Emerging Artists 2009 at Spruill Gallery
Meg Aubrey, Cul de Sac. All photographs courtesy of Spruill Gallery.
Spruill Gallery’s Emerging Artists 2009: Artists on the Up and Up features the art of Susan Ryles, Erin McIntosh, Jonathan Bouknight, Ting Ying Han, Rylan Steele, Rory Golden, Meg Aubrey, Jason Kofke, and Danny Paulete. Below are some of the works that caught my eye.
Meg Aubrey’s series I Just Live Here shows the life of a 40-something female figure searching for purpose in life. Aubrey says the figure is the stereotype of the upper-middle class housewife. Her paintings are representations of typical suburban neighborhoods, minus the houses and cars. I am intrigued by them although they make me feel uncomfortable. The noticeable voids in works such as Cul de Sac generate psychological tension. Aubrey’s ability to create an intense atmosphere leaves me wanting to see more from this young artist.
Rylan Steele, Office.
Rylan Steele’s photographs of office interiors remind me of German conceptual photographers like Bernd and Hilla Becher. Steele photographs mundane places to highlight the overlooked details of everyday life. His use of line, as seen in Office, helps convey order and monotony. Steele captures scenes on film that many of us walk by without noticing. Although Steele has potential, his photographs continue the documentary tradition without challenging it.
Susan Ryles, Steel-etto.
Susan Ryles’ fun and witty sculptures address contemporary gender issues. Ryles depicts traditional feminine items such as shoes, bras, and larger than life egg beaters. All the objects are made using stainless steel or bronze—traditionally masculine materials (think Donald Judd, Tony Smith, etc.). By making feminine objects out of masculine materials, Ryles does not succumb to expected stereotypes; instead, she challenges our perceptions of gender identity.
Jason Kofke, Everything Will Be OK.
Jason Kofke’s saying “Everything Will Be OK” often has been seen around town over the past year. Spruill Gallery displays a variety of objects with this message on them, from an illustrated condom dispenser to leather bound journals to a giant outdoor mural. According to Kofke, the saying relates to past events and simultaneously expresses hope for the future. Particularly intriguing is Kofke’s pursuit to devise new ways to explore the saying, and also how the message’s meaning varies slightly with each object.
Ting Ying Han, Missing.
I was most impressed with Missing by Ting Ying Han. Han was born in Taiwan but has been living in the United States for the past six years. Her work attempts to achieve a balance between past and present. Like many artists living outside their homeland, she incorporates stereotypes imposed on her culture—in this case, rice. The table and stools are covered with rice, and instantly I appreciated the sheer amount of time the artist spent on Missing. But beyond the work’s physical construction lie deeper issues that address identity and the struggle to reconcile past and present.
Emerging Artists 2009 includes a variety of media and subject matter. The show is installed such that each artist’s work is self-contained. I would have liked to see pairings of certain works, for example Erin McIntosh’s meditative paintings with Han’s installation since they share a contemplative quality. Also, if Steele and Aubrey’s works were displayed within the same room, this would encourage an excellent discussion about gender roles in contemporary society. Despite the flow of the exhibition, however, Spruill Gallery presents Atlanta with an excellent group of artists to keep our eyes on as their art matures.
Emerging Artists 2009: Artists on the Up and Up will be on view at Spruill Gallery through Sat. Aug. 1.
Nice review of this show. It is a great group of up and coming artists that makes a visit to Spruill well worth it. Hope Cohn did an excellent job of selecting the artists and mounting the show.