SOLOS 2012 Opens Tonight At Westport Arts Center

Some of the eight artists featured in SOLOS 2012, an annual juried exhibition opening tonight at  Westport Arts Center, contemplate the idea of fragility as their body of work invites viewers to reflect upon their own lives. The public is invited to meet this eclectic group of sculptors, painters, photographers and installation artists and enjoy some wine and nibbles at an Opening Reception tonight from 6 to 8 p.m.

A dining room table with a mirrored top is placed in the middle of the gallery's floor, about two-thirds of the way from the entrance. “the TEA party” by artist June Ahrens has six place settings defined by  tea cups that have been
meticulously rearranged from their broken pieces. They're not functional in a traditional sort of way and yet it's obvious by their formal arrangement on the table that they serve a purpose. In a promotional brochure available to guests tonight, Ms. Ahrens writes, “Loss, pain, fragility and danger are inspirations for my sculptural practice and site-dependent work. My work reveals the deep
internal and external forces that are the residue of life's experiences....The use of the mirror on the tabletop reflects the viewer's image back on to himself or herself. I isolate these materials to refocus the viewer's attention toward examining their own feeling.”

Westport Arts Center's Visual Arts Director Helen Klisser During said all of the artists this year have a deliberate voice. “It's a real majesty and mark-making happening in this exhibit. There's something urgent and informed that's being
said.”

As I walked through the exhibit, before I read Ms. Ahren's comments, I felt myself drawn to “the TEA party.” Having grown-up in a divorced household, with alcoholism and violence, I related on a visceral level to the brokenness on
display before me. I felt a sadness but also an essence of hope as I recognized the beauty of the haphazard place settings. Despite their imperfection—and they're  not 'doing' at all what they should have been doing—there was a tranquil acceptance towards their new role, so to speak, on the table. As I shared some of these thoughts with Ms. During as we walked through SOLOS 2012 this week, she said, “It's fragile, it's dangerous, but it's also about making something
precious again.”

What I love about art is it's personal. The artist may have an intent but I, the viewer, bring my own unique experience to it. Ms. Ahrens, and several artists in SOLOS 2012, explore the concept of reflection, whether it's physical images and light reflections within the piece itself or, as in this case, inviting the viewer to be reflective by using a mirror to further draw them in.

Taking a different turn on the theme of fragility, Arcady Kotler's sculptures speak to the importance of the individual elements in relation to the whole. For example, he forms an image of the circular top of the New York City Sewer using small, white sugar cubes. Much of his work is done by placing with small objects, such sugar cubes, puzzle pieces and beads, in repetitive patterns. In “My Humpty Dumpty,”another Kotler work in SOLOS 2012, the artist demonstrates fragility and the vitality of each small puzzle piece to the entire composition. “Like Humpty Dumpty, if tiny piece is lost, the whole thing could fall apart and not get put back together again,” Ms. During added, with a smile. 

On an upbeat note, viewers can't help but feel that spring is in the air as they gaze upon Charles Geiger's large mixed media paintings. Though he portrays contrasting images of post-modern civilization in 'Civilizations and Connectedness,' all of Mr. Geiger's work could be enjoyed for simply their exquisite color and design. “There's a whimsy, a playfulness, a sign of rebirth
present,” said Ms.  During.

There's also a sense of newness prevalent in “A Young Person's Guide to Paris: Sketches by Susan Malloy” in Westport Arts Center's Project Space. A resident
of Westport since 1939, Ms. Malloy, 88, has been a member of the Westport Arts Center since its inception. She is now an Honorary Member of the Board of Directors. Although she had visited Paris many years ago, Ms. Malloy had the opportunity to see things in a different light during a recent visit with her two grandchildren and other family members. Like a true artist, of course Ms. Malloy
documented the trip by sketching all of the sites they visited in black pen. These illustrations have been published in a book and a special signing will be held at the Westport Arts Center on Thursday, April 19 at 3 pm.

SOLOS and “A Young Person's Guide to Paris: Sketches by Susan Malloy” will be on display through June 3, 2012. Lunchtime Artist Talks begin on Wednesday, April 4 at 12:30 p.m.. with Charles Geiger and Timothy Pyle. Ms. During also leads an Art Cafe every Friday morning at 9:30 a.m. New Happy Hour Art
discussions are scheduled for April 20 and May 2 from 6 to 7 p.m.