Wednesday, July 8, 2009
AD Projects is pleased to announce an exhibition of contemporary works by 9 emerging and mid-career artists in various media. This second show in the After Dark series seeks to further investigate the nuances of visual, temporal, and personal interpretations of the phrase ‘after dark.’ Works ranging from ethereal lights, to torrid paintings, to installations about heartbreak are exhibited together in this one-night event.
In light of the recent economic downturn, and with many galleries in the neighborhood permanently closing their doors, AD Projects aims to reinvigorate a currently vacant artists’ space in the 551 W. 21st Street building. The exhibition space is neither entirely domestic nor commercial; rather it is a liminal space for creative production. As the previous show was set in an unoccupied apartment, this show will also explore the dualistic nature of the presentation space. After Dark 78 will only be on view for one evening calling attention to the transient, ever-changing nature of contemporary art.
Works on view include photography, painting, sculpture, and installation. Together, they provide a dynamic narrative of the connotations of the phrase ‘after dark.’ In a site-specific work, Ricky Sears constructs a sinuous web from delicate threads affixed to the walls and floors of the space. The winding fibers draw a physical connection between the ethereal highlights and shadows created by spotlights. In this piece, Sears contrasts the severity of the taught threads with the material’s softness.
Jennifer Grimyser’s piece, Dark Words, addresses the show’s theme in a different manner. Layering red on top of green on top of countless other colors, Jennifer explores the visually ironic relationship between color and text. Stepping back, the multicolored cross-hatching combines to create the solid black phrase ‘dark words.’ As with all of her pieces, Grimyser’s play on the written word conveys self-reflection with a twist of humor. In this case, the deconstruction of darkness results in color. The exhibition will be on view July 8, 2009 from 8-11 pm and by appointment only on the 9th.
