Sculpture Space NYC-Center for Ceramic Arts is proud to present the two-person show: Counterpoint, featuring work by AV Ryan and Susan York, curated by Patricia Zarate.
Counterpoint
March 10 – April 15, 2023
Opening Reception: Friday, March 10, 2023, 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Sculpture Space NYC Center for Ceramic Arts is pleased to present Counterpoint as part of its Curatorial Program series, featuring work by AV Ryan and Susan York, and curated by Patricia Zarate.
Counterpoint is an exhibition that pairs the solid graphite and the porcelain work of Susan York with the paper sculptures of AV Ryan. Both artists have an affinity for precision and repetition, using layers and layers of their chosen medium and transforming the surface with repeated sanding and polishing. Together their sculptures result in contrasting elements such as straight edge vs. curves, lightness vs. heaviness, black vs. white.
AV Ryan’s interest in the Baroque shroud is at the heart of her sculptures. Made with layers of paper that are folded and refolded, the resulting organic shapes, finished with polished gesso, create a sensual surface. The work appears heavy, like marble, but in actuality is as light as paper. Ryan’s work is a way of presenting metaphorically, the body’s weight and lightness as it leaves the physical world.
Susan York works with an abstract language of geometric shapes. Her material is primarily graphite, a powdery light substance that is transformed into solid cast graphite that she sands and polishes for hours. As she has mentioned, “My art practice is based in repetition and labor.” The repetitive motions are both physical and meditative, creating a state of mind that is akin to her Zen Buddhist practice. York’s wall hung sculptures evoke perceptual dualities of weightiness and weightlessness, and the surface sheen both reflects and absorbs light.
Patricia Zarate is an artist, curator, and co-founder of Key Projects, an artist-run gallery space based in Sunnyside, Queens, NY. Through intimate exhibits of contemporary abstract and conceptual art, Key Projects explores and showcases an international community of artists. Zarate’s own practice consists of paintings, drawings and installations that explore abstraction and perception through color, seriality, pattern and repetition.
SSNYC Curatorial Program is dedicated to promoting contemporary visual art focusing on the research and exploration of three dimensional work with an emphasis towards ceramics. Sculpture Space NYC's mission is to stimulate creativity, new ideas and collaboration in ceramics-based investigations. Artists, designers and craftspeople of all backgrounds converge in this center to experiment, learn, make, reflect and grow artistically.
Gallery Hours:
Tuesday-Saturday: 2pm-8pm
info@sculpturespacenyc.com
Location: we are located at 47-21 35th Street, Long Island City NY 11101, near the 33rd Street/ Rawson Street stop on the 7 train.
