January 20, 2010 - "Providence Nature," an exhibition at California State University, Bakersfield's Todd Madigan Gallery, will feature large-scale sculptures by Drew Dominick depicting the life of the cowboy and man's never-ending struggle to exist in nature. The show will run Saturday, Feb. 6 through Saturday, March 6.

Dominick's sculptures, "Avalanche" and "Dust Storm," will be accompanied by his working drawings, videos and photographs. The artist will discuss his works at a special lecture on opening night, beginning at 5 p.m. in the Albertson Room, adjacent to the gallery.

"A fan of the Old West, Drew has devoured the works of James Earl Fraser and Frederic Remington and re-birthed them into the 21st century," said Joey Kötting, gallery director. "'Dust Storm' is a sculpture consisting of a plexi box containing a toy wagon, horses and cowboys, and a load of ash and fine dirt. Two large rotary sanders sporadically turn on resulting in the dust blowing around the box. The toy wagon completely disappears and all hell lets loose! You'll have to come to witness the 'Avalanche!'  I don't think Bakersfield has seen an exhibit like this before. It is quite intriguing."

To complement Dominick's work, photographs from Dorothea Lange's "Dust Bowl" series will also be displayed. The photographs are on loan thanks to support from the Jesse M. Heivly Memorial Scholarship.

Dominick, born in Portland, Ore. in 1965, currently resides in Los Angeles. His love of the west began while working as a "chore boy" at his family's dude ranch near Cody, Wyo. For the past 10 years, Dominick has taught sculpture and new genre at University of California Los Angeles, CSUB and CSU Long Beach. His artwork has exhibited nationally and internationally, most recently at Sandroni Rey in Los Angeles. 

Lange (1895-1965) was an influential American photographer best known for her Depression-era work, especially her portraits of migratory farm workers and their families who had fled a severe drought that devastated life in the Midwestern states, such as Oklahoma.

The opening reception and lecture is free. Parking fees in lots B and C will be suspended during the special event.

During the exhibition, the Todd Madigan Gallery will be open Tuesdays through Thursdays 1 to 6 p.m., and Saturdays 1 to 5 p.m. Admission is free and a daily parking permit is $2.