10/04/11

Story by Anne Christiansen-Bullers, 913-469-8500, ext. 4184

Parisian Sculptor Discusses Art

Parisian sculptor discusses art, activism in role as JCCC artist in residence

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Jean-Paul Reti, a sculptor from Paris currently working as artist in residence at Johnson County Community College, will discuss his art at two separate presentations.

The public is invited to attend, and admission is free.

The first talk, given in English, will be from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 25, in Hudson Auditorium at the Nerman Museum of Art. Reti will share with the audience his own life in art, the pieces he has created and the struggle he undertook to save Les Frigos, the building once threatened by closure by the former mayor of Paris. Les Frigos, a former warehouse, holds Reti’s studio and the workspace of another 120 artists, writers, designers and other entrepreneurs.

The second talk, conducted in French, will focus on his life and work as well. It will be from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8, in Hudson Auditorium.
Retiis spending three months at JCCC as part of the scholar-in-residence program, working with both art students and French-language students.
He creates pieces where everyday objects are given new meaning. A tree with its root system spreads into and under a large wall panel. A city sidewalk is cut away to reveal the machination of pipes and cables.

Reti’s father was a doctor, and his home was filled with books on anatomy. The young Reti was enthralled with the unseen world of the human body. Initially, he thought he would become a doctor as well, but art became his career path.
“I did not leave surgery completely. I like to think that in my work I take a scalpel and cut into the earth,” Reti said.
Reti’s residence was arranged by Janette Funaro, professor, French, with help from Allison Smith, department chair, Art History, and Larry Thomas, department chair, Fine Arts. Reti gave tours of Les Frigos to JCCC faculty and students in 2009 and in 2010 during the “Art in Paris” travel programs organized by Funaro and Smith and sponsored by the college.

“Jean-Paul was so generous with his time and so genuinely interested in teaching us about the building and about the artists,” said Funaro, “and his own work was so fascinating, that asking him to come to our campus seemed like a natural progression to me.”

Anyone who has questions about the presentations may contact Funaro at (913) 469-8500 ext. 3457.

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