By: Erin Dyer
Menagerie (/məˈnajərē/) is a fancy French word that defines a strange or diverse collection, and also an upcoming, juried art exhibition that will feature six chosen and talented local artists. Co-curators Shadi Jam, Robert Sussman, and Natalie Thayer, who seek to expose to the public the talent of local artists, entitled the showcase ‘Menagerie’ in representation of the diversity among the artists of varying backgrounds and disciplines. The multi-media exhibition will include painting, photography, sculpture, installation pieces, and mixed media works by Omar Al-Bochi, Dylan Conner, Julia Gabriel, Ariana Katechis, Johnathan Meadows, and Josh Nolan.
Planning for this show has been in the works since March, though some of the pieces to be shown have been completed prior to then.
Omar Al-Bochi will present a large collage of his highly detailed original work, as well as two installations consisting of many standard sized pieces from his journal– all pen and ink drawing based.
Dylan Conner will feature a metal and plaster installation that kind of looks like a fancy-ass clothes line. The carefully sculped pieces wrap around two poles and are connected with metal wire.
Julia Gabriel will be displaying pieces inspired by the architecture of abandoned buildings. Gabriel describes her work with the idea that a building has a soul, and certain emotions are invoked in a person upon entering a space or by simply viewing the exterior. Gabriel captures the essence of each building and creates a portable piece of art in the form of a colorful handmade backpack, stitched and modeled after each building specifically.
Ariana Katechis will show paintings and photos. Katechis says, “Although I have always been interested in the beauty that art generally signifies, I have grown up in a city that is industrial, mechanical and sometimes bleak in its setting and brutal in climate. I have tried to portray this irresistible force in works that juxtapose darkness and light, harshness and beauty.” She also says she uses her art “as a way to depict a particular memory or event that I have experienced myself or watched occur amongst those around me, in hopes of it opening a connection with my viewers and including them in a collective memory.” One of her pieces is a set of 8 2×2 photos with the images distorted by a wax covering. In this series, photographs from intimate moments represent specific memories in an important past relationship. The wax covering over the photos acts as a literal example of how new emotions can cloud specific moments and distort memories. In one moment, something may be of such great importance and engulf an array of emotions, but once that moment passes and new life experiences become a distraction, it may change the way you remember feeling at that specific moment.
The paintings created and to be displayed by Johnathan Meadows are described as delicate, abstract paintings. They are a mixture of oil, toxic house paints, and intaglio on wood panels. The abstracted works Meadows creates are based on organic chemical processes found throughout nature.
Josh Nolan will exhibit surreal, portrait-like paintings that are sexy, yet scary. Subjects for these paintings include a nude women with fabulous hair, and horses with a clear view of their inside bones painted with pastel colors.
An opening reception for the exhibition will be held this Friday, July 6, from 7PM-10PM inside the Main Gallery of Winter Street Studios. The reception is FREE of cost, and includes an open bar. Did you hear that? Free entrance. Open bar. Cool local art, created by people from our city that we love. Friendly, familiar faces. Enough said. If you can’t make it out to the opening on Friday, you will be missed– but BEHOLD!– the exhibition will be on display until Sunday, July 8.
Menagerie: Exhibition Opening
Friday, July 8. 7PM-10PM
Winter Street Studios
2101 Winter St.
Houston, TX 77007
Facebook Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/SussmanJam#!/events/345919608812752/
