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30/9/2005

Messages and Communications

The Mattress Factory, Pittsburgh

The Mattress Factory is pleased to announce a new exhibition opening this fall. Titled Messages and Communications, it will feature new work by six artists that explore issues and ideas surrounding how we communicate. A private opening will be held on October 1, 2005 with a public opening the following day, October 2, 2005.

'This exhibition started with the idea of the book and expanded to include works that push that boundary. A book can be slabs of plaster with information imbedded in them, or a sphere with celestial information etched into it.'
Michael Olijnyk, Curator of Exhibitions

'This exhibition is really a distillation of what is happening in our society now. We are more informed‹perhaps over informed‹and have lost touch with communication in its intimate form, like books and letters. Now news is constantly streaming. We are surrounded by information.'
Barbara Luderowski, Executive/Artistic Director

Artists included in Messages and Communications are:

Jonathan Callan (British, born 1961) is fascinated with the physicality of objects and his work often focuses on the dual nature of books as containers of information and as three-dimensional objects. The information in some of his books seems to erupt from the page (actually silicon gel oozing through holes in the page), while in others it is scratched away from the surface. In his artist's statement, he describes his work as addressing, 'the relationship of disembodied knowledge to embodied experience and materiality.'

Russell Crotty's (American, born 1956) work combines science and art in ways reminiscent of the Renaissance. He observes the night sky through an f/8 Newtonian reflector telescope, taking extensive notes on his observations. These notes are then applied to spheres that are suspended from the ceiling in the gallery, like large-scale models of the solar system. He also creates hand-made books of drawings that document what he sees through his telescope. His detailed drawings resemble obsessive note taking since they are also made in ballpoint pen.

Emil Lukas' (American, born 1964) work, usually in plaster, is always a collection of elements like the pages of a book. He creates books out of plaster and makes sculptures that one views by looking at one section after another. While his work does not always include text, there is an implication of narrative.

Dennis Marsico (American, born 19??) is a Photographer whose work has achieved recognition throughout the world. His images explore social issues, often in a satirical way. As an alternative exhibition format, he has begun to explore a new visual form‹the artist book. He has established Dionysus Press to provide equipment and facilities to create limited edition books. His handmade books combine centuries-old bookbinding techniques with state-of ­the-art digital prints.

Diane Samuels (American, born 1948) creates form from history and memory, using various media such as photography, video, audio and text inscribed onto different kinds of surfaces.

Edie Tsong's (American, born 1968) work often presents text in unusual contexts, such as wrapping telephone poles with strips of paper reading 'I love you;' or copying in cursive script all the names in the Roswell, New Mexico, telephone book and presenting it in a mural-like format.

The Mattress Factory is a museum of contemporary art that presents art you can get into - room-sized environments, created by in-residence artists. Located on Pittsburgh's North Side since 1977, the Mattress Factory is hailed as the best facility for installation art in the United States. Kids are always free, and Thursdays are half off to adults.

Contact: Meredith Knight E-mail: Meredith@mattress.org

The Mattress Factory
500 Sampsonia Way
Pittsburgh

stampa

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