NATURE LOVES COURAGE
NATURE LOVES COURAGE Jeff Barnett-Winsby Holden Brown Lisa Fairstein Jeila Gueramian Jeff Kurosaki + Tara Pelletier Guillaume LĂŠgarĂŠ Michelle Leftheris Dana Levy Clement Valla Francesco Vizzini
Curated by Bowie Zunino, Eve Biddle and Jeff Barnett-Winsby Co-Directors of the Wassaic Project
University of Massachusetts, Amherst Western Michigan University
CON TE N T S
5
Nature Loves Courage
61
Exhibition Checklist
65
The Wassaic Project
6 Works
63 Acknowledgments 67
New York Professional Outreach Program
BOWIE ZUNINO, EVE BIDDLE, & JEFF BARNETT-WINSBY - Co-Directors of the Wassaic Project
NATURE LOVES COURAGE
Nature Loves Courage brings together ten emerging New York City artists who step boldly into the outside. The work interprets nature through the lens of the City and deals with the untamed natural world, constructed landscapes, and human interventions. Taking psychedelics proselytizer Terence McKenna’s famous adage as its title, the exhibition features artists who investigate the processes through which nature is manipulated and mediated -- living in it, changing it, improving it, and fighting it. In New York City an engineered web of built environments has almost completely replaced natural terrain. Artificiality has become an unavoidable theme for contemporary artists, who typically approach nature with nostalgia, mythology or cynicism, mourning the loss of untouched lands and criticizing those who have participated in the destruction. Living in a concrete jungle has not tempered these artists’ sensitivity to the minute details or epic power of nature. Clement Valla’s The Universal Texture reveals images where the all-pervasive technology for depicting a seamless and accurate representation of the Earth’s surface seems to break down. Through their video installation Tropiclipse, The Friendly Falcons show a sculptural situation based around the “eclipse” as both a phenomenon and a metaphor, taking inspiration from the systems and processes through which humans try to make sense of nature. In his Nature Loves Courage series, Jeff Barnett-Winsby captures abstracted, atmospheric landscapes. The photographs are simultaneously haunting and familiar, inviting and foreboding. Playful exploration is central to Jeila Gueramian’s soft sculptures and installations, which consist of fantastical landscapes and animals constructed from found, used, and personal materials. For Nature Loves Courage, Jeila created a large scale latch hook rug blending found object and illustration. Holden Brown’s Sinkhole connects nature to technology. Like Clement Valla, Holden is exploring the glitches in our virtual worlds. Inspired by the impossible scenarios you can create digitally, Holden has created a dramatic real-life rendering of a useless structure physically representing a glitch in the system. Guillaume Légaré, Michelle Leftheris, Lisa Fairstein, and Francesco Vizzini explore the artificial beauty that results from constructed environments. Their work engages in the seemingly contradictory ideas that natural environments can appear totally unreal, while constructed environments can mimic nature. Dana Levy also explores this ambiguity between reality and a dream scape with The Fountain, literally inspired by a dream and realized in nature with the aid of machines. Through photography, sound, projection, painting, installations, and video, these artists highlight the ambiguity, and incredible beauty that arises when civilization imposes on nature -- and when nature pushes back. 5
Jeff Barnett-Winsby Untitled, 2014 plexi mounted photo 65” x 45” 6
Jeff Barnett-Winsby Untitled, 2014 plexi mounted photo 65” x 45” 8
Jeff Barnett-Winsby Untitled, 2014 plexi mounted photo 20” x 30” 10
Holden Brown Sinkhole, 2014 mixed media 192” x 144”x 24” 12
Lisa Fairstein Chromatic Composite, 2012 photograph - vinyl on wall 30� x 45� 14
Lisa Fairstein Confetti Sculpted Decorative Multitude, 2012 photograph - vinyl on wall 30� x 45� 16
Lisa Fairstein Shadeeka Stutter 1, 2012 photograph - vinyl on wall 30” x 45” 18
Jeila Gueramian How Magic Is Done, 2014 latch hook rug 60” x 84” x 3” 20
Jeff Kurosaki + Tara Pelletier TROPICLIPSE, 2013 Video Projection, record player, lathe cut polycarbonate record 84” x 38” x 60” 22
Michelle Leftheris Mounty, 2013 video still continuous gif loop 24
Michelle Leftheris The Myth of Living, 2013 photograph 20” x 30” 26
Michelle Leftheris The Myth of Living, 2013 photograph 20” x 30” 28
Michelle Leftheris The Myth of Living, 2013 photograph 20” x 30” 30
Guillaume Légaré Untitled (Ghost no. 1), 2013 silverprint 20” x 24” (framed) 32
Guillaume Légaré Untitled (Ghost no. 2), 2013 silverprint 20” x 24” (framed) 34
Guillaume Légaré Untitled (Ghost no. 3), 2013 silverprint 20” x 24” (framed) 36
Guillaume Légaré Untitled (Ghost no. 4), 2013 silverprint 20” x 24” (framed) 38
Guillaume Légaré The Moving Rock, 2009 guided fake rock with remote control and batteries 15” x 17” x 12” 40
