FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 26, 2012
R&D
Manifold
4426 North Ravenswood Avenue,
Chicago, IL 60640
Contact:
Elizabeth Fiersten
info@manifoldchicago.com
773.754.7186
manifoldchicago.com
Opening Reception: Saturday, March 10, 5 to 8pm
Show dates: March 10 to May 26, 2012
Chicago, IL: Manifold is very pleased to present its inaugural exhibition R&D, opening on Saturday, March 10th, 2012 with an open reception to the public from 5 to 8pm. This exhibition will be open through May 26th with gallery hours Tuesday through Friday 12 to 6pm and Saturday 12 to 4pm. R&D is curated by Britton Bertran.
R&D is a group exhibition of contemporary Chicago artists working in a variety of mediums that explore the concept of Research & Development as a working methodology for creating works of art in an overtly process-based manner. Each artist works in a manner that continually breaks down, reassembles and manufactures art making both literally and conceptually, as a means to manifest their ideas formally in presentation.
This exhibition is located in a gallery adjoining the manufacturing space that houses several furniture designers and builders who incorporate research and development as a standard element integral to their process. By placing art works by artists who work in a similar vein within this context, the translation into the visual art world becomes more evident. R&D compliments and blurs the line between the design and “fine art” process while paying special attention to the nature of the product.
Mike Andrews who works in a variety of different mediums - from digital animation to bronze - that simultaneously investigates the abstract tendencies of form and color; will be exhibiting a tapestry mash-up using a variety of materials. T.J. Donovan's contribution is a site-specific multi-paneled wall drawing on vellum that mirrors his traditional studio practice but expands it abstractly both visually and formally. Ben Foch will create a site-specific wall drawing from his “Roller Painting Series” where he employs a common house painting roller to engage architecture directly and efficiently as an ephemeral response to the building’s purpose. Karolina Gnatowski & Heather Mullins’ fainting couches are a collaborative experiment where each developed a structure as well as an upholstered cushion on their own and then repeated the process but switched roles in designing the furniture’s two parts. Geoffrey Todd Smith’s drawing is a conceptually penultimate composite of design fragments of previous and potential future drawings. Founded in 2009, Thornberry is a think tank and company dedicated to producing the world’s finest doorstops.
The Curator: Britton Bertran is a Chicago-based independent curator. Previous curatorial projects include New Icon at the Loyola University Museum of Art and Artists Run Chicago at the Hyde Park Art Center.
The Gallery: Manifold is a new gallery owned and operated by Ross and Elizabeth Fiersten, who recently moved their furniture manufacturing studio into the Ravenswood neighborhood to share with the Chicago community their refined approach to the craft of metal furniture and art. For more information about Manifold, please contact the gallery.
