JUly 10 - august 8, 2021
TIN foil has many uses
Olivia De Chiara, Jackson Denahy, Ruby Lindsey, Manny Ofori,
Holden Hue Pham, Jairo Serna, Khalif Tahir Thompson
curated by george simonds
OPENING RECEPTION: SATURDAY, JUly 10, 6-8PM
This exhibition shows some of the interesting and innovative art made by younger artists, work that is not much seen by the public. It is, however, seen in the studios by their friends and other artists. To bring some of this work out from the studio and before the public, we have scheduled two exhibitions this summer, asking two emerging artists to each curate an exhibition of work by their fellow emerging artists, work they find stimulating and exciting
The first curating artist George Simonds has exhibited an installation in the FiveMyles Plus/Space in 2019 of five water spewing fountains made with found objects and other kinetic works. During his time in the gallery we became aware of George's enthusiastic descriptions of visits to his artist friends’ studios and the work he had seen. It was the impetus to invite George to curate this exhibition.
Olivia De Chiara photographs empty spaces in the environment that project a sense of alienation and longing. These images depict relatable and recognizable spaces and the absence of human subjects in them lets the viewer enter.
Jackson Denahy shows a triptych in oil paint. He applies paint with confident strokes and in nervous patches. This combination gives his sitters the intensity of distinct personalities.
Ruby Lindsey has created one of her rudimentary constructions of mixed-media bodies using 5 lbs of rubber bands. The sculpture deals with tension and relaxation. Thousands of rubber bands hang limp down the perimeter of the structure, while a single tangled strand of rubber bands reach up to the ceiling, seemingly about to snap. Ruby also shows her first formal video installation, consisting of audio and visual clips gathered over the past year, arranged into a 10-minute short.
Self-described hybrid artist Manny Ofori’s shows beautifully crafted cabinets, with cubby holes and doors that open and close with inlay work based on classic African patterns. They point not only to the pleasure and the patience of the artist making this work, but also to his commitment to his Ghanaian background.
The internally illuminated round sculptures or "signs" by Holden Hue Pham - one lighting glass strips of color, the other lighting images from seeming accidental photos - on closer inspection reveal missing pieces that show the unsentimental neon underneath the lit surface, and the broken strips of the glass tubes interrupting their neatly arranged order.
Jairo Serna’s paintings are snapshots and autobiographical scenes of his intimate relationship with the city and the people in it. The work is made by using poured latex paint assembled together piece by piece in a mosaic like fashion, resulting in flat compositions with strong colors.
Khalif Tahir Thompson shows two large paintings that are portraits of his grandparents. The paintings are clearly made with his love and affection for them, and he has situated his grandparents into the warmth of their home by putting a simple small side table, a lamp and an old fashioned, not working TV set in between them.
GALLERY HOURS:
Thursday - Sunday, 1 - 6pm, or by appointment. Please email hanne@fivemyles.org, or call 718-783-4438.
DIRECTIONS:
Take 2, 3, or 4 trains to Franklin Avenue. Walk two blocks against the traffic on Franklin. Walk ¾ block to 558 St. Johns Place. FiveMyles is within easy walking distance from the Brooklyn Museum.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
FiveMyles is in part supported by the New York State Council for the Arts, Public Funds from the New York City Dept. of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, Council Member Laurie Cumbo, The Jacques and Natasha Gelman Foundation, the Shelley and Donald Rubin Foundation, the Perlemeter Foundation, the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, the Joseph Robert Foundation, and the William Talbott Hillman Foundation.