Closing Reception October 11
Sculptors Gary and MaryAnn Carlson fashion together unlikely objects that build a story—sometimes mysterious, sometimes humorous, always provoking the viewer to see the beauty in ordinary objects. Their work starts with collecting items both human-made and natural: faded artifacts, defunct technology, vintage toys and tools, and sticks and stones. The objects are deconstructed, rearranged, and reassembled using techniques from welding to sewing to gluing to fastening with hardware.
Gary incorporates positive and negative spaces in his work and leaves room for each viewer to interpret the sculpture through their own lens. He prefers to focus on the aesthetics of a sculpture, “to unify disparate parts and make them play well together.” MaryAnn’s work leans into narratives, exploring themes of family, history, beliefs, nature, and icons of culture. Her pieces evoke nostalgia, prompting memories both lived and imagined. She often includes aged and weathered materials, stating that “the beauty of an object is in its wear and patina as well as its design.”
Image Credit
Above: MaryAnn Carlson, “Green Breasted Wobbler,” sculpture, 2019, 10″x9.25″x15.5″
Below: Gary Carlson, “Starlight Blue Duck Arcade,” sculpture, 2019, 32″x46″x5″
