Hamilton Scholar-in-Residence Tacey A. Rosolowski is the curator for Material Explorations: Wearable Objects of Non-traditional Materials, an international juried exhibition opening at the Munson Williams Proctor Institute School of Art Gallery on March 29. Rosolowski, a writer of literary essays as well as criticism of material culture, will deliver the opening lecture on March 29 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. A reception will follow at the gallery in the Studios and Gallery Building at 1200 State Street in Utica.
The show, which includes almost one hundred works by forty-eight artists representing the U.S., the U.K., Mexico, and the Netherlands, will be open through April 20. Using common objects such as beer cans, computer parts, Teflon, and concrete, the artists have created non-traditional forms of jewelry and adornment. Rosolowski, in collaboration with Munson Williams Proctor Assistant Professor of Metal Arts Chris Irick, sought to demonstrate the "significance of these innovative objects."
Rosolowksi says, "The artists create everything from ritual objects to high-fashion statements, taking materials we usually ignore and demonstrating their beauty and potential for creative expression."
Rosolowski earned her Ph.D. in comparative literature at the State University of New York at Buffalo. As a critic of material cultural forms, she has worked as a radio commentator on visual culture and published scholarly articles on film and photography. Her current research focus is on the cultural and aesthetic nature of adornment. She writes frequently for Metalsmith and lectures on the cultural dimensions of adornment at museums and metals departments.
Material Explorations will be exhibited in The School of Art Studios and Gallery Building, 1200 State Street, Utica. Hours are Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. and Friday from 9 am to 4:30 pm. Saturday hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For information, phone (315) 797-8260.
