Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Judith Schaechter Is Doin' Time in Philly


Judith Schaechter’s killer new series, The Battle of Carnival and Lent, are being exhibited at Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia, PA.  It consists of 17 stained glass windows - inspired by the prison’s dark past and installed in historic skylights throughout Cellblocks 8, 11, and 14. 
The Battle of Carnival and Lent responds to the penitentiary’s narrow skylights and arched windows. The imagery, which Ms. Schaechter describes as “addressing in a non-religious way the psychological border territory between ‘spiritual aspiration’ and human suffering,” is evocative of theology but secular in purpose. The figures depicted are literally confined by the unnaturally tall and skinny apertures of the window frames – squished, cropped, straining, and reaching – as a representation of the types of incarceration that are basic to the human experience. Ms. Schaechter balances them with more traditional, cathedral-esque stained glass windows. Her intention is to draw an association between the prison’s original purpose – to provide an environment conducive to self-reflection and, ultimately, penance – and the harsh realities of solitary confinement.



Ms. Schaechter’s past work has almost entirely been installed in museums and galleries as panels over lightboxes. The Battle of Carnival and Lent is unique for both its response to a specific environment as well as for its use of full-spectrum light to illuminate the windows. 



Ms. Schaechter is often asked which architectural setting she sees as ideal for her work, and her response is always the same… Eastern State Penitentiary. Explains Ms. Schaechter, “ESP is precious to me. It’s my hometown. It’s my place.”

The installation will be on view from April 1st through November 30, 2012, with a reception on May 11th. We sure wish we go!



Featured Artist: Kelly Reemtsen



We just love the juxtapositions in Kelly’s paintings, the good girl meets hardware. Her background in fashion design is obvious with the 1950’s and 60’s era puffy dresses. But the way she pairs these fabulous dresses with other objects is the clincher. Well mannered women posing with tools, hardware and clipping shears. Threatening the viewer with vacuum cleaners and mops, she twists the image of women’s work in a wonderful way. Her latest ladies just seem to be falling, helplessly fashionable, to their demise. ARTIST LINK







This was originally published on the homepage of Eclectix, 
in the "Pretty In Pink" issue, March. 2012
For the "Pretty In Pink" online exhibit, click here.

Oleg Dou’s Beautifully Creepy Digitals



“I am looking for something bordering between the beautiful and the repulsive. I want to attain the feeing of presence one can get when walking by a plastic manikin...”





This was originally published on the homepage of Eclectix, 
in the "Pretty In Pink" issue, March. 2012
For the "Pretty In Pink" online exhibit, click here.