B E G I N A G A I N
On View November 13, 2020-January 9, 2021
The turn of a new decade brought with it an intersectional crossroads unable to be ignored. We are on the cusp of change; how can we do better? As society shifts, as does the art world. These 6 artists featured in BEGIN AGAIN are inspired by healing, hope and wonder, aesthetically working within the realm of ripples and repetition to convey their messages in an array of mediums. We aspire to invoke a sense of thoughtful reflection, so as to begin again with positive action.
This group exhibition features the work of Caprice Pierucci, Danny Williams, Laura Guese, Kevin Hoth, Liz Quan and Tony Holmquist.
Press Release (pdf)
Price List (pdf)
Caprice Pierucci
Caprice Pierucci’s most recent work is about eternity and time. The undulating rhythms in the forms speak to her of human mortality, and the huge expanses of time that lead to one particular moment of beauty. Pierucci is inspired by the idea of everything having a beginning and an end, where the forms feel like they are rolling in together and apart at the same time.
Artist Statement (pdf)
Resume (pdf)
“I am drawn to natural forms: earth erosion, caltrite in cave formations, wind on the desert sand. Detritus of man-made objects are also appealing: such as old refrigerator grates, cracks and scratches on metal or in cement, squashed recycled cardboard.”
“My most recent work is about eternity and time. The undulating rhythms in the forms speak to me of our morality, and the huge expanses of time that lead to one particular moment of beauty.
I want the work to be a sensual experience, but to also have a deeper underlying place to reflect.”
Danny Williams
Danny Williams’ paintings are portals to other realms. He relies on brush technique, perspective, and the physical properties of paint and light to pull the viewer into the painting’s depth. Williams’ hope is to evoke a sense of wonder through these dynamic, flowing, multi-dimensional pieces.
Artist Statement (pdf)
Resume (pdf)
“The images I create are abstract interpretations of my life experiences, interests, travels, and observations of nature. Specifically, I am drawn towards dynamic, flowing wave-forms that exhibit organic features.”
Kevin Hoth
Kevin Hoth presents work from his Freshly Cut Flowers project. He deconstructs Polaroids of flowers by putting pairs through a paper shredder, and then healing/collaging them together to form a new photo-object. This work deals with beauty and transience, trauma and healing, and the act of image destruction as a simultaneous creative force.
Artist Statement (pdf)
Resume (pdf)
“One visual aspect of these pictures that struck me was that the expired chemistry inside the film yielded erratic and amorphous formations that reminded me of fluids in the brain. Moving on from the original, un-manipulated Polaroids, I have created this series of paper-shredded flowers. I make two initial images, put the images into a paper shredder, and then “heal” the two flower captures together with tape. I did this without too much thought, but in hindsight it reminds me of the duality of creation and destruction that an artist undergoes on a regular basis.”
“Another aspect of my work is the compression of multiple moments into singular works. I am compounding disjointed memories into one where the result is a unique photo-object that seems to hold two moments together. I am choosing to show these as small scale originals (Polaroids were designed to fit neatly in the hand) next to large prints (recto and verso) made from high-resolution scans.
The large prints show the jagged cuts from the paper shredder, the clear tape fragments and my fingerprints as I “heal” the flowers together into a new composition, a new moment.”
Liz Quan
Liz Quan creates porcelain pieces that allude to different objects, landscapes, and feelings. Intrigued by the strength of multiples, separate pieces unite to collectively cohabitate as a stream of wandering thoughts. Quan’s ceramic works are individually interpreted and reinvented through the viewer’s mind as they interact with it.
Artist Statement (pdf)
Resume (pdf)
I enjoy working with porcelain for it’s pure aesthetic. It’s like beginning a project with a white sheet of paper, a very flimsy piece of paper. Its smooth texture is satisfying and impressionable to to the touch… It has a memory and innate characteristics that can’t be controlled. Once we appreciate the boundaries, we can explore more deeply within them.”
“Creating these forms takes on a rhythm and meditation. The strength of multiples is intriguing: separate pieces are united o create a cohesive new individual form. In turn, these abstract forms are about the potential for infinite interpretations.”
Tony Holmquist
Tony Holmquist’s current work explores line and space through etched permanence and reconstruction. The prints contain both orderly and gestural components to convey rhythmic structures and systems. These intaglio works come into being through the energy of etched marks, reiteration of abstract visual vocabulary, and subtle tonal variations.
Artist Statement (pdf)
Resume (pdf)
“My core instinct as an artist/printmaker is a desire to explore line and space through etched permanence and reconstruction. I use line in both an orderly and gestural manner to convey a rhythm that exists in my life. I often compare this rhythm to music because of my experience playing stringed instruments. There is a distinct and developed pattern that is created through my act of playing music and making art.”
“A completed piece will continuously drive me to the next idea or concept, much like a composition of music. An image printed in a traditional manner may be the end product, or it could be a starting point for a new piece.
By scanning images into the computer or cutting out sections of prints to reassemble, the reconstructed elements breathe and harmonize with each other in new and interesting ways.”
Laura Guese
Laura Guese’s current work is focused on silver linings, glimmers of hope and peace. As the world has changed so much, she is motivated to create work that provides the viewers with a sense of hope and calm. Inspired by her imagination, Guese’s surreal skies & cloud-like creations evoke a softness and luminance that she hopes puts her viewers in a peaceful, meditative mindset.
Artist Statement (pdf)
Resume (pdf)
“I am intrigued by the idea of being away from it all, lost in a place of hopeful tranquility. For this reason, I am inspired to paint surreal skies viewed at higher elevations. I envision the viewer in a more peaceful dreamlike setting, away from worries and anxieties to a landscape of brilliance and promise. My paintings are places of my imagination. I find my work the most honest and authentic when I create from a feeling or an image in my mind’s eye. “
“I’m captivated by the idea of attempting the impossible because I believe anything is truly possible. It is through my paintings I wish to pass on to the viewer a moment of hope, serenity and meditation.”
“Many of my paintings contain building thunderheads viewed at higher atmospheric levels, surreal and fortress-like. My work embodies the concept of “castles in the sky,” or striving toward the impossible. The clouds have sharp edges similar to the harsh exteriors of castles, yet they still evoke a certain cloudy softness and luminescence.”
