Kathy Mitchell-Gorton, Deborah Abbott and Richard Neff

October 25th — November 10th, 2024

in the annex: Nanette Fazio

First Friday: November 1st, 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM

Meditation at Core Art Space: Saturday, November 9th, 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM

Parasols of Protection — Kathy Mitchell-Garton

Parasol: para- ‘protecting against’ + sole ‘sun’ (from Latin sol); literally, sun protection. In this new body of work, Kathy Mitchell-Garton explores ideas of protection and resilience through the form of the parasol. Many cultures use the parasol as a symbol of protection and the power and dignity of a monarch. In Tibetan Buddhism the parasol, or chattra, is one of the eight auspicious emblems given to the Buddha on his enlightenment and symbolizes protection from evil desires that cause suffering. Working with the basic form of the parasol, a raised circle, Mitchell-Garton explores personal and universal meanings of the parasol. The circle invokes a sense of unending time and the connection of all things; the raised circle points to the dome of heaven and the expansiveness of unfolding space. Using textiles passed down from the ancestors, Mitchell-Garton points to the connection between our collective ancestors—everyone from our grandparents to the Buddha himself—and the longing for protection. The ultimate protection is a resilient and gentle heart, which can weather all things. The Buddha showed a path to this ultimate protection, and our ancestors also walked their own path, showing us myriad ways to create and offer resilience and protection for ourselves and others.

Aerial Abstractions — Deborah Abbott

Abbott’s abstract aerial views combine shapes, colors, and patterns seen from an aerial vantage point creating a fascinating abstract composition that can ignite the imagination. The geometric layout of city streets hides under the organic patterns of the meandering flows of rivers, and lakes. The juxtaposition of familiar elements in unfamiliar arrangements challenges our perceptions and prompts us to contemplate the intricate beauty of our planet. Combined with the use of items saved from the waste stream, Her work helps the viewer feel calm and smile because of the use of unconventional materials.

Infinite Dimensions — Richard Neff

Richard Neff’s work delves deeply into perspective, subtle movement, and impossible interactions. His works encourage the viewer to adjust their point of view, to see what is presented, as well as what is not. Working in acrylic on canvas, Neff’s concepts feature interactions that mirror those between mind and reality. “Infinite Dimensions” asks the viewer to assess what they are looking at, contemplate what they are looking  for, and to question if what they see is really what is there.

In the annex:

Flux - Nanette Fazio

From her earliest experiences playing in the rock-creek beds and quarries of New York, to the natural beauty of the glacial-carved Colorado Rocky Mountains, Nanette Fazio has developed an affection for sculpting clay incorporating seasonal changes of decay, dormancy and life with textures inspired by these landscapes. Fazio’s ceramic sculptures begin as an idea evolving and developing all the while taking into consideration the stability of the sculpture and the final high-temperature firing.  Decisions about final color using stain, colored slips and glazes are solidified in the early stages of construction and finalized in the frequently unpredictable nature of the kiln.