Bruce Goff Exhibition

The Renegades exhibit at the Fred Jones is a new temporary exhibit that debuted late last week. The initial expression it gives to the viewer is almost a shoulder shrug, not further guiding, but feels as if the cardboard walls have turned its back on you. The exhibit contains the work of the American School of Architecture. Bruce Goff being the dean at the time, exemplifies abstract forms in relation to schools of a similar time period. The exhibit offers exquisite drawings and models explaining the design process of the American School. The exhibit itself is a whole different story. It starts with a comparison of the American school to other schools around the country. Later is shaping the circulation as one circulates through the room. The circulation is formed by a fractal in the center of the exhibit. The fractal portrays the different ideas of Bruce Goff’s Bavinger house, making the user dizzy and uneasy. The models are placed in the middle, offering no reference to drawings or design principles. The models themselves are in their own existence are a work of art, while being placed poorly with no relation to the exhibit. The fractal has displayed the demolished products showing the different replacements for the structures built by the American school. The materials used in the exhibit help to understand the Goff method of design by using recycled materials to generate expressive forms. The materials and expressive forms don’t create something that takes away from the amazing work at hand, Possibly being the purpose behind the experiential qualities of the room. The exhibition is likely to have a high approval due to the fascination of Bruce Goff’s work inspiring businessmen, all the way to artists across the Norman campus. The first impression of the exhibit is often the most important and allows the viewer an opportunity to judge the room at first glance. The exhibit does a poor job of creating a strong entry sequence, often causing dissatisfaction in the user.