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1910 – 1983
No 796 The Filament of Ages April 12 – 1959 Oil on Masonite panel 24 x 24 inches OUR NIGHT OF LIFE
Paintings, Sculpture, Photography, Poetry, Philosophy
Our Night of Life In dreams we float To other worlds And other shores, To salvage what we may, To build and beautify Our night of life.
Eugene Von Bruenchehein, “Freelance Artist, Poet and Sculptor, Inovator [sic], Arrow maker and Plant man, Bone artifacts constructor, Photographer and Architect, Philosopher”, never really found contentment in the real world, except in his love for his wife Marie. His was the world of dreams, ideas, of escaping, traveling to far off undiscovered worlds beyond Earth. I journeyed to the edge of Universe Where stars collide and end in dust The junk yard of the Universe Where inky darkness lasts from millenium to millenium Far – Far – into the unwanted portion of time. . . Born in the year that Halley’s comet passed by our planet, Von Bruenchenhein spent much of his life exploring the unseen and unexplained relationships inherent in living things – human, cosmic, and everything in between. He sought and provided answers to the largest of questions. “Why is there no wall beyond the fringe of Universe? Because something always lies beyond a wall, And because no Universe can be contained.” Our Night of Life celebrates this extraordinary vision, through which nature is infinitely fluid, continually revealing new aspects of itself. It is now twenty-four years since Eugene Von Bruenchenhein’s works came into public light, and since that time our examination of his work still has not had the time to fully comprehend the many facets of his artistic vision, within the many mediums in which he worked. The works themselves are journeys into their meanings, but the artist’s writings – less well know than the paintings, sculptures, and photos – add yet another dimension to his world. Von Bruenchenhein formulated elaborate “Bruenchenesian” theories, postulating on the complexity of nature and our ability to know it. In one selection he suggests that only one of nature’s planes is visible through a scientific lens:
We consider ourselves so smart and yet after the great length of time man has lived on Earth he has just scratched the surface of knowledge. . . As far as science goes we have only looked in the mirror, not [at] what is concealed behind. . .
Von Bruenchenhein spent hours looking at drops of water through a microscope, and was equally concerned with a macrocosmic order, evident in musings and paintings about the worlds beyond ours. He made exceptionally convincing paintings of “Lines of Force Contained” and “Lines of Force Released”, pictorializing what science could only express in numeric formulae. Now, one only needs to pick up a New York Times daily newspaper in which a recent photograph by the Hubbell Telescope is featured revealing some amazing new cosmic cataclysm or phenomena to convince us that, indeed, Eugene Von Bruenchenhein had already traveled there. In that vein of awe and respect, the Carl Hammer Gallery re-visits the art work by this amazing personality in hopes that we may thus honor him and his unique vision. Confronted once again with his limitless ability to interpret organic potentiality – in paintings and photographs, and sculptures of clay, bone, and concrete, Von Bruenchenhein’s works remind us that the mirror has another dimension. And thanks to his remarkably expansive mind, we too can marvel as we travel with him in journeys to the edge of the universe. |
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The Filiment [sic] of Ages April 12, 1959, No. 796 Signed Oil on masonite panel 24 x 24 inches GS 309 CH
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Jan 1, No. 535 Signed by artist Oil on masonite panel 24 x 24 inches GS 218
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March 12, 1955, No. 184 Oil on masonite panel 17 x 15 inches GS 90
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To Everlasting Love, Hope, Faith Wand of the Genii Aug 17, 1955, No. 308 Signed Oil on masonite panel 17 x 15 inches GS 136
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Oct 20, 1955 Signed Oil on masonite panel 24 x 28 GS 148
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Space Age Oct 10, 1959, No. 844 Oil on masonite panel 24 x 24 inches EVB/ET BB-P-129
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Sec Transit Gloria Mundi June 14- 1955, No. 264 Signed Oil on panel 17 x 15 inches GS 117
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Kings Row June 26, 1955, No. 271 Signed Oil on panel 15 x 17 inches GS 121
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March 7- 1960, No. 862 Signed Oil on masonite panel 24 x 21 inches GS 333B
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Sept 30, 1959, No. 842 Signed Oil on masonite panel 24 x 24 inches GS 325
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May 9, No. 871 Signed Oil on masonite panel 24 x 24 inches GS 339
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Predomilee July 5, 1955 Signed Oil on panel 17 x 15 inches GS 122
