Untangledtown, Julie Alpert’s latest installation, is sparer and more sculptural than former works. This piece suggests a Surrealist landscape painting gone 3D; perhaps an Yves Tanguy meets The Home Depot. Weirdly pink and green corrugated paper sculptures in space would be poetically juxtaposed except for the fact that nothing here is representational. All a viewer can do is compare abstractions that confront like doodles come alive – a most intriguing invitation.
In the artist’s statement she writes, “I explore my fascination with the illusionistic qualities of film and theater by visually collapsing corners, activating inanimate objects, or exaggerating shadows.”
There are what appear to be random letters cut out of the corrugated, some popped out and swinging from their folded seams. These add a little left brain word and language to balance out the spatial perspective being employed by our right brain.
Utility becomes line – Alpert’s sculptures are lit from within and batches of white and orange extension cords loop around on the floor recalling paint dropped from Jackson Pollock’s brush or even lines from a Brice Marden calligraphic painting.
At her opening reception a friend commented to Alpert that this is the first time he had seen her actually make sculpture versus using found objects. (Well, there is one found object but it’s difficult to figure out what it is - a strange exercise machine? Whatever it is the artist has wrapped the handles of it in varying shades of neon colored tape and leaned it against a low wall. It looks like a tired exercise machine!)
“The sculptures were totally subconscious,” Alpert replied; “While making them there were no complications – and there are usually always complications.”
Alpert’s painted shapes and objects have always felt consistent, born from the subconscious of one very focused yet playful mind. It’s like her brain is a tumbler – ideas and images go in and at some later date emerge transformed. Untangledtown also looks more strictly edited than earlier works – not that there have been tons of previous installations, Alpert only having graduated from the University of Washington with a MFA in painting in 2008. Yet one can tell her editing skills are growing more honed.
A to Z: New Members Show
January 6–30, 2010
SOIL
112 3rd Avenue S, Seattle, WA
Hours: Wed-Sat 12-5 pm
206 264 8061
Comments
Another objective and impressive art review by Molly Norris. Untangletown's installation was fascinating but the pretext given by Norris makes the viewer want to see the art exhibit even more! Well done!
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!