RICHMOND, VA- Works by ten sculptors—both veterans and relative newcomers to the international art scene—will be featured in the Anderson Gallery’s winter exhibition, you, your sun and shadow. The exhibition is curated by Michael Jones McKean, a professor in the Department of Sculpture + Extended Media, and organized by the Anderson Gallery at the VCU School of the Arts. “This project offers a singular opportunity to explore a significant aspect of contemporary sculpture from the personal perspective of an artist who is himself highly regarded as an innovator in the field,” says Director Ashley Kistler. The public is invited to attend an opening reception on Friday, January 20, from 6 until 8 p.m. Also free and open to the public, McKean will give a gallery talk on Wednesday, January 25, beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Participating artists include Hany Armanious (Sydney, Australia), Rashid Johnson (New York, NY), Pam Lins (Brooklyn, NY), Tony Matelli (New York, NY), Ian Pedigo (New York, NY), Dario Robleto (San Antonio, TX), Haim Steinbach (Brooklyn, NY and San Diego, CA), Sarah Sze (New York, NY), Tatiana Trouvé (Paris, France), and Daniel Turner (New York, NY). Their sculptures and installations underscore the poetic potential of objects, materials, and modes of arrangement, while conjuring the possibility of larger narrative and metaphorical structures. As McKean conceived it, “The exhibition is a sustained attempt to create a space where straightforward logic doesn’t always win, where simple moments can seem pronounced and exquisite, and where the discovery of meaning depends upon our speculative engagement.”
The investigation of materiality—often paired with a hypersensitive regard for everyday objects—is a central concern of each artist in the show, which includes highly technical approaches as well as the most basic means of delineating space and making marks. In the latter camp, Ian Pedigo handles discarded materials with a directness that preserves their humble character, while coaxing from them visual subtleties that map space in simple but evocative ways. Using steel wool as a painterly tool, Daniel Turner works on site to make wall rubbings whose discreet, seemingly accidental presence belies their intentionality.
Elsewhere in the exhibition, the alchemical transformation of materials again reminds us that appearances can be deceiving. The rarefied ingredients that Dario Robleto assembles to create his work are as important as the final outcome. Often resembling castoff objects, artifacts, or keepsakes, his painstakingly crafted sculptures are symbolically loaded by virtue of their material composition. Through the millennia-old technique of casting, Hany Armanious mines the arcane power, formal possibilities, and conceptual implications of meticulously reproducing everyday objects, elevating both their status in the world and their presence in our minds. Similarly, two works by Tony Matelli, characterized by random marks, grimy smudges, and dusty surfaces, appear to be nothing more than neglected mirrors, while his life-sized figure, floating just inches above the floor in a fugue-like state, offers a hyper-real encounter that reaffirms the sculptor’s sleight of hand.
Other artists address materiality in terms of their selection, arrangement, and display of preexisting objects. Haim Steinbach, an early and especially influential proponent of this approach, is represented by two of his shelf works. In his alter-like assemblages, Rashid Johnson arranges culturally resonant objects to create a personal vocabulary of symbols and references. Sarah Sze, well known for expansive installations engineered with the most quotidian items, goes one step further, casting in plaster all the recyclable containers from a month of lunches and snacks. These nearly 400 simple white forms infiltrate the Anderson Gallery’s work space, their ghostly presence blurring the edge between art and life.
Tatiana Trouvé’s precisely scaled architectural installation reinforces the quiet, sometimes pensive tone that runs through much of the exhibition, as well as the importance of the viewer’s participation in deciphering a narrative. Viewed from opposing sides through large panes of greenish glass, an otherwise inaccessible room contains a mysterious assortment of found and made objects, gestural marks, small doors, and private spaces. Pam Lins also plays with perspective and shifting points of view in her endlessly inventive iterations of the plywood pedestal, each of which changes in appearance, revealing paradoxical characteristics, as the viewer moves around the sculpture.
The exhibition will continue through Sunday, March 11. The Anderson Gallery is located at 907½ West Franklin Street, on VCU’s Monroe Park campus. It is open to the public Tuesday through Friday 10 am-5 pm, and Saturday and Sunday noon-5 pm, and closed on Sunday.
We are in the midst of installation time over here at the Anderson Gallery. Getting ready for our fall exhibition– Environment and Object, Recent African Art. Organized by the Tang Museum at Skidmore College, the exhibition features work by sixteen contemporary African artists. Currently, we’re in the process of installing three dazzling wall hangings by internationally celebrated artist El Anatsui. He’ll be at VCU giving the 2011 Windmueller lecture on Monday, September 19 at the Grace Street Theatre. The lecture’s format will be a conversation between Anatsui and Babatunde Lawal, professor of Art History at VCU (and one of the nicest and most intelligent men you’ll ever meet).
