Humans are gatherers at heart. An instinctual need to amass — everything from food and water to meaning and belonging — is woven into the very fabric of our DNA. Collection, a group show opening in the Lower Level Gallery at Blue Spiral 1 in May, will showcase this timeless impulse through the work of Jen Blazina, Clay Burnette, Josh Copus, Daniel Essig, Vicki Essig, Jon Sours, and Kirsten Stingle. According to a press statement, these artists “demonstrate a deep engagement with material accumulation, working with elements such as southern pine needles, clay, mica, mulberry leaves, and vintage textiles.” Running concurrently in the Main Gallery, Structure dives into the formal relationships between geometry, architecture, and industrial materials. Artists such as Thomas Campbell, Casey Engel, and Jean Alexander Frater will present pieces that engage with both the physical and conceptual aspects of space and form. Meanwhile, in the Small Format Gallery, Patti Quinn Hill will reimagine the ancient craft of basketry using painted archival cotton paper and metallic threads. Finally, in the Showcase Gallery, Hour by Hour “celebrates the devotion to process inherent in time-based artistic practices, drawing attention to the layered, methodical steps that culminate in each piece.”
All shows: May 2-June 25; Opening Reception: Friday, May 2, 5-7pm…