Flemington DIY presents 'lessISmore', an exhibition showcasing art created from fewer, fewer and bare essentials, opening at noon on Saturday 2nd March and running throughout this month.
Rather than relying on a falsely abundant array of materials, agents, and devices, these artists focus on reduction, simplicity, getting back to basics, the unprocessed, and the untouched.
Curated by artist Simon Keller, this group exhibition features a variety of works by Eric Spencer, Benjamin Vogler, Grace LaForge, and Reiko Kita, as well as guest artists Frank May, Simon Keller, Bob Dicken, John Mallon.
“I work with clay, preferably wild clay, primitive clay, and other wonderful objects found in nature,” Keller says. “The more tamed the clay, the more honest its materiality becomes to the earth. As you sculpt, paint, dance, and turn the raw clay with a kickwheel, you The intense heat inside transforms the clay into stoneware. 'Let the clay do the work' was the idea I learned in Japan.”
The month-long exhibition of ceramics, sculpture, painting, mixed media, and performance art will also include hands-on workshops and performances. March 8, 6pm to 8pm, Gravity – an event combining art history, demonstration and performance by Frank May. and March 9, 2-5 p.m., Zeitseelen (Spirit of Time) – Ceramic Sculpture Workshop ($20).
“What's in our minds and imaginations is often more concrete than reality,” says Reiko Kita. “I want to share my imagination through the creation of artwork.”
Grace LaForge gives some insight into her work: Using clay is very basic. It's under our feet, but look at what humanity has done with it. Even as I become more involved with glazes and techniques, I always try to make the clay literally shine through the surface. My current challenge is to make 99 cups to give as gifts to people who have never had a handmade cup. ”
“Although the shapes of my sculptures often resemble waves, my aim is less to depict the ocean and more to create a sense of flow,” Ben Vogler says of his work. “Using a limited number of simple materials, such as a translucent ash glaze, allows us to keep the main focus on the shape of the sculpture.”
Live demonstrations, artist hours, interactive performances, and talks on wabi-sabi, sumi-e calligraphy, assemblage, and clay dance are all scheduled to take place this month.
Flemington DIY is located at 26 Stangl Road, Flemington, NJ. For more information, visit flemingtondiy.org/lessISmore.
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