Radio Transmission Contraption
The razor blade is tacked down with a wire taped to it and going to one
side of the coil and on to the aerial. The other side of the coil goes to
the ground and to one side of the headset. From the other side of the
headset a wire goes to the safety pin, which is driven into some wood at one
end so the pin may be turned. Then the free end of the pin is moved across
the rusty areas part of the Marlin blade, and in that way you can find your
station. Reception was very good and at night we could get several stations,
including Bebop from Belgium and Berlin Sally...
To inaugurate the 2008-2009 season, this Fall Casey Kaplan is pleased to
announce Nathan Carter¹s fourth solo exhibition, RADIO TRANSMISSION
CONTRAPTIONS. Carter¹s two-dimensional and sculptural objects are improvised
devices that suggest precarious usefulness as communication instruments or
diagrams of ³info way² networks. Combining the process of making things by
hand and the seemingly irrational activity of play, the artworks burst with
lyrical and expressive energy. Lines, objects, symbols, colors, geometric
and organic shapes are at once expressive gestures and reflections of
multi-layered psychogeographic landscapes buzzing with visual expressions of
audio and non-verbal communication signals.
In collaboration with Cerámica Suro, an industrial ceramics and fine art
studio in Tlaquepaque Jalisco, Mexico, Carter has introduced ceramic and
glass as new mediums to his practice. He presents a major body of work that
demonstrates his willingness to experiment with new materials and most
importantly investigate unfamiliar working environments in his approach to
art making.
RADIO TRANSMISSION CONTRAPTIONS begins with a series of small-scale, ceramic
and wire sculptures. They are similar in size to portable two-way radio sets
but could also be seen as architectural forms - miniaturized radio stations
transmitting and receiving radio waves, coded SMS messages, heavy musical
broadcasts and ominous weather reports. In Gallery II, a large, wall-based
sculpture of colorful ceramic disks on rotating arms titled, THIS ONE GOES
OUT ACROSS THE SEMAPHORE SPECTRUM, simultaneously takes form as a double
solar system model or an antiquated signal device used to communicate
turbulent atmospheric conditions to pilots in air or at sea. Also included
are new paper collage drawings, a cantilevered object titled, HIGH
VISIBILITY WEATHER RADIO AIRSHIP WITH REFLECTOR PLUMAGE AND ALL MOD CONS,
and the large-scale suspended painted blue steel drawing, CALLING FOUR
TOWERS SIGNAL DRIFTING WITH NO FIXED PURPOSE. In Gallery III, four vibrant
steel and glass chandeliers act as suspended illuminated emergency mayday
beacons, titled: ONE IF BY LAND, TWO IF BY SEA, THREE FOR TEA, FOUR ON THE
FLOOR.
Nathan Carter recently had his first US solo museum debut at Artpace, San
Antonio, Texas in October of 2007. Also in 2007, the artist had his first
European solo museum exhibition at Domus Artium 2002, Salamanca, Spain, and
was featured in Level 5: The View from Here: Acquisitions since 2000, Tate
Modern, London, England in 2006.
Opening sept. 4 2008
Casey Kaplan Gallery
525 West 21st Street - New York
Hours: tue-sat 10 6 PM
Free admission