2/4/2003
Two solo shows
G-module, Paris
Solo exhibitions by New Yorkers Marsha Cottrell (drawing) and Alan Wiener (sculpture).
Marsha Cottrell (drawing) and Alan Wiener (sculpture)
g-module will present, for the first time in France, solo exhibitions by New
Yorkers Marsha Cottrell (drawing) and Alan Wiener (sculpture). Drawing by way
of the computer, Marsha Cottrell continues her project expanding its meaning.
In the approximately seven recent works to be exhibited at g-module, Marsha
Cottrell's minuscule, yet monumental mark making coalesces onto sheets of
paper both small and large. Beginning working via computer in the mid-90s,
when mouse clicks and cyber navigation began to replace the pen and pencil in
everyday life, Cottrell founded a visual strategy of orchestrating keyboard
characters that were once only meant to appear within the lines of grammar.
Commas, parentheses, brackets, etc, sometimes contorted or stretched,
invigorate the picture plane, plotting a fresh milieu of expression. The marks
sum up to thousands, alluding to some infinite field of magnetic particles in
space or to aerial views of futuristic cityscapes on some gravity supported
surface. Still, in these full force abstract atmospheres, Cottrell generates a
gathering of pauses, stops and elucidating characteristics of punctuation to
expand the meaning -or meaningless- realm of language, be that prose or
poetry. Cottrell's recent exhibitions include Out of Memory at Henry Urbach
Architecture in New York. She has exhibited in museums such as The Brooklyn
Museum of Art, New York and the John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan,
Wisconsin. She is the recipient of numerous awards and fellowships including
the Marie Walsh Sharpe Foundation, MacDowell Fellowship and the John Simon
Guggenheim Memorial Foundation. She received her MFA in 1990 at University of
North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is living and working in Brooklyn, New York.
Alan Wiener's exhibition at g-module will consist of recent works created in
Paris during his residency at Cité des Arts early this year, as well as
several from New York completed during the past year. Wiener has an idea of a
form in his mind: the perfect one. According to Wiener, the block form is the
most basic structure seldom found in nature; most likely indicating a human
presence. In his current process, he sculpts with a material similar to
plaster of Paris known as hydrocal. In its liquid state, it is poured, causing
puddles that eventually harden after its duel with gravity and shape-shifting.
The idea of the block shape is thus transformed into an organic, rhythmic and
strangely seductive entity of natural condition. The crossing of smooth and
rough surfaces, along with dozens of little nodes or appendages, suggests that
it could potentially be something either making or even unmaking itself. These
works, of certain architectural mindset, indicate a symbolic gesture of great
perfection, whether itself made by humans, made by nature or both. Alan
Wiener's recent exhibitions include Feature Inc, New York City, Socrates
Sculpture Park, Queens, New York and Ace Gallery, New York City. He is the
recipient of numerous awards and fellowships including the Cité des Arts
Residency, Paris, The John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation and The
MacDowell Fellowship. He received his MFA in 1993 from the Tyler School of
Art, Elkins Park, PA and currently lives and works in Brooklyn, New York.
Image: Marsha Cottrel, Untitled (detail), 2002, impression laser a tirage unique
Hours: 12:00-19:00, Wednesday through Saturday.
g-module
15, rue Debelleyme (corner rue de Poitou) in the Marais Paris
t 01 42711475
f 01 42711467