Work by Morgan Sayer
The Arts Center of Greenwood, SC is currently featuring a show titled: FASHION AND THE FEMALE: A Visual Dialogue About Fashion and Its Impact On the Female in our Society.
The exhibition features the work of 13 artists working in an array of materials and approaches as diverse as sculpture to photography. The show materials state that Fashion and the Female is a collective body of works which attempts to create a dialogue or social commentary about the enduring and provisional effect of fashion in culture, media, and the domestic life of the female. For details on exhibition dates and other activities please click HERE.
There were several works which stood out for me starting with the piece pictured to introduce this article. The work is by Morgan Sayers. The show materials states that: Using everyday materials such as food wrappers or kitchen utensils, she forms experiential and conceptually charged sculptures, exploring questions of beauty, power, perfection and how these affect the human body.
I understand that Morgan is currently enrolled in the MFA program here at Clemson University.
I Do/I Don't by Susan Lenz
I Do/I Don't by Susan Lenz - detail
Susan Lenz of Columbia, SC had an interesting installation piece made from bridal veils on which she had done free-motion embroidery with statements about marriage and divorce. I loved the fact that it was very difficult to read exactly what the statements said. (sort of like real life.)
Sotto Vestigia by Jane Allen Nodine
Jane Allen Nodine of Spartanburg, SC had another interesting and large installation made from alternating images of slips and real slips which had been stiffened so they would be very uncomfortable to wear. Jane states: Sotto, is Italian for underneath, and vestigia is used as it relates to vestige, a sign of something that once existed but has passed away or disappeared. " She explains that the ephemeral quality of fabric, such as staining, tearing and wrinkling, must constantly be managed by washing, cleaning, ironing and folding. The cycle of attempted control over fabric garment shapes, and wear-ability, seems to serve as a metaphor for daily struggles.
Image from Dolls Endangered Series by Randy Pace
Image from Dolls Endangered Series by Randy Pace
Photographer Randy Pace from Greenwood, SC presented a group of works in a series he calls Dolls Endangered. The entire series is well done and both whimsical and surreal. The images are created through what Randy calls "digital montage" however, every part of the composted final image is from a photograph he has taken. He has created dangerous situations into which he places Barbie. The juxtaposition of Barbie and the danger she is in presents a single narrative and allows the viewer to complete each story using their own imagination.
One interesting detail of the installation of Randy's work was the use of huge push pins to attach the photographs to the wall. It was somehow very appropriate.
Back Gallery in The Art Center
The community of Greenwood should be very proud of the wonderful facility represented by what is called The Emerald Triangle. This refers to The Art Center, The Museum (which is a history museum) and The Greenwood Community Theatre. The building in which The Art Center is housed was previously The Federal Building and is celebrating it's 100th birthday this year. The facility is in a very accessible location with excellent parking and a beautiful enclosed garden area which area groups can rent for events. Congratulations are in order for this triad of non-profit cultural organizations on the recent award of monies connected with attracting visitors to the Greenwood area.
Tom Dimond, Syd Cross and I will be showing work here at The Art Center in February of 2012 and I will tell you more closer to the date.
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