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Predomilee July 5, 1955 Signed Oil on panel 17 x 15 inches GS 122
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Chinese Influence. Date N/A. Oil on corrugated cardboard. 14 x 17 GS 20 |
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Atomic Age 1945/ 1955. February 22, 1955. Oil on panel. 17 x 14 GS 86
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Study in Lines of Force. Sept. 11, 1955. Oil on panel. 17 x 14 GS 140 |
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Untitled. Sept. 22, 1955. Oil on panel. 1 4 x 17 GS 141 |
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Untitled. Sept. 28, 1955. Oil on panel. 17 x 14 GS 144 |
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Untitled. Oct. 12, 1955. Oil on panel. 14 x 17 GS 147 |
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Untitled. Mar. 3, 1957. Oil on Masonite panel. 24 x 24 GS 230B |
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Untitled. May 19, 1960. Oil on Masonite panel. 24 x 20 GS 342A |
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Study of Forms. Dec 27, 1960. Oil on Masonite panel. 24 x 20 GS 351
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Untitled Triptych of Marie Positive and Negative silver gelatin prints (3) 3.5 x 3 inches each GSVB 7637
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Untitled Portrait of Marie B/W silver gelatin print 9 x 7 inches GSPH 1255
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Untitled Montage Photo of Marie B/W silver gelatin print 3.5 x 2.5 inches GSPH 2856
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Untitled Montage Photo of Marie B/W silver gelatin print 3.5 x 2.5 inches GSPH 5725
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Untitled Montage Photo of Marie B/W silver gelatin print 3.5 x 2.5 inches GSPH 5725
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Ceramic Crown Painted green and red VBCR F 28
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Ceramic Crown Painted gold VBCR F 44
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Ceramic Crown Painted green and red VBCR 29
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Leaf vase form w heart motifs Ceramic and paint VBC MS 207
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Assortment of bone and ceramic pieces
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Pair of Chicken bone throne chairs Chicken bones, paint and glue VBBF 101 and 87
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Installation of ceramic sculpture and chicken bone thrones
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Concrete Mask Construction Concrete and paint 37 x 20 x 6 inches
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Concrete Mask Construction Concrete and paint 30 x 20 x 6 inches
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Series of limited ed. Iris prints made from original Kodacolor slide 10 x 7 inches each (6)
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EUGENE
VON BRUENCHENHEIN
(1910-1983)
Born in Marinette,
Wisconsin
Worked
in Milwaukee
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2007 Carl Hammer Gallery
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2001 |
Living in the Backyard of Space, Carl Hammer
Gallery, Chicago, IL |
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1998-99 |
Self-Taught Artists of
the 20th Century, sponsored by Museum of |
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American Folk Art, NY. Traveled to: Philadelphia
Museum of Art: March 10-May 17, 1998; High Museum of Art: July
14-September 20, 1998; Amon Carter Museum and The Modern Art Museum of
Fort Worth: October 31, 1998-January 24, 1999; Memorial Art Gallery of the
University of Rochester: February 20-April 18, 1999; Wexner Center for the
Arts, The Ohio State University: May 15-August 15, 1999; Museum of
American Folk Art: September 19- December 11, 1999 |
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1996 |
Looking Beyond the Mirror, Carl Hammer
Gallery, Chicago, IL |
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Eugene Von Bruenchenhein: Paintings, Ricco/Maresca
Gallery, New York, NY |
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Lyons Biennale, Lyons, France |
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1995 |
A
World of Their Own, Newark Museum, Newark, NJ |
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Obsession: Photographs by Eugene VonBruenchenhein,
Michael Lord Gallery, Milwaukee, WI |
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1994 |
Experience the Fantasy, Carl Hammer Gallery,
Chicago, IL |
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Marie, Ricco/Maresca Gallery, New York, NY |
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1993 |
Eugene VonBruenchenhein, Fotografien, Galerie
Susanne Zander, Cologne, Germany |
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Eugene VonBruenchenhein,
Photographs, Edward Thorp Gallery, NY |
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1992 |
Eugene VonBruenchenhein: Utopic Dreams, Carl
Hammer Gallery, Chicago, IL |
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1991 |
Dreams, Lies and Exaggerations: Photomontage in
