Perform/Install 3 @ The South Bend Museum of Art

Perform|Install 3
March 27–June 27, 2010
Exhibition Reception is April 9, 2010, 5:00-8:00 (musical performance begins at 7:30 p.m.) It is not new for a museum to put on events or design exquisite installations. It also is not new for museums to share the art viewing experience with a performance in the same locale. For the SBMA, it is a regular happening and has been for many years. What is new, however, is to celebrate the joining of events and art in the third installment of Perform/Install. This fusion comes to the SBMA in the form of two visual artists installing work and deliberately transforming the Warner Gallery into a performing arts venue. Over the course of the exhibition several events ranging from experimental in nature, to traditional forms of performance will be presented.

Meredith Setser (Indianapolis, Indiana)–– Grounded by process and materials, space is transformed using massive, swelling walls of handmade felts, imaged with etchings and screen prints. The light at the end of this billowing cave converges on a surprise built of living and dead plant matter, textured felts, and resin. The patterning employed on the massive swaths of felt employ generic biological renderings of dermis and vein patterns shared by a majority of organic life forms and is applied with traditional printmaking applications. Incorporated into the installation are animal by-products (wool, hooves, and pelts) as a means to juxtapose the “faux” felted pelts with actual animal products. This combination places the installation somewhere between reality and falseness, perhaps producing some sense of subterfuge when examined closely.

Lauren Rice (Detroit, Michigan)–– Fantastical landscapes created from debris, papier mache, wood, spray and found objects organic grow and expand in unexpected ways. “Flowers” are formed from bulky blobs resting uncomfortably upon their armatures of wooden dowels, wire and cement. The imagery in this installation work references gardens and flowers, however the traditional preconceptions of these feminine and romantic things are often vulgarized. Rice’s installation intends to simultaneously support and subvert expectations of formal qualities and structural integrity, utilitarian and decorative function. And, in doing so, investigate techniques and materials that have masculine and feminine connotations, as well as explore notions of craft, kitsch, preciousness and sentimentality.

With Color or Not, org Puts on Strong Shows, The Detroiter, by Cedric Tai

http://www.thedetroiter.com/v3/2010/01/with-color-or-not-org-puts-on-strong-shows/

Installation shots from Vestiges

My interview discussing my current solo show Vestiges:

http://perfectlaughter.com/index.php/lauren-rice-interview/

Vestiges: New Work by Lauren Rice

org contemporary is pleased to present: Vestiges: New Work by Lauren Rice

Opening Reception December 11th, 7:00-9:00 pm

Special Exhibition Preview December 5th during Noel Night and the Russell Industrial Open Studios


Using both collage and installation, Lauren Rice transforms ordinary materials into curious forms. Her recent works on paper combine collaged magazine elements, ink, graphite, gouache, spray paint and paper pulp to create abstractions that exist in the liminal space between sexy and strange, pretty and gross.

In Rice’s installations and sculptural projects, she accumulates, modifies, and arranges found and created objects. Using the gallery space as a jumping off point from which to grow and expand in mysterious ways, her installations also balance in between awkward and elegant.

Rice’s work simultaneously supports and subverts expectations of formal qualities and structural integrity; utilitarian and decorative function. By doing so, she investigates techniques and materials that have masculine and feminine connotations, as well as explores notions of craft, kitsch, preciousness and sentimentality.

Rice’s work clearly expresses an interest in contributing to the current dialogue of using found, non-traditional material to create work. It is essential to her practice, however, to criticize and challenge those very tactics by intentionally overindulging in formal elements that have become trends in contemporary art. Precious forms exist beautifully next to awkward, even ugly shapes. Elegant cut paper flowers emerge from a slop of paper pulp or cement. Trendy rays of color radiate from blobs of collage, drawing attention to the relationship between the gawky, strange and the formally divine.

