The lay of the landscape

The Orange County Museum of Art’s current exhibit features more than 50 landscapes created in a variety of mediums, including beads, silicone and paint on canvas.

Unlike traditional landscapes that depict rivers and trees, these artists interpret landscape to include unnatural or man-made additions to the environment.

One of the artists, David Korty, exhibits three paintings that on first glance resemble Impressionist works. The colors are light, airy pastels, but closer inspection reveals that the paintings treat darker matters. One piece, for example, shows garbage strewn on a hillside.

Each piece in the exhibit is unusual, a surprise.

“Part of what is interesting is the exhibit combines ‘high’ and ‘low’ art, married together,” said Liz Armstrong, museum curator.

Some pieces use materials formerly relegated to the world of arts and crafts, far removed from the so-called high art of oil painting, Armstrong said.

“The art is laid back,” museum visitor Scott Bauer said. “You can look at it, enjoy it and walk on to the next piece.”

“It’s different,” said another visitor, Andrew Trumbore, 13.

“I think it’s more interesting ? these artists are better at conveying emotion than more traditional art,” he said.

The exhibit, organized by the Wexner Center for the Arts at the Ohio State University, features emerging and mid-career artists. It runs through May 7.

IF YOU GO