America, University of Maryland at College Park. Traveled to John
Michael Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, WI |
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1990 |
Eugene VonBruenchenhein, Carl Hammer Gallery,
Chicago, IL |
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Eugene VonBruenchenhein:
Paintings and Photographs, Edward Thorp Gallery, New York |
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Outsiders: Artists Outside the Mainstream,
Octagon Center for the Arts, Ames, Iowa |
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Visions: Expressions Beyond the Mainstream from
Chicago Collections, The Arts Club of Chicago, Chicago, IL |
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Chicago International Art Exposition, Chicago, IL |
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Chicago New Art Forms Exposition, Chicago, IL |
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1989 |
Departures: Photography 1924-1989, Hirschl and
Adler Modern, New York, NY |
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Paintings of Utopic Vision,
Carl Hammer Gallery, Chicago, IL |
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1998 |
Eugene VonBruenchenhein, Carl Hammer Gallery,
Chicago, IL |
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Eugene VonBruenchenhein:
Obsessive Visionary, Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee, WI |
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Chicago International Art
Exposition, Chicago, IL |
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Chicago New Art Forms
Exhibition, Chicago, IL |
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1987 |
Material Obsessions, Carl Hammer Gallery,
Chicago, IL |
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Chairs, Expressways
Children's Museum, Chicago, IL |
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Chairs as Art, The
Arts Club of Chicago, Chicago, IL |
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Chicago International Arts
Exposition, Chicago, IL |
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Chicago New Art Forms
Exposition, Chicago, IL |
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1986 |
Eugene VonBruenchenhein,
Carl Hammer Gallery, Chicago, IL (solo introduction to exclusive
representation) |
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1984 |
VonBruenchenhein: A
Retrospective, Landmark Gallery, Milwaukee, WI |
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Eugene VonBruenchenhein:
Wisconsin Visionary, John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, WI |
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1983 |
Remains to be Seen, John
Michael Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, WI |
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SELECTED COLLECTIONS
High Museum of Art, Atlanta, GA
Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee, WI
First National Bank of Chicago, Chicago, IL
John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan WI
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Brillson, Chicago, IL
Mr. and Mrs. Russel Bowman, Milwaukee, WI
Dan Cameron, NY
Jay Chiat, NY
Diego Cortez, NY
Carroll Dunham and Laurie Simmons, NY
Eric Fischl, NY
Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Goldberg, NY
Robert Greenberg, NY
Marc Happel, NY
Jefferson Holt, Athens, GA
Dean Jensen, Milwaukee, WI
Timothy Keny, Columbus, OH
Andrew Masullo, Jr., NY
Frank Maresca, NY
Natasha Nicholson, Madison, WI
Myron B. Shure, Chicago, IL
Michael Stipe, Athens, GA
Phillip, Taafe, NY
Edward Thorpe, NY
John Yau, NY
Claire
Zeisler, Chicago, IL
EUGENE VON BRUENCHENHEIN CERAMIC COLLECTIONS
Sheldon and Jill Bonovitz
Russel Bowman, Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee, WI
Mitchell Darch, Chicago, IL.
First National Bank, Chicago, IL.
Eric Fischl
Robert Greenberg, New York, NY
Lewis Greenblatt, Chicago, IL
Carl Hammer, Chicago, IL
Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, WI
Myron Shure, Highland Park, IL
Michael Stipe, Athens, GA
“Eugene Von Bruenchenhein
Freelance Artist
Poet and Sculptor
Inovator (sic)
Arrow maker and Plant man
Bone artifacts constructor
Photographer and Architect
Philosopher”
*from
an incised plaque by the artist
Chronology
Born 1910, Marinette, Wisconsin
Died 1983, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
1930’s Begins to write poetry and prose. (Continues writing throughout
lifetime.)
Pursues interest in horticulture. Makes small number of still life and
Portrait paintings.
1939 Meets Marie K. Kalke. The two are married in 1943.
1940’s Produces photographs. Begins to create ceramic objects, continuing through the 1970’s.
1944 Finds employment in large bakery.
1954 Begins “H-Bomb” painting series. Paintings develop into visionary series (chronologically dated and numbered), continuing into the 1960’s.
1959 Retires from employment at bakery. Meets Dan Nycz, friend and ardent supporter.
1960 Concrete Mask-Monuments
Ceramic Crowns
Bone Chairs
Late 1960’s: stops painting
1970 Bone Towers
Late 1970’s: Resumes painting with “Rejection” or “Repulse Phase.”
Begins “Complex” painting series of visionary architecture.