In 'Scout', the artist expands on her previous use of narrative to reveal a new chronicle in her alter ego's saga-one of vigilance and fortitude against a new, invisible, nefarious force. Through drawing and sculpture, Hart exposes her alter ego as self-reliant but more vulnerable and suspicious than in years past.
Mixed Greens is pleased to announce Kimberley Hart’s second solo exhibition with the gallery. In Scout, Hart expands on her previous use of narrative to reveal a new chronicle in her alter ego’s saga—one of vigilance and fortitude against a new, invisible, nefarious force.
Through drawing and sculpture, Hart exposes her alter ego (a mischievous, irreverent young girl who is noticeably absent from the work) as self-reliant but more vulnerable and suspicious than in years past. Once full of sparkles and glitter, this persona is no longer fantasizing about her hunting prowess or setting traps for inappropriate prey. Instead, we find her hunkered down in an austere outpost with few essentials and a concern for an unknown adversary.
There are vestiges of a carefree girlhood, but the tenor has changed—a sense of uncertainty has eroded her daring as she struggles to maintain some bravery in the face of a new, foreboding reality. In the front room, Hart’s drawings and sculpture reveal the alter ego’s surroundings, shelter and possessions. A “bank” holds prized, as well as scavenged, provisions and doubles as a repository for a personal currency and objects to barter in this new world. In the back gallery, there is evidence of the outside force from which she is defending herself. Beautifully crafted, ominous vultures skulk and spread their wings near a pivotal piece titled, The Death of Sparkle. While Kimberley’s alter ego has proven to be equally prissy and cunning in past exhibitions, she is now overwhelmed by apprehensions and threatened by the malicious marauder responsible for Sparkle’s death.
Quirky fantasy and fine craftsmanship remain hallmarks of Hart’s work, but the tone has shifted to reflect a change—both imagined and real—in her environment. There is a marked shift in her alter ego from mischief-maker of the vernal woodlands to a menaced and solitary defender in a dystopic landscape.
Kimberley Hart received her MFA in sculpture from Rhode Island School of Design. Since then, she has attended Skowhegan, McDowell Colony, McColl Center for Visual Art and spent two years at the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown, MA. She has been included in a number of exciting group exhibitions at prestigious venues including Spaces in Cleveland, OH; untitled(space) in New Haven, CT; Exit Art in New York City; White Columns in New York City; the Institute for Contemporary Art in Portland, ME; Bellwether Gallery in New York City; and Mark Moore Gallery in Santa Monica, CA. She was awarded the Islip Museum’s Carriage House exhibition in 2007. Solo shows in 2008 included the Sumter Country Gallery in Sumter, SC and the Anthony Giordano Gallery on Long Island. Hart’s ambitious pi ece, Gingerbread Blind, was originally made for Socrates Sculpture Park and is now a project at Mark Dion and J. Morgan Puett’s Mildred’s Lane. Hart received a 2009 NYFA Fellowship in sculpture.
About Mixed Greens
Mixed Greens was founded as a place to give emerging artists a wider audience. Through its website, printed catalog, gallery exhibitions and traveling shows, Mixed Greens has exposed a larger community to the engaging and thought-provoking work of dozens of artists. Currently, the gallery represents twenty-two artists, who are now at varying stages in their careers. The mission is to show work that is not only of contemporary interest, but will be of lasting art historical significance.
Opening Reception: Thursday, November 12, 6 - 8 p.m.
Artist Talk: Saturday, December 12, 2 p.m.
Mixed Greens
531 West 26th Street, New York City
Cross Streets: Between 10th & 11th Avenues
Subway: C, E to 23rd St.; 1 to 23rd, 28th Streets
Gallery Hours: Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m
Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and by appointment
free admision