Art-Broken: a group show about poetry and brokenness

“Art-Broken,” a diverse group exhibition that combines visual works and poetry to explore the aesthetic meaning of brokenness, not just of physical forms, but of the creative spirit.

Whether it be the cringe induced by a vase falling from a pedestal, the deliberate fragmentation of a form, or the complete loss of one’s mind—the fragility of the art object often clashes with the dynamics of the creative process. An artist can revel in their capacity to bend and shape the physical world, only to preserve the art, and even themselves, as a finished, finite entity.

How does the closeness to an irreversible “death” create value? Whereas the nature of things is to fall apart, some avoid this doom by adopting brokenness, dysfunction , and struggle as alternative permanence. The true statement of an artist could possibly be found in this poetic longing to endure.

Featuring work from:

Ben Quinn
Brian Sharrock
Frank Castanien
Michael Shultis
Farnoosh Lanjani
Jon Davis
Clara Poupel
Catherine Abitbol
Molly Cecile Surazhsky
Allison Spence
Ryan Alters

Luis “ICHY” Castro

Curated by Alejandro Bellizzi
Special thanks to Ryan Alters

Cocktail Preview: Thursday, October 9th

Opening Reception: Saturday, October 11th

Catherine Abitol

Michael Shultis – Babies 2014 Oil, Acrylic, Sharpie and Spray Paint on Raw Canvas 50″ x 44″

Michael Shultis – Buffy 2014 Oil, Acrylic, Sharpie, String, Blanket and Spray Paint on Raw Pink Canvas 47″ x 44″

Frank Castanien – Flesh Bag 1/8 inch acrylic panel, acrylic adhesive, blue and green spray paint, 3/4 inch domestic birch plywood frame, wood glue, 1.25 inch bradnails, 1.25 inch screws, liquidnail adhesive. 1.75 x 36 x 72 inches

Molly Cecile Surazhsky

Ichy Castro – oil on canvas ( Broken wood..), 47×69 on paper ( Ball) , 39×27”, 2011

Ichy Castro – charcoal on paper ( Ball) , 39×27”, 2011, charcoal on paper (Tower), 39×25, 2011

Space