Robert Ritter wants people to go to his art show and walk away with one thing: awareness.
"Picture Perfect Poetry or Quixote's Phantasms de Amor" is Ritter's art exhibition based on the ideals of the late Miguel de Cervantes, a 16th century writer.
Ritter's art show will be open to the public at Books Inc., 505 NW 13th St., on Thursday from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
After a trip to San Jose, Costa Rica, in 2010, he took a picture standing next to an antique red door with vignettes implanted in the wall, depicting the tales of Cervantes' "Don Quixote."
Ritter, 49, said he was on his way to the airport when he noticed the red door, pulled over and took a quick picture.
Upon looking at the picture, he was filled with Cervantes' philosophies about life and gave birth to new ideals, he said.
Ritter said the house has been in the family for 80 years.
"It was an anomaly or example of Old World continuity," he said. "It's not considered a famous landmark, but it should be."
In the three months that followed, he wrote a book, produced a video and hung a complete collection. His show was displayed in February for one night.
This year, the show will be displayed for a month. However, the video installation that serves as an introduction will only be played for the opening night.
He said he modeled the show after a mock tribunal.
"Once you step foot in here, your beliefs are put to the test," he said.
Ritter said upon entering, guests are presented with key pieces of evidence that challenge personal values.
During the course of the art show, there are four main exhibits, he said. Each exhibit is centered on a photo taken during Ritter's travels and has complementary text to explain the ideals he wants to portray.
One exhibit is called "Quixotic Flights of the Imagination" and features a picture of a volcano in Costa Rica. He said it symbolizes the continual cycle of creation and destruction.
"It's a largely text-driven show," he said. "So the more effort a viewer puts in, the more they'll get out of it."
There are also poems from his book hanging as subtext. Ritter said each exhibit and hanging incorporate "found art," or art created from things you could find around the house. He said late artist Marcel Duchamp inspired it.
Nuts, bolts, locks, bamboo sticks and pool cues are all part of Ritter's collection.
To top off the exhibit, he has created a framed book, what he calls "an anomaly." He said he thinks no other artist has produced it before. The book of poems can hang as a normal picture or be "unlocked" and read normally.
"It's not about politics, religion or death," Ritter said about his collection. "It's more about questioning beliefs and how well we live up to those beliefs."
