Wind Borne. Daniel Robbins, artist
Blue Spiral 1 hosts four new exhibits opening Friday, September 1, and running through October 25. In the Main Level Gallery, Animalia 2.0 showcases the unique perspectives of 13 contemporary artists in the representation of animals.
Mixed-media sculptures, paintings, drawings, glassworks and photographs invite the viewer to reflect upon the connection between their own existence and that of the wild, natural world. Drawing inspiration from various disciplines such as biology, evolution and anthropology, the exhibition prompts reflection and reverence towards these illustrated species.
Harvey. John Sours, artist
Painter Jon Sours’ work shows interactions between people and animals, and how humans can relate to, or mimic, the characteristics of the animal kingdom.
“I chose to depict some of our lesser-appreciated animals, ones whose danger or unconventional beauty I find compelling,” he says.
Sculptor Christine Kosiba’s work for the show speaks to quiet strength, symbolism and interconnectedness. Like Sours, she chose to represent animals that are often considered unpleasant, including the opossum and the raven, as well as those that have significance as symbols or mythological figures, like foxes and hares.
Paul R. Bill Killebrew, artist
Eleanor Anderson: Ciphers, in the Small Format Gallery, displays Anderson’s work as a multi-disciplinary artist as she explores world-making through the process of play and material deviation. In her latest body of work, Anderson uses craft traditions as a flexible constraint by experimenting with bold colors and graphic patterns to discover new visual possibilities for form and surface design. This practice delves into techniques including embroidery, beading, weaving, appliqué and stitching, resulting in vibrantly textured two-dimensional works.
In the Showcase Gallery, Daniel Robbins: Hourglass features work by Robbins that is created in the studio from photos and videos rather than by observation or en plein air, as his earlier work was done. Though the switch was made out of necessity after the birth of his daughter, he believes it gives his work a sense of longing it never had before.
Eleanor Anderson, artist
“With the figure and with the ocean, I want to stop time,” says Robbins. “I understand that I will never get back those moments, but I can record them with videos and photos and translate them. The energy and excitement of the moment is lost in the reference and I have to use paint to recapture these qualities.”
The Lower Level Gallery highlights work by Bill Killebrew and Ellie Richards. Killebrew, a painter, and Richards, a sculptor, each employ their distinct artistic styles to reference commonplace objects and moments found in natural environments and domestic spaces. Richards primarily creates her sculptures by carving forms with a bandsaw, resulting in benches, lamps and other fabricated works that feel familiar yet elevated. Killebrew anchors his paintings with unexpected color and light, using gestural brushstrokes to vividly capture the portrayal of people, spaces and objects found within daily life. Side by side, these artists elevate the ordinary and familiar through their signature approaches.
“I want to see what the preparers of the exhibit do, how things are arranged,” says Killebrew. “I hope Richards’ pieces are enhanced as I expect mine will be by the context.”
Learn more at BlueSpiral1.com.