Lauren Rice was born in Atlanta, GA and currently lives and works in Detroit, MI. She received her BA in Studio Art from Knox College and her MFA in Painting from American University in Washington, DC. Recently, her work has been curated into exhibitions such as Paper Trail: Selections from Transformer Gallery's Flat Files at both Transformer Gallery and Heineman Myers Contemporary Art; Girlish Ways: The Next Generation of Female Artists at The Bobby Fisher Memorial Building in Washington, DC; and Experimental Drawing at Nance Street Studios in Houston, TX. Lauren has exhibited in venues in New York City, Chicago, Houston, Fort Worth, Washington DC, Detroit, Baltimore and Atlanta.

org contemporary specializes in solo or two person exhibitions of local and national contemporary artists. They are located on the third floor of building 2 at the Russell Industrial Center in Detroit, MI.


http://www.orgcontemporary.com
http://lauren-rice.com/

Look for my work at:

Transformer proudly presents

The 6th Annual Transformer Silent Auction & Benefit Party

November 7, 2009
7 – 10pm
The Mexican Cultural Institute
2829 16th Street NW

Cynthia Connolly
AUTAUGAVILLE, AL, 11-2-02

Innovative, experimental, diverse, and hip – Transformer is at the nexus of DC’s cultural scene. As Transformer’s primary fundraising event, our Annual Transformer Silent Auction & Benefit Party provides essential support for this dynamic organization’s year-round programming, exhibitions, and services – and it’s a great party!

Transformer’s Annual Auction is an ideal way to begin or expand your art collection while connecting with a smart, sophisticated audience. This very special, one-night only event features an exciting array of over 125 artworks in a variety of mediums, dimensions and prices by more than 100 of DC's leading, emerging, and established artists. Click here to download a complete list of artists and artworks.

Dan Steinhilber
Untitled 1

Expanding Transformer's mission of artist-centered programming and partnerships with cultural institutions, we are thrilled to have the Auction taking place at the Mexican Cultural Institute. Transformer is proud to have The Ambassador of Mexico, His Excellency Arturo Sarukhan, and Mrs. Veronica Valencia-Sarukhan, as our first-time Diplomatic Chairs for this year’s Auction, along with Auction Co-Chairs Kate Damon, Xavier Equihua, Izette Folger, Janice Kim, and Peter Pappas. Click here for a list of our Auction Host Committee and Sponsors.

Tang
Singing Softly To Me

In addition to viewing and bidding on an eclectically curated mix of salon-style hung artworks, patrons are encouraged to groove to the beats of Djs Yellow Fever and special musical guests, while enjoying delicious complimentary hors d'oeuvres, wine and beer throughout the evening provided by some of DC's finest restaurants, including: Bar Pilar, Bistrot Lepic & Wine Bar, Blue Ridge, Buck’s Fishing & Camping, Café Saint-Ex, Casa Oaxaca, Comet Ping Pong, The Commissary, Commonwealth Gastropub, Hank’s Oyster Bar, Kendall’s Cakes, Leopold’s Kafe + Konditorei, Logan Tavern, Mandu, Marvin, Matchbox, Melt Catering, On the Fly, Oyamel, Paisley Fig, Posto, Radius, Red Velvet Cupcakery, Room 11, Sonoma, Ulah Bistro, and Whole Foods.

Lisa Marie Thalhammer
Lizard with Electric
Blue Nailpolish

With a growing reputation as an awesome party and fantastic opportunity for both beginning and seasoned collectors to purchase some of the best visual art DC has to offer, attendance to the auction is already close to sold out. Buy your tickets now! Attendance is $150 if received by 10.30.07; $175 after this date. Click here to download the Invitation PDF and Reply Card PDF.

Attendance is on a first paid, first secured basis – space is not guaranteed. All tickets must be purchased in advance of the Auction night. Tickets will not be sold at the event.

Carolina Mayorga
Love Me

Proceeds from The 6th Annual Transformer Silent Auction & Benefit Party will match recent grant awards, directly supporting artists through artist honoraria, exhibition material coasts, and related programming support. In addition to supporting exhibitions, proceeds will support artists through the funding of Transformer programs such as The Exercises - a peer-mentorship program for emerging artists, as well as The Framework Panel Series, and our ongoing professional development work to help artists help themselves.

Upcoming

http://www.debtcollective.com/future.htm