Dana Levy The Fountain, 2011 video still duration 03:21 42
Clement Valla The Universal Texture, 2012 inkjet on canvas 44” x 92” 44
Clement Valla The Universal Texture, 2012 inkjet on canvas 44” x 92” 46
Francesco Vizzini Geometric Paths 1, 2011 mixed media 12” x 18” 48
Francesco Vizzini Geometric Paths 2, 2011 mixed media 12” x 18” 50
Francesco Vizzini Geometric Paths 5, 2011 mixed media 12” x 18” 52
Francesco Vizzini Geometric Paths 6, 2011 mixed media 12” x 18” 54
Francesco Vizzini Geometric Paths 7, 2011 mixed media 12” x 18” 56
Francesco Vizzini Geometric Paths 8, 2011 mixed media 12” x 18” 58
Jeff Barnett-Winsby
EXHIBITION CHECKLIST
Untitled, 2014 plexi mounted photo 65” x 45”
Guillaume Légaré
Untitled (Ghost), 2013 silverprint 20” x 24”
Untitled, 2014 plexi mounted photo 20” x 30”
Untitled (Ghost), 2013 silverprint 20” x 24”
Untitled, 2014 plexi mounted photo 20” x 30”
Untitled (Ghost), 2013 silverprint 20” x 24”
Holden Brown
Sinkhole, 2014 mixed media 192” x 144” x 24”
Lisa Fairstein
Chromatic Composite, 2012 photograph - vinyl on wall 30” x 45” Confetti Sculpted Decorative Multitude, 2012 photograph - vinyl on wall 30” x 45” Shadeeka Stutter 1, 2012 photograph - vinyl on wall 30” x 45”
Jeila Gueramian
How Magic Is Done, 2014 latch hook rug 60” x 84” x 3”
Jeff Kurosaki + Tara Pelletier TROPICLIPSE, 2013 Video Projection, record player, lathe cut polycarbonate record 84” x 38” x 60”
Michelle Leftheris Mounty, 2013 continous gif loop 18” screen
The Myth of Living, 2013 photograph 20” x 30” The Myth of Living, 2013 photograph 20” x 30” The Myth of Living, 2013 photograph 20” x 30”
Untitled (Ghost), 2013 silverprint 20” x 24” The Moving Rock, 2009 guided fake rock with remote control and batteries 15” x 17” x 12”
Dana Levy
The Fountain, 2011 video duration 3:21
Clement Valla
The Universal Texture, 2012 inkjet on canvas 44” x 92” The Universal Texture, 2012 inkjet on canvas 44” x 92”
Francesco Vizzini
Geometric Paths 1, 2011 mixed media 12” x 18” Geometric Paths 2, 2011 mixed media 12” x 18” Geometric Paths 5, 2011 mixed media 12” x 18” Geometric Paths 6, 2011 mixed media 12” x 18” Geometric Paths 7, 2011 mixed media 12” x 18” Geometric Paths 8, 2011 mixed media 12” x 18”
61
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The New York Professional Outreach Program (NYPOP) has succeeded because of the long-term commitment of many people. Foremost among those are the more than 1,600 UMass Amherst art students who have studied in the program over the past twenty-plus years. Alongside the students stand the more than 300 New York art professionals who have presented lectures in their work places around the city. Like many educational programs, NYPOP has struggled with difficult economic circumstances over the past ten years. We have been able to survive, and continue to, only because of the generous financial and philosophical support of the Dean of the College of Humanities and Fine Arts, Julie Hayes. William Oedel, the Chair of the Department of Art, Architecture, and Art History, has also been exceptional in his support and recognition of NYPOP’s contribution the Department. The Wassaic Project, and it’s Co-Directors Bowie Zunino, Eve Biddle, and Jeff Barnett Winsby, have put together a timely and dynamic show that showcases many fantastic emerging artists. The Wassaic Project is an innovative organization that we have truly enjoyed partnering with on this venture. Bowie, Eve, and Jeff would also like to thank Hallie Scott for her help preparing the exhibition and keen eye. Don Desmett, Director of Exhibitions for The James W. and Lois I. Richmond Center for Visual Arts at Gwen Frostic School of Art at Western Michigan University, is hosting Nature Loves Courage at the RCVA. During the past four years, Mr. Desmett has incorporated the NYPOP concept into the curriculum at Western Michigan University with great success. He has been an invaluable partner and colleague in several aspects of NYPOP. Amanda Tiller is the Assistant Director of NYPOP, and the Coordinator of the Exhibition Program. Ms. Tiller is highly valued, an essential contributor to the program. Her thoughtful dedication to NYPOP has been a key factor in the program’s success. 63
THE WASSAIC PROJECT
The Wassaic Project, a 501c3 non-profit organization, exists to provide a genuine and intimate context for art making and strengthening local community by increasing social and cultural capital through inspiration, promotion and creation of contemporary visual and performing art. The Wassaic Project is an incubator for emerging artists located in the historic hamlet of Wassaic, NY. The Wassaic Project is comprised of five programs: Exhibitions, Residency, Summer Festival, Education, and Community Engagement. Our Annual Exhibition, installed in a seven story grain elevator, showcases exceptional emerging artists. The Wassaic Artist Residency Program brings 10 emerging artists to Wassaic every month to live, work, and engage in a dynamic and cooperative