Carrie Moyer and Sheila Pepe
26 June - 28 August 2004
The Palm Beach Institute of Contemporary Art
(561) 582-0006
info@palmbeachica.org
www.palmbeachica.org
PALM BEACH ICA PRESENTS FIRST DUAL MUSEUM EXHIBITION OF NEW YORK ARTISTS, CARRIE MOYER AND SHEILA PEPE
Artists Incorporate Diverse Themes of Craft, Feminism and Activism in Their Art
The Palm Beach Institute of Contemporary Art is pleased to announce Two Women: Carrie Moyer and Sheila Pepe, which opened June 26 and runs through August 29, 2004. This is the first joint museum exhibition for these two New York-based life partners. The exhibition is curated by former PBICA Director Michael Rush and visiting curator, Dominique Nahas, the team that curated two highly successful PBICA exhibitions, BROOKLYN! (2001) and Japan:Rising (2003).
Carrie Moyer, 44, a painter, uses poured color, allowing it to drip to form organic and symbolic shapes, combined with drawn areas of flat paint and glitter. Her work is loaded with 60s hippie references, including highly recognizable pop icons, drawing much of its origins from political posters of the time. Moyer’s complex and brilliantly colored canvases present luscious optical experiences as they reveal themselves to the viewer. Included in Art in America’s recent 8 Painters: New York, Moyer’s work was described by critic Raphael Rubinstein as “oscillating between past and present, abstraction and representation, painting and graphic art, disillusion and activism, tenderness and violence.”
Sheila Pepe, 45, creates large, site specific installations combined with delicate wall drawings. Pepe weaves together complete environments of yarn, industrial rubber bands and shoelaces. She transforms light and space into flights of fantasy, with shadows cast by her woven nets. Her unique installation at Palm Beach ICA transforms the “line” from one into three dimensions, creating space and architecture by weaving together a complete environment from ephemeral materials. She describes her work as “improvisational crocheting.” She says, “I like shoelaces because they honor my grandfather, who repaired shoes after he immigrated to New York from Italy. The crocheting comes from my mother, who taught me to crochet as a child.” Her environments lend credence to the simple and lowly, while her scale and ambition gives newfound appreciation for all such humble beginnings. Pepe’s labor-intensive sculpture in the museum stretches overhead from the second floor balcony to the back of the space, touching the floor at several points, and is unique to the architectural characteristics of the building.
Moyer’s and Pepe’s work bears no obvious resemblances, yet when viewed in tandem, both artists display a clear interest in abstraction and the formal qualities of painting and sculpture. Moyer’s canvasses infuse the ground floor galleries with bursts of color and a plethora of forms that, in a sense, create a dance of light and shape with Pepe’s construction. The second floor galleries contain paintings and drawings by both artists that reflect their shared, enduring interest in the urban landscape. “Two Women,” according to curator Rush, “is intended as a celebration of these women’s art, art that results from extraordinary craft and a deep commitment to social ideals.”
Concurrent Exhibition in the New Media Lounge
The New Media Lounge features a projected video, Three Small Deaths, by Joseph Peragine. In this poignant animated work, Peragine combines audio tracks from three major motion pictures – Short Cuts, The Ice Storm, and Trainspotting – juxtaposing them with colorful cartoon animals acting out tragic situations. The film demonstrates our collapsed comfort with the normal escapism of cartoons in real world trauma. This exhibition is curated by Jody Servon and organized by Palm Beach ICA.
Public Programming
The museum offers numerous public programs in direct relation to current exhibitions. Most notable are Art Talks, which are artist presentations and panel discussions on current exhibitions led by exhibiting artists and arts professionals. Others include Artist-to-Artist Dialogues, Family Hands-on-Workshops, Art Book Club, Culture Club (targeting teens), and Cine al Fresco, the PBICA series of themed free outdoor films. Unless otherwise noted, all programs take place at PBICA and are included with paid museum admission. Attendees are encouraged to view the exhibition prior to the start of the program. Reservations requested.
Carrie Moyer and Sheila Pepe: A Discussion with the Artists
Thursday, July 15, 7:00 pm
The exhibiting artists dialogue with exhibition curators Michael Rush and Dominique Nahas about the diverse themes of craft, feminism, and activism in their art. The artists, who are life partners, will also discuss lesbian culture and activism in the contemporary art world.
The Poetry of Protest: A Workshop
Sunday, July 18, 2:00 pm
This workshop for adults is inspired by the art of Carrie Moyer, whose paintings blend formalist abstraction and color with symbols of activism. Local Palm Beach poet Marya Summers will guide participants through the practice of using artistic language to express political opinions.
PBICA Hosts Renowned Young Filmmaker, Chaille Stovall
Thursday, August 5 – Saturday, August 7
Stovall is a maverick fifteen year old documentary filmmaker recently named one of Teen People Magazine’s “20 Teens Who Will Change the World.” Stovall’s critically acclaimed films have been shown on HBO Television and screened at top film festivals around the world. Two of his films will be screened at PBICA, Little Monk (2002) and Party Animals (or how to get to the White House in 5 easy steps) (2000). He will also present a hands-on workshop structured for teens at his closing appearance.
Image credits from left to right: Carrie Moyer, Affiche #14 (Cherry Bomb), 2004. Acrylic on canvas, 50 x 42 in. Courtesy of the artist. Sheila Pepe, “Bridge and Tunnel”, 2004. Mixed media installation using crocheted shoelaces, graphite, gouache at Susan Inglett Gallery. Dimensions variable. Courtesy of Susan Inglett Gallery, New York.
The Palm Beach Institute of Contemporary Art is located at 601 Lake Avenue in Downtown Lake Worth. Hours are Tuesday through Sunday from noon until 6:00 pm. The museum is open until 8:00 pm on the first and third Friday of the month and admission is free between 5:00 and 8:00 pm. For more information, please call (561) 582-0006 or visit www.palmbeachica.org. The exhibitions and programs at PBICA are generously supported by Robert and Mary Montgomery.
