Robert McCauley's 'American Fiction' opens at MoNA

“American Fiction” opens at the Museum of Northwest Art Saturday with a 1 p.m. presentation on artist Robert McCauley’s work by Greg Robinson followed by a 2 p.m. reception. McCauley will attend.

Robinson, chief curator at the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art, says “McCauley’s work visually places him in the Northwest, although most of his life was spent teaching in Illinois. His main theme – the ethics of conquest is universal and, unfortunately, timeless. His exquisite paintings and assemblage works, his engagement with diverse viewers, and his success in conveying message in such creative ways, places him among the top Northwest artists in my mind.”

This retrospective was created in partnership between MoNA and BIMA. Robinson developed the exhibit with Katherine Moles, MoNA’s former Northwest Legacy Projects Curator. “American Fiction” comes to MoNA after a successful run at BIMA, closing February 28.

From MoNA’s website: “’American Fiction’ features work from the 1990s forward. McCauley’s main themes revolve around worlds in collision, addressing topics of cultural displacement and destruction, as well as our relationships with nature and the environment. He speaks to global issues, yet his art has a distinctive Northwest feeling with iconic and familiar subjects such as bears, mountains, and long-lost fishing holes.”

The exhibit runs through June 10. The museum is open every day. There is no admission fee.

Robinson, chief curator at BIMA, was MoNA’s executive director from 2005-10.

A book of the exhibit has been published and is for sale at the museum store.

MoNA’s annual membership meeting starts at 12 p.m. Saturday.