Something “monstrous” might seem quite harmless but when you reach out, it suddenly comes alive and jabs your finger. Something “monstrous” can disturb your mind with just a thought or feeling. In Monstrous, the same principle applies to a showcase of ceramic works which can both delight and dismay. The exhibit features the diverse work of four local artists displaying a unique blend of technique, color, pattern, shape, and texture. Enter if you dare…
Curator
Featured Artists
Opening Reception
Friday, October 16, 2015 at 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Free to the public. Meet the artists and enjoy complimentary snacks. $2 wine and beer.
More Information About Monstrous
[one_half spacing=”yes” last=”no”]
Monstrous is a group exhibition featuring the work of four talented ceramics artists: E. Valentine DeWald II, Carol Gouthro, Paul Metivier, and Kathleen Skeels. These artists have created a chilling collection of wall-mounted and pedestal-mounted ceramic pieces that probe the darker parts of the human psyche while delighting the viewer with unexpected details and textures.
Curated by DeWald, the inspiration for the show came from a “fascination with the beautiful, but infinitely dark and intense art of H. R. Giger, along with Sci-Fi and Fantasy books and movies” that he says “pushed [his] ceramic forms to new levels.”
When it came time to choose who should be in this eerie exhibit with him, DeWald says: “I knew three other artists that were like-minded. Paul Metivier’s most recent work is reminiscent of the wooden, worm-holed, rotting carvings found on the prow of ancient seagoing vessels of antiquity. He has spawned decapitated undead human heads and torsos along with the murder of crows that feed on them. Carol Gouthro’s current pieces are dissected plant life gone mad, with seductive hues and captivating innards; all these require surgical gloves for closer inspection. Kathleen Skeels’s creations are quite surreal, with the most current conceptions exploring human-insect relationships and anatomy gone wrong. Her sculptures are splendid but also terrifying.”
As for his own work, DeWald feels that his pieces fit into the category of archaeology, with most of his pieces evoking a “freshly dug up” feeling. “My pieces started out as early organically-based weapons and slowly worked into more modern weapons.” Claws, scales, and tentacles call to mind familiar creatures from the animal kingdom, but the unnatural juxtaposition of parts turns the familiar to the uncanny before our eyes.
The tension between drawing viewers in with fascinating details and lush, livid color and repelling them with grotesque or unnerving twists is at the core of Monstrous. Just like our favorite horror movies that pique our curiosity through half-closed eyes, Monstrous demands to be looked at… if you dare.
[/one_half]
[one_half spacing=”yes” last=”yes”]
[/one_half]