St. Joseph's University, Brooklyn
Opening Reception - Thursday, October 26, 2023, 5:30 - 8pm
Artist Talk - Saturday, November 4, 2023, 1 - 3pm
and Wednesday, Nov. 8, 12:40 p.m.
Exploring the Interchange of Static Art Forms
by Laura Horne
In 1766, the scholar Gotthold Ephraim Lessing attempted to define the separate functions of art forms. He was looking at “Laocoon,” a famous sculpture of Hellenistic times as his guide; he wrote that sculpture is a unique art form that deals with the arrangement of corporeal forms in the boundless expanse of space. This endeavor to define the distinct functions inherent in different art forms was a starting point for all mediums to expand from.
Trickling down from Lessing and in light of this exhibition I posit that most art forms can be typically characterized by the stillness of objects arranged in space, yet sculpture operates in the interplay between stasis and motion, capturing a moment in time while hinting at the passage of time. This tension grants sculpture immense expressive potential. Carto, Ralston and Wortsman are sculptors who harness this power by pushing the boundaries of their sculpture, extending their creativity into the sphere of painting and printmaking.
These artists works shift the elusive relationship between the flat surfaces of paper and canvas and the core of sculpture. They provoke contemplation as to whether there is a natural opposition between time and space in sculpture, and how this dynamic relates to the static confines of prints and paintings. Ralston makes prints using found metal, sculptures in their own right and by using oxidation to cause ephemeral textures and color. Wortsman uses repetitive forms in his printing techniques similar to those found in his sculpture and brings in the same tools to create his reliefs for printing, an extension of the three dimensional. Carto uses found materials and canvas to meditatively paint on, small colorful dots create a passageway from the sculpted form to the textured surface.
Abbyssinian Carto
Harold Wortsman
Bonnie Ralston
In this captivating confluence of mediums, we are left pondering: while Lessing attempted to define each medium as a separate form; can sculpture truly reside in a realm apart, or is it a dynamic force that infuses life into the static confines of prints and paintings? The artists herein invite us to venture beyond these conventional boundaries and explore the intriguing connection where sculpture, painting, and printmaking converge.
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Abbyssinian Carto, Guyana, South America, based in Brooklyn, discovered his passion for art at a young age. His artistic journey commenced at the age of 15 when he embarked on formal art training. In 1972, he ventured to the United States to further his art education and earned a BFA in textile design from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. His creative process is deeply rooted in his homeland, reflecting a fusion of cultural influences and personal experiences.
Bonnie Ralston, Brooklyn, is a multi-faceted artist who delves into themes of identity, loss, and transformation through her process-driven works. Ralston often combines street-scavenged metals for her corrosion-based works on paper. Ralston holds a BFA from Hartford Art School in West Hartford, Connecticut, and an MS in Ecological Teaching & Learning from Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Harold Wortsman, Brooklyn, crafts forms that evoke the essence of archaic cult objects. His work is a blend of freedom and clarity, drawing inspiration from diverse influences. His works are in collections across the United States and Europe, including The Library of Congress, Yale University, The New York Public Library Print Collection, The New York Historical Society, and many more.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to Ramona Candy, Director of the Council for the Arts at St. Joseph's University Brooklyn, for her generous support and unwavering dedication.
St. Joseph's University, located in the vibrant borough of Brooklyn, New York, stands as a distinguished institution of higher education. With a rich history of academic excellence and a commitment to fostering intellectual growth, St. Joseph's University provides a dynamic and inclusive learning environment.
Gallery Hours:
Thursdays, 4–7 p.m.
Saturdays, 1–3 p.m.
Alumni Room Gallery, Tuohy Hall
245 Clinton Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y.
The gallery is free and open to the public.
Directions:
Take the G train to Clinton/Washington Avenues.