INSIDE ART with Michael Rose-JamestownArts Center Presents a Spaced Out Exhibition

( Go Local Providence) Wednesday July 21

Over the course of the pandemic, notions of space have become pronounced. On view through August 14 at the Jamestown Arts Center, the exhibition Spacing Out: Expanding the Field of Vision compellingly examines issues related to space and dimensionality in art. Curated by Karen Conway, the show features two and three-dimensional artworks by a group of fifteen artists. A multifaceted exhibition, it is well worth a drive to the island.

The exhibition opens with wall-mounted sculptures of hummingbirds assembled from recognizable found objects by artist Tom Deininger. Set off against a space painted to resemble a cloudy sky, they invite one to examine and appreciate some of the gaudily colored bits that make up the whole, including a pair of orange-handled scissors or a tiny action figure. For children of the ’90s, a yellow K’Nex building block is immediately noticeable.

One of the most striking works in the exhibition is Tayo Heuser’s Vespers. A collection of seven circular panels which reflect the seemingly infinite reverberations of a struck gong, the grouping appears to float beautifully. This piece is the product of both intense consideration and technical proficiency. In it Heuser used handmade Gofun, a Japanese paint created from oyster shells and fish gelatin. Tonally subtle, its surfaces are made up of soft blues, pale neutrals, and the occasional 24karat gold teardrop, inspired by the tear of a Madonna the artist found in a medieval manuscript.

Of the piece, Heuser says, “Much of the work I create has been linked to the earth and sky. This one in particular strives to cross the vast silent ether between us and the arched dome above us. Looking up into the sky I feel weightless, not only physically but also my thoughts are freed of burdens and join the echoed silence of infinite space.” When observing Vespers, visitors can expect to have a similarly peaceful and meditative experience.