MARY CLOONAN: PRESTIDIGITATION
September 6 - 27, 2008
A solo exhibition featuring Mary Cloonan's expressive narrative sculpture.
CHOY GALLERY
Opening Reception:
Saturday, September 6, 6 - 8 PM
Mary Cloonan's narrative sculptures are often arrangements of several symbolic objects, many of which appear and reappear in her work. Recurring often is the hand and the head, as well as books, boats, water and fire. These simple familiar objects are thoughtfully formed and positioned to tell poignant stories. Being the word-lover that she is, the title of each piece is in many ways the sum of many parts - as much a part of the piece as any other part and often the clue that provides the light bulb to her often complex arrangements.
Here is what Mary Cloonan has to say about her work for this exhibition:
pres·ti·dig·i·ta·tion (pr?s't?-d?j'?-t?'sh?n) n. Performance of or skill in performing magic or conjuring tricks with the hands; sleight of hand.
"I marvel at the translation between the mind and hand, ideas becoming concrete.The head contains the possibilities, the memories and thoughts. Hands are the liaison, a bridge between our inner realm and outer world. They create, exposing and exploring our desires, beliefs and needs.They facilitate an outward culmination of intent germinated within.
"Hands are a vehicle for transformation. The alchemy of humble and innocuous materials elevated into something vibrant, poignant, controversial or useful. Artists, of all media, are conjurors.
"I revel in the cartography of the hand, the drumlins, tributaries and the arroyo patterning. The strength and intuition, the scars and calluses that witness a life lived. Hands reveal the history of who we are. They record and remember each action, wound or caress. They communicate through touch and gesture, being a blessing or a burden. Hands are a tangible voice."
Mary Cloonan's works in Prestidigitation will awe and inspire, enlivening our young gullible hearts. They will perform for us, and we will be their avid audience.
Mary K. Cloonan was born and raised in Western New York State, receiving a BS in education from Nazareth College in Rochester, NY. She then went East to earn her MFA in ceramics from Syracuse University. She has since headed South to become a resident artist and teacher at Baltimore Clayworks in Maryland and is also the ceramics professor at American University in Washington, DC. National and international art journals have published articles she has written, as well as those written about her own work. In addition to giving workshops to various art centers around the country, she has participated in an artist residency in Taiwan at Tainan University for the Arts. Her work has been exhibited around the country and is in many private collections. Most artists have a touchstone of artistic epiphany, she blames that salty Play-Doh.
HANDS-ON WORKSHOP NARRATIONS IN CLAY: A Workshop with Mary Cloonan
Saturday – Sunday, September 6 & 7, 10am – 4pm
GALLERY HOURS: Monday - Saturday, 10am - 4 pm
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