shipping pallets.  

 It is depicting the furnishings of what one could see backstage at a historical reenactment. There was also a safeness insured with-in it, as it was not only child sized, but the muskets also half sized, were the reproductions used in a marching band or on drill squads, not military owned but made of wood and painted white.  

The second of his pieces is untitled( Bachelor Farmer Signal Tower).  It is made using aluminum to create a small scaled silo with klaxon horns atop, and casted pastel colored pumpkins inside the tower,  adjacent hangs denim overalls.  

There is an authenticity with the overalls, even within this semi-chaotic piece itself it still relays his same modest-living American dialogue. Without question these overalls appear to be just another found item, but after speaking with Colburn I was amazed that they were completely fabricated by him.  Again this idea that Colburn created this farmers costume again removes the piece from reality as in his first piece with the fact he distressed them himself making them a ‘prop’ to his work. This still leaves the viewer with the idea of a story, an American farm life. 

Overall this was a brilliant space put on with great craftsmanship, attention to detail, and then tied it into a tight American bundle, creating the argument for authenticity. Well worth the time spent to see the space.