Opening Reception: Saturday, January 26, 5—8pm | Artist walk-through at 6pm
Gallery Hours: Wednesday–Saturday, noon–6pm and by appointment
Human Nature presents work from 2018 c3:Papermaking Residency artists Yoonhee Choi, Elisabeth Horan, Michael Namkung and Collin Richard. Culminating from their experiences in the Pulp & Deckle studio, each artist utilized handmade paper as a primary medium to create new works that present ideas and forms central to their art practice. This residency seeks to create alternative models and spaces for material exploration in art making.
With this program we asked that the selected residents consider a seemingly commonplace material–paper–and encouraged a re-examination of what paper is, and what it can be. Creating works through experimentation and material learning, the resulting pieces exhibited in Human Nature speak both to the residents’ processes of making, as well as to their inherent history and relationship to paper as a medium.
In presenting these works we seek to open a liminal space between the personal and the communal, where we can consider questions around the phrase human nature. A few of the thoughts brought forward are: How (and why) do we define nature? Why does humanity so often view itself as outside of nature? What is the dominant narrative of our understanding of nature? How do our very human experiences impact, inform, and at times impede our natural processes? And how can we subvert these norms?
To further deepen the engagement of the works on view, we have paired four creative writers to each of the artists, inviting them to converse with each other and create a written response to their work. Rather than presenting straightforward exhibition didactics, we are interested in expanding on notions of arts writing and establishing another entry point for the exhibition.
PUBLIC PROGRAMS
OPENING RECEPTION + ARTIST WALK THROUGH
January 26, 5-8pm, with artist walk through at 6pm
Join the 2018 residents as they discuss the work presented in Human Nature and talk about their residency experiences.
READING CIRCLE
February 23, 2-4pm
This reading and discussion event invites participants to individually read a text on site at c3, followed by a group conversation about the text. In this space we endeavor to connect with and expand on themes present in the exhibition, holding space for observations, reflections and community.
As our local community in Portland, OR navigates the sudden closings of historic and renowned institutions such as Oregon College of Art and Craft and Bullseye Projects, we would like to provide a site for respite and conversation that celebrates craft and making. Join us for a group reading event in a causal, respectful environment. We will individually read a selection from Fewer, Better Things: The Hidden Wisdom of Objects by Glenn Adamson, and then we'll come together with our thoughts and reactions to the piece.
Some of the questions we might discuss as a group are; How do we explore the materials around us and derive meaning from them? How can we build sustainable and ecological thinking into our relationship with objects? What is the purpose of craft?
All programs are free and open to the public and ADA accessible with refreshments provided.
ABOUT THE RESIDENCY
The c3: Papermaking Residency was established in 2014 to engage artists with little or no experience in hand papermaking, and offer them an opportunity to learn the craft and stretch the limitations of what the medium can do. Provided with instruction and guidance via technical assistance from a professional papermaker/artist at Pulp & Deckle studio and exclusive 24/7 access to the studio, residents create and exhibit new work.