Category Archives: Ann Stewart

Abstraction Today

The exhibition, Abstraction Today, at the Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia (MOCA GA) opened Friday night at 6:30 p.m. The most prestigious and prominent art galleries in Atlanta compiled the artists’ works and the opening was filled with guests, a bar and merriment. Whitespace had the honor of participating in this collaboration with Alan Avery Art Company, Marcia Wood Gallery, Mason Fine Art, Sandler Hudson Gallery and {Poem 88}. With pieces from Pete Schulte, Ann Stewart, Bojana Ginn, Eric Mack and Seana Reilly, whitespace’s artists augmented the exhibition incredibly from wall paintings to 3D printed objects to sculpture. In conjunction with other artistic selections, the show was a congruent and diverse examination of what abstract art is in today’s contemporary world.

Though each artist presented their own negotiations of what it means to be abstract, the entire collection of art offered an exceptionally harmonious exhibition. whitespace artists in particular not only showed work that charged the white walls of MOCA GA, but also formed a coherent representation of the free-expression, intimacy, dialogue, and immersive environment whitespace strives to represent. The looming grace of Schulte’s wall painting alone overwhelmed the northern wall of one room, but reflected against the colorful and overwhelming wall work of Hense, added great contrast to envelop the night’s crowd.

IMG_8082Dark Day (Revelator Pt. 2), Pete Schulte, 2016

In a smaller room to the side, an installed projector and sculpture made of straws, paint and cotton by Ginn mirrored the pixelated, almost urban abstract landscape of Mack’s multi-medium work. Beautifully and breathtaking, Stewart’s 3D printed objects cast long and opaque shadows against the white walls of the space as one of the first works in view of the entrance of the exhibition. Across from Stewart, Susannah Starr’s large floral and vibrant neon cut-outs refracted the light via their own technique, presenting a delightful juxtaposition of shadow play for Stewart’s objects. And Reilly’s floor to ceiling canvases overwhelmed what was left of the room with their ombre and bleak exploration of gradient and texture.

IMG_8085
Diamagnetic Liaison, Ann Stewart, 2016

What was best about Abstraction Today was the physical manifestation of the diversity and talent that can be found in Atlanta. Each artist’s work illuminated an aspect of its neighboring pieces and vice versa. The space was filled with detailed conversation, immense artistic exploration and wonder. The exhibition’s navigation of what it means to be abstract is a testament to the greatness of today’s contemporary art, not only in the world, but right here in Atlanta. From modern advances in technology, projection and 3D printing, to wall-painting, traditional sculpture and manipulation of found objects, the exhibition is a beautiful tapestry woven by the many threads of experimentation, risk, exploration and abstraction today.

Written by: Hilleary Gramling

whitespace presents "Perpetual Assembly"

Perpetual Assembly
works by

Seana Reilly
Ann Stewart
Students from the Auburn University architectural program

August 5 – September 3, 2011

Opening Reception:  Friday, August 5th  | 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
 

Whitepsace is pleased to present Perpetual Assembly, which includes exhibitions in both the whitespace main gallery and whitespec.  The two exhibitions that each take a focused, process-oriented approach to exploring perception.  Architectonic arrangements of line are found throughout the show and ask the viewer to consider his or her relationship to the physical world.

Whitespace gallery houses works by Ann Stewart and Seana Reilly. These two artists are questioning what we know and how we know we know it. The artists share a fascination with cognitive systems, and they explore the nature of existence and knowledge through the medium of graphite.

Seana Reilly, “ResolvingKazimir,” graphite on dibond, 48 x 48 inches  
Ann Stewart, Detail of “Perpetual Assembly II,” graphite on paper, 60 x 66 inches
Whitespec shows a series of stop-motion short films created by freshman architecture students from Auburn University’s Foundation Studio. The films fall into one of two categories: the first deals with movement of the human body through space over time, and the second uses popular music to explore visual communication through text and letter forms.  Both are fascinating studies of architecture as an accumulation of small pieces into a greater whole, as well as a glimpse into how architects can document and represent their ideas via film. 
Auburn University Architectural Students, still from “Beautiful Day” stop motion film