The show will tackle some tough issues– like the impact of urbanization and ecological devastation– and the work on view is absolutely stunning. There are great teaser images on our website: http://arts.vcu.edu/andersongallery/exhibits/future-exhibitions/
Stop by the opening reception; it’ll be here at the Gallery on Friday, September 9 from 5-8 pm.
And, don’t miss the panel discussion on September 8 at the Grace Street Theater, 934 W Grace. Two featured artists, Viye Diba from Senegal and Bright Ugochukwu Eke, as well as the exhibition co-curators and Dr. Lawal will all be offering up their thoughts and insights into the show and the themes that it addresses. See you there!!
Last night, audio met visual at the Anderson Gallery. As part of our summer Happy Hour series, we hosted a WRIR Social. Michael Miracle, from The Lotus Land Show on WRIR, curated a two-hour audio tour inspired by the works in our summer exhibition Knock, Knock! Visitors had the chance to play the Audio + Visual scavenger hunt. Too much fun.
If you missed it, not to worry. You can find the podcast here.
Summer is here! And every Wednesday evening in June and July we’re hosting Happy Hours! Stop by from 5-7 pm to check it out.
Next week, we’re featuring The Bird & Her Consort. In our lovely summer lounge, enjoy a salon concert by Antonia and Jonathan Vassar, who use accordion, guitar and classical voice to perform art songs, parlor music, and new arrangements of diverse ethnic folk traditions.
We’ll have a cash bar and some nibbles to nosh. See you there!
Being a part of VCU means that we tend to move with the same ebb and flow as the university tide. When the students are busy, so are we: beginnings of the semester, during finals, etc. So, as you can imagine, summers around here can have a much different vibe that the rest of the year– more laid back.
Well, this year, there’s going to be some summer sparkle. Like normal, we’ll have one show up throughout the summer from May 26 – August 1. Knock, Knock! From the collection of Paul and Sara Monroe will present work that, in various thought-provoking ways, deals with the figure or human presence. The exhibition will feature work by both established and emerging artists, including Robert Gober, Jack Pierson, Kiki Smith, Theaster Gates, Jessica Hutchins and Jeni Spota.
But this year, the Gallery will host a series of Wednesday night events– Happy Hours– from 5-7 pm in June and July. There will be gallery talks, music, workshops, and all manner of interesting things to do. Along with food and beverages, of course.
All the sparkle-filled details will appear soon. In the meantime, get your flip-flops ready, because summer’s coming!
Anderson gallery_March 29_Byrd Ad
We’re on the big screen! Well, at least, we have a pre-show ad running at the Byrd Theatre. Check it out and let us know what you think.
RICHMOND, VA- Work by students from VCU’s top-ranked School of the Arts will be featured in the Anderson Gallery’s annual series of Spring exhibitions:
Undergraduate
Juried Fine Arts,
Design & Kinetic Imaging Exhibitions
March 31 – April 17
Opening reception: Thursday, March, 5-7pm
Graduate
MFA Thesis Exhibitions: Round 1
April 22 – May 1
Opening reception: Friday, April 22, 5-7 pm
MFA Thesis Exhibitions: Round 2
May 6 – May 15
Opening reception: Friday, May 6, 5-7 pm
The undergraduate juried exhibitions–Fine Arts, Design, and Kinetic Imaging–will be on view concurrently for two weeks. Faculty members from VCU’s Departments of Communication Arts, Fashion Design, Graphic Design and Interior Design will select student work for the Design Exhibition. The Kinetic Imaging Exhibition, also selected by the department faculty, will include sound art, animation, and video.
Dominic Molon, who recently became chief curator at the Contemporary Art Museum in St Louis will serve as juror for this year’s Student Fine Arts Exhibition. In his previous position at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, he curated the major thematic exhibitions Production Site: The Artist’s Studio Inside-Out (2010) and Sympathy for the Devil: Art and Rock and Roll Since 1967 (2007), as well as solo exhibitions of work by Liam Gillick (2009), Wolfgang Tillmans (2006), Gillian Wearing (2002), and Sharon Lockhart (2001). Molon has contributed to numerous exhibition catalogues and magazines including Art Review; Whitewall; Vitamin D: New Perspectives on Drawing; Art on Paper; Contemporary Magazine; Trans; and Tate: the Art Magazine.
