Christopher Amend Art Exhibition Opens in Casper

Gillette artist Christopher Amend will present his "Gorillas and Portals" series at Scarlow's Gallery in Casper, Wyoming, starting October 1. The exhibition features paintings and drawings that explore multiple realities and perspectives, a central theme in Amend's work.

Gillette Artist Explores Multiple Realities

Christopher Amend, a Gillette-based artist, is known for his unique approach to visual art. His upcoming exhibition, "Gorillas and Portals," showcases his long-standing interest in how different realities can exist within a single image. The series features realistic Silverback gorillas looking into windows that reveal diverse seasons and environments, far removed from their natural tropical habitats.

Amend's work extends beyond this specific series. His abstract pieces also imply multiple perspectives. Figures in his drawings often divide the canvas into sections, creating spaces where competing realities unfold. This artistic method allows viewers to engage with various interpretations within one artwork.

"I've always been interested in portals, and windows and sometimes doorways into realities other than our own," Amend stated. "But in fact, every painting is a portal. Every good book is a portal… looking at a drawing, or looking at a painting, or reading a book, you have to excite your own imagination to see into that."

The "Gorillas and Portals" Series

The "Gorillas and Portals" series, which began in 2011 and intensified in 2022, represents a significant part of Amend's recent work. It combines realistic elements with highly varied and vibrant colors. The graphite drawings accompanying the series, completed this summer, feature conflicted figures, alongside architectural elements like panels, alleys, arches, and windows. These elements serve to frame the competing realities within each piece.

A Career in Art Education and Practice

Amend spent approximately 30 years as an art teacher in the Campbell County School District. During his teaching career, his philosophy centered on facilitating creative thinking rather than dictating artistic methods. He believed that while technique provides a framework, the core of art education lies in fostering creative expression.

He emphasized that creative thinking and expression are difficult to teach from scratch. However, they can be nurtured and encouraged. Amend maintained that his time teaching in the public school system continuously improved his own artistic practice. His personal work reflects a history of training himself, alongside his students, to translate inner emotional realities onto the canvas with a distinctive surrealist style.

From Student to Teacher

Born in Superior, Wyoming, in 1950, Amend's interest in art began early. In first grade, his teacher noted his unique attempt to draw a live model realistically, rather than using simple shapes. This early recognition, including a ribbon and 50 cents at a fair, solidified his artistic path.

In 1978, during a period of growth in Gillette, Amend began teaching elementary school students at Stocktrail Elementary. He adapted his college-level teaching methods for younger students, using different materials and more basic approaches. Five years later, he moved to Campbell County High School, where he spent 24 years. He approached secondary art instruction as an artist's residency, working alongside his students.

"Something I decided early on was that I would not pose a problem for my students that I hadn't tried to solve myself, or that I wasn't willing to try to solve along with them," Amend recalled.

Amend's exercises aimed to develop both technical and abstract skills. Students practiced drawing perfect circles freehand to improve observation. They also created literal and symbolic self-portraits. He believed that his role was to make his presence eventually "superfluous," enabling students to develop their own artistic voices. He considered it a failure if all his students drew exactly like him.

According to Amend, a key goal was to help students understand that art could be a powerful, individual voice. His former students have gone on to various creative careers, including working as professional artists, tattoo artists, and art educators themselves.

Challenging the Definition of a "Wyoming Artist"

Since his retirement in 2007, Amend's work has continued its surrealist direction. While less abstract, it remains thought-provoking. This style has sometimes led to questions about his identity as a "Wyoming artist."

Amend recounted a conversation at an arts conference in Cody where a member of the Cody Arts Council questioned his status as a Wyoming artist. The individual suggested that "Wyoming artists" should evoke images like those by James Bama and Frederic Remington, both born in New York. Amend, born and educated in Wyoming, challenged this view, noting that famous Wyoming-born artists like Jackson Pollock did not fit the cowboy art stereotype.

Amend believes that such conversations reflect a narrow view of creativity within the state. He finds it offensive to assume that Wyoming residents lack an inner life or philosophy that extends beyond traditional frontier imagery. His work encourages viewers to consider other realities and different ways of seeing the world. This perspective is a core aspect of Amend's artistic contribution.

The upcoming exhibition in Casper offers an opportunity for visitors to engage with Amend's unique vision. His art invites contemplation of alternative realities, promoting a broader understanding of artistic expression and regional identity.