Last night was opening night for Teresa Cole’s exhibition, Between Origin and Present, currently showing at whitespace through June 30, 2012. For the past few days, Teresa has been in the gallery hanging the focal point of the show, an installation entitled Curling in on Itself, which consists of relief prints on paper with cotton and silk saris. Even though it was interesting witnessing the process of installation, which is all hung by hand so that no two installations are the same, the piece was exquisite last night showing beautifully in the glow of the rustic gallery. Yet Teresa Cole’s show is not just aesthetically pleasing, the layering of materials is also symbolic for layering in meaning. The artist’s objective is “a tracing of the past to hopefully understand our complicated world” and tries to “understand ornament as a visual language and ultimately through this use of pattern, exploring how cultures influence each other.” Having created the installation centerpiece of the show in India during her Khoj Kolkata International Residency, Cole says that “through our multivalent culture, my search has been to sift, refine and restructure pattern as an intent to comment on the complexity of contemporary existence.”

Here are some highlights from last night’s opening:

*Photos by Frank Sanchez

The focal point of the show, "Curling in on Itself" made of relief prints on paper with cotton and silk saris

Artist, Teresa Cole, discussing her printmaking techniques with guests

Guests gather in the main gallery of whitespace for opening night for "Between Origin and Present"