The MFA Thesis Exhibition is the final requirement for students pursuing a master’s degree in the fine arts and design departments at VCU. Each student will exhibit work that represents the culmination of his or her two-year program.
Students exhibiting work in the first round are: Craft/Material Studies Courtney Dodd, Gian Pierotti, Mary Elkins Kinetic Imaging Nathan Halverson, Jason Robinson; Painting & Printmaking Catherine Brooks, Luther Kroman; Photography and Film Jeff Kenney, John Petrenko, Jamie Lawyer; Sculpture + Extended Media Andrew Brehm, Ana Esteve-Llorens, and Will Machin.
The first round will also include work by Interior Environments students Sarah Beth Basinger, Emily Shea Beck, David Tyler Bland, Jr., Erin Brunner, Kate Canale, Michael Kanasink, Kate Magee, Lauren E. Miller, Angela Newton Roy, and Kelly Halligan Sekely.
In the second round, students showing work are: Craft/Material Studies Lauren Abrams, Amanda Briede, Kristoff Kamrath, Laina Seay, Jacob Sorenson; Kinetic Imaging Ferwa Ibrahim, Spencer Neale; Painting & Printmaking Michael Kennedy Costa, Wesley Friedrich, Keith Varadi; Photography and Film Alma Leiva, Jon Philip Sheridan, Naoko Wowsugi; Sculpture + Extended Media Ashley Lyon, Oscar Santillan, and Jennifer Smith.
In addition to the exhibitions on view at the Anderson Gallery, student work will also be shown at other venues throughout the spring. The Department of Graphic Design will host their MFA exhibition (on view Friday, May 6, 5-8 pm) and Senior Show (on view Friday, May 20, 5-8 pm) at 1509 West Main Street. Work by students in VCU’s Art Foundation Program will be on view April 11-17 in the lobby of the Fine Arts Building, 1000 West Broad Street; a reception will be held on April 13, 5-7 pm. The Department of Fashion Design and Merchandising will hold their annual fashion show at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts on Sunday, May 8 at 7:30. Beginning April 1, tickets can be purchased by calling 804-828-1699.
The Anderson Gallery is free and open to the public, Tuesday – Friday, 10-5, and Saturday & Sunday, noon-5. During the student exhibitions, the Gallery will also be open Mondays, 10-5.
Located at 907½ West Franklin Street, the Gallery is free and open to the public, Tuesday – Friday, 10-5, and Saturday & Sunday, noon-5. During the student exhibitions, the Gallery will also be open Mondays, 10-5.
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For more information, visit our website at:
http://www.vcu.edu/arts/gallery/
VCUarts Anderson Gallery
2011 Juried Student Fine Arts Exhibition
Exhibition Dates March 31 – April 17
GENERAL INFORMATION
Eligibility: All undergraduate students who are taking fine art studio courses in the School of the Arts are eligible. Eligible students may submit up to 3 works for consideration.
Presentation: All works must be ready to install, including works on paper. Paint must be dry.
Video work should be submitted on a disc as a low-res QuickTime (MPEG) file.
Juror: Dominic Molon, Chief Curator, Contemporary Art Museum, St. Louis
Awards: One Dean’s Award ($500), Four Awards of Distinction ($150 each), Juror’s Choice ($150)
Liability: The Anderson Gallery will take all possible precautions to safeguard student works on display, but it cannot assume responsibility for damage or theft.
SCHEDULE
When to register: Tuesday, March 22, 10 am – 4 pm. Late entries will not be accepted.
Where to register and drop off work:
Students in PAP, Sculpture and Craft departments should register in the lobby of the Fine Arts Building, 1000 West Broad Street
Students in all other departments should register and drop off work at the Anderson Gallery, 907 ½ West Franklin Street.
Notification:
A list of accepted works will be posted at the above locations and at your department
by 10 am on Thursday, March 24.
- Accepted works must be delivered to the Anderson Gallery on March 24 between noon – 4 pm.
- Works not selected for the show must be picked up on March 24 between noon – 4 pm.
Juror’s talk: Thursday, March 24, 11 am, Anderson Gallery
Opening reception: Thursday, March 31, 5 – 7 pm
Exhibition closes: Sunday, April 17, 5 pm
Pickup of exhibited work: Students must pick up work from the Anderson Gallery on Monday,
April 18, between 9 am – 1 pm.
Questions? Please call the Anderson Gallery at 828-1522.
