CURATOR STATEMENT
It was such an honor and challenge to compose this exhibition when considering the talent and depth of all the accomplished artists who submitted their work.
The artists in this exhibition explore a range of subjects and approaches, but ultimately, it’s the materiality of the work that invites a viewer to consider what lies beneath the surface. All the artworks in the exhibition captivate through their formal qualities and meticulous craftsmanship. Although these makers use a variety of materials and processes, their creative work falls somewhere on the spectrum of representation and abstraction.
Themes of identity are explored by a variety of artists working figuratively, from the colorful and candid portraits by Ellen Lyon to monochromatic drawings from Alannah Sears, they invite us to reflect on our preconceived notions of identity. While the figure is recognizable in some works, artist Sharhbanoo Hamzeh creates paintings that are layered with soft transparent colors and veiled figurative elements. The idea of an inward identity or an unconscious dream world are implied in Mia Risberg’s drawing’s or in the surreal paintings by Alex Renbarger that take on a nostalgic feel. Yve Holtzclas’s installation works utilize tapestries and clay forms to create scenes that call to mind a narrative element between the forms, inviting viewers to consider their relationship.
Lines between representation and abstraction begin to blur throughout many of the works that explore environments. Painters like Roxa Smith imbue work with ornate designs and candylike color, while Kathy Gore-Fuss’s landscape paintings are densely packed with more subdued colors, textures, and mark making that bring attention to their material construction. Caroline Golden creates collaged work with materials that call into question the construction of the American Dream while Kate Gordon’s collage paintings literally sew together recognizable imagery in imaginative and peculiar settings. The meticulously constructed collage works by Paul Loughney create the look of distorted landscapes with recognizable elements and text from colorful, commercially printed materials.
Artists who are more singularly focused on process work use an array of materials to create formal works that appear self-referential or abstracted from daily observations. In some instances, these works reflect abstracted environmental spaces like the minimalist paper works by Robin Sherin, drawings by Dustin London, and layers of transparent paint that look structural in Lydia Kinney’s work. Several works in the exhibition appear to be the artists own abstracted language, found in Holly Wong’s richly patterned collage works or Cara Tomlinson’s paintings that use subtle color shifts in a sort of implied figuration. Material based abstraction is heightened by the sculptural works of Linda Smith, who’s process based work combines handmade materials that look composed of remnants. This is echoed in works by Ellie Anderson whose sculptural forms are reminiscent of portals woven from natural fibers.
ABOUT DAVID LINNEWEH
David is a lifelong Illinois resident, artist, and educator who lives in the Greater Chicagoland area where he balances his studio practice and his roles as host/creator of the Studio Break Podcast and director of Studio Break Gallery. He has exhibited his work nationally, which include solo exhibitions at Manifest Gallery in Cincinnati (OH) and RACA Gallery in Mankato (MN).
Linneweh received his BFA from Illinois State University and his MFA from Southern Illinois University Carbondale with an emphasis in painting. His work has been published in, New American Paintings, Studio Visit Magazine, Manifest Press, and Create Magazine. David has appeared as a guest on a variety of podcasts that include Ahtcast, Bad at Sports, and I Like Your Work. He’s completed residencies at Centraltrak Artist Residency (Dallas, TX); Chautauqua School of Art (Chautauqua NY); Jentel (Banner, WY); The Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts (Nebraska City, NE); Osage Arts Community (Belle, MO); and Vermont Studio Center, (Johnson, VT).
David currently lives in West Chicago, where he maintains a painting practice that has largely explored ideas of nostalgia and the American Dream through landscape and architecture.
Substance
FEATURED ARTISTS
Katherine Adkins
Natessa Amin
Ellie Dale Anderson
Maxine Davidowitz
Kristen Dunkelberger
Caroline Golden
Kate Gordon
Kathy Gore-Fuss
Shahrbanoo Hamzeh
Sara Hardin
Yve Holtzclaw
Jeong Hur
Lydia Kinney
Jess Levey
Dustin London
Paul Loughney
Ellen Lyon
Kelda Martensen
Melih Meric
Aaron Pickens
Natalie Pivoney
Alex Renbarger
Mia Risberg
Christian Schultz
Alannah Sears
Robin Sherin
Roxa Smith
Linda Smith
Cara Tomlinson
Holly Wong