Art League RI is pleased to present the Elected Artist Members Exhibition, Beacon: Emmett Barnacle, Dan Borden, Robert Easton, David Zapatka. Light, layering, regional culture, architecture, and history are woven into the photographs and sculptures of these artists.
Barnacle’s cast glass ships in tones of blue and green sea glass anchor and illuminate the space they are in. Blending voyage and memory, architecture and symbols, the texture and detail in his work remind one of artifacts and mythology. Barnacle writes that he “seeks to merge elements from the past with concepts from fiction and the imagination, creating playful moments in lieu of traditional renditions.”
Borden’s layered and dynamic photographs of his surroundings disrupt the known and uncover a mesmerizing sense of place that transforms understanding in a beautiful and unexpected way. He invites viewers to discover something unexpected through the woven mystery of the everyday. Borden states: “I use simple cameras to create complex images. I don’t crop, filter, or ‘Photoshop’…I am exploring the interplay between artist control and leaving the door open for Chance and evaluating the results.”
Easton digs into the Providence “Jewelry District” history with his lyrical photographs of strings of beads, little boxes of buttons, and shelves of vintage jewelry supplies of the Providence-based wholesale jewelry supplier Wolf E. Myrow. The shiny beads, repetitive shapes, and mismatched boxes are a tactile excavation of the offerings and potential of the materials waiting to be selected and made into something new. Easton describes the spaces as presenting a “fascinating visual environment that is organized and chaotic all at the same time.”
Zapatka’s photographs of lighthouses across the US, amidst expansive illuminated skies, honor and pay homage to these illuminated beacons and spatial anchors. Their far-reaching light seems to be in dialog with the enchanting starry skies, magnificent aurora borealis, and soothing coastal horizons. This series is part of a national project, “USA Stars & Lights” featuring photographs of the nation’s historic lighthouses at night.
An opening reception will be held Saturday, February 1, 2025, from 5:00 – 7:00 pm. A closing reception and artist talks will be held on Saturday, February 22, 2025, from 5:00 – 7:00 pm. The exhibition will be on display February 1 – 23, 2025.
Exhibition Dates: February 1 – 23, 2025
Opening Reception: Saturday, February 1, 2025, 5:00 – 7:00 pm
Closing Reception & Artist Talks: Saturday, February 22, 2025, 5:00 – 7:00 pm
Location: Art League RI Gallery at 80 Fountain Street, Suite 107A, Pawtucket, RI 02860
For additional information or images, please email Sarah Hardesty at shardesty@artleagueri.org
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