critique environment. Our Summer Festival is free to attend and features emerging talents in music, film, dance, visual, and performing art. Our Education Program encourages and facilitates creative problem solving by bringing professional artists to lead workshops in our local public school, and by offering youth programs in our exhibition space to explore, discuss and create contemporary art. Our Community Engagement Program consists of year-round community events and the restoration and stewardship of historic buildings in Wassaic, NY. Bowie Zunino, Eve Biddle and Jeff Barnett-Winsby are Founders and Co-Executive Directors of the Wassaic Project. They have curated performance at Mass MoCa, spoken on panels at Open Engagement, Storm King, The Aldrich Museum, and Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation’s Studio-X. The have also served as visiting artists at Columbia University, The City College of New York, Parsons The New School for Design, and School of Visual Arts. Bowie Zunino is a social practice artist and educator. She received her MFA from the Rhode Island School of Design in Sculpture and holds a BA in Psychology and Studio Art from Williams College. She has worked with Creative Time, The Go Project, and Readnet Bronx Charter School. Eve Biddle is an artist and has worked with Philadelphia Mural Arts, Indianapolis Arts Council, LAND Studio Cleveland, Dieu Donne Papermill, and NYCares. In collaboration with her husband, Joshua Frankel, she has created over 16,000 square feet of public murals across the country. She holds and BA in Art History from Williams College. Jeff Barnett-Winsby is an artist and community organizer with an MFA from the Rhode Island School of Design in Photography. He has exhibited internationally and his first book, Mark West and Molly Rose, was published in 2010 by J&L Books. He has served on the faculty at the Rhode Island School of Design and the University of Rhode Island. He recently completed a residency at Little Brown Mushroom’s Camp for Socially Awkward Storytellers. 65
NEW YORK PROFESSIONAL OUTREACH PROGRAM
Jerry Kearns founded the New York Professional Outreach Program (NYPOP) at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, in 1990. Each semester, two groups of UMass art students make four trips each down to New York for an intensive weekend in the New York art scene. For over twenty years, NYPOP has been making connections that lead to careers in the visual arts. In that time, more than 1,200 UMass students have traveled nearly 100,000 miles to study the profession in New York. We have visited with over 300 art professionals who share their firsthand experience and insight into building an art career. The NYPOP Partner Program, founded in 2010, brings university students from across the nation to the work places of contemporary professionals in New York City. The experience encourages students to believe in the possibility of a career in the arts. On-site sessions examine contemporary aesthetics in concert with an inside perspective on the current professional scene. We offer answers to the many practical questions that stem from a student’s desire to become an artist, curator, art writer, and museum or gallery worker. The NYPOP Exhibition Program, founded in 2013, brings the excitement of New York contemporary art back to college campuses. Furthering our overarching goal of providing students with insights into what they could anticipate were they to move to a major art center over the next few years, the exhibition series features emerging curators and artists. By introducing students to young curators and artists already at work in the city, we stress networking with peers as a crucial element of building a career. The NYPOP exhibitions bring the New York scene full circle by hosting curators and artists at participating institutions, for exhibitions, lectures, workshops and studio visits. By combining visits to the New York experience, with campus exhibitions from the current scene, participating universities will bring career dreams to reality for their students. 67
EXHIBITION SCHEDULE JANUARY 15 — MARCH 6, 2015 JAMES W. AND LOIS I RICHMOND CENTER FOR VISUAL ARTS Western Michigan University 1903 W. Michigan Avenue Kalamazoo, MI 49008 Don Desmett, Director
FEBRUARY 7 — MAY 11, 2017 PEELER ART CENTER DePauw University 10 W. Hanna Street Greencastle, IN 46135 Craig Hadley, Director
NATURE LOVES COURAGE is published to accompany the exhibition Nature Loves Courage, organized by the University of Massachusetts Amherst’s New York Professional Outreach Program and Western Michigan University’s James W. & Lois I. Richmond Center for Visual Arts, Gwen Frostic School of Art, Kalamazoo, Michigan.
©Copyright UMASS/NYPOP 2014. All text in this publication has been used by permission of the authors. All rights reserved
NY POP
The New York Professional Outreach Program College of Humanities and Fine Arts University of Massachusetts Amherst