As the first show of 2025 continues to run at the Ashby-Hodge Gallery of American Art, the community is invited to attend an artist talk by Tom Schulte, whose works are featured in the ongoing “Musical Conservations” exhibit. Schulte will speak at 2 p.m. on March 2, in Classic Hall Room 101 on the campus of Central Methodist University.
A mid-Missouri native, Schulte will speak on the artistic process of creating his unique sculptures and relief works. His art has been on display in the Yancey Gallery at Ashby-Hodge since January, where visitors have had the opportunity to admire the colorful and multi-dimensional works he creates.
A sculptor by education and a contractor by trade, Schulte uses materials found in his work to create unique relief art with dimension and depth. His process begins with photo images, which he then carves and routs into commercial flooring material, then he burnishes copper foil into adhesive over the relief carving. The piece gets unique color then from oil painting over the copper, creating unique patterns and shine.
“There is a certain unpredictability about the process of my work that adds beauty and abstraction,” Schulte said of his art. “I like the way that I feel in my heart of hearts when, in nature, I come upon something that reminds me that I am in the presence of something beyond my ability to make or even understand entirely. If I can evoke that fleeting feeling that comes, then I feel I have succeeded.”
In addition to attending Schulte’s talk, those interested may visit the Gallery from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. every Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday until April 17, apart from a closure for spring break from March 9-16. Special tours and groups are also welcome by appointment. Contact curator Tyler Pierson at tpierson@centralmethodist.edu or 660-248-6304 to schedule a time. The Gallery is located on the first floor of Classic Hall, on the CMU Fayette campus.