Antonakos exhibition imbues space with neon, spirituality and life
Stephen Antonakos, "Axcent," Versacel and neon
Published: August 29, 2008
SAVANNAH, Ga. - Stephen Antonakos' neon architectural interventions mesmerize viewers from all walks of life. His latest exhibition, "Darkness and Light," is on display at Pei Ling Chan Gallery, 322 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Savannah, Ga., Aug. 21 - Oct. 31. A reception is scheduled Oct. 10, 5-7 p.m., during Savannah College of Art and Design's gallery hop. Both the exhibition and the reception are free and open to the public. Antonakos discovered neon in 1960 and quickly made it his primary medium, finding within its potent color and sensuous intensity subtle formal, spatial and affective qualities that he continues to explore. "'Darkness and Light' highlights neon and drawing, two significant threads of Antonakos' oeuvre. A beautiful selection of six neon Panels and a nine-unit drawing, never before exhibited, are shown together, producing dialogue on formal and conceptual themes of space, time, abstraction and light," said Erin Dziedzic, SCAD exhibitions curator. "It is an honor to host Antonakos' exhibition to kick off SCAD's 2008-09 academic year." Antonakos' restrained abstract, geometric configurations, always purposefully placed in architectural space, have imbued neon with a broad range of perceptual, intellectual and kinetic powers. Through this language of minimalism and neon, he releases the poetry of space. Meditation rooms and chapels are among the many spaces Antonakos has transformed with his art. His work is distinctly spiritual, allowing each viewer to travel through the experience and reach his or her own conclusions. Whether realized in neon or presented in drawings and models, Antonakos' architectural interventions engage viewers visually, spatially and mentally in the here and now. Gallery hours are Tuesday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. This exhibition was guest curated by Marshall N. Price of the National Academy Museum in New York. For more information, visit www.scadexhibitions.com, or call 912.525.4727. Media may call 912.525.4745. SCAD: The University for Creative Careers With more degree programs and specializations than any other art and design university in the United States, the Savannah College of Art and Design is uniquely qualified to prepare talented students for professional, creative careers. The university offers 42 undergraduate and graduate programs and 52 minors in Savannah and Atlanta, Ga., in Lacoste, France, and online through SCAD-eLearning. SCAD is a private, nonprofit, accredited institution that offers Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Master of Architecture, Master of Arts, Master of Arts in Teaching, Master of Fine Arts and Master of Urban Design degrees.
