Art

Robin Adsit artworks develop from the transformation of images from public, political, social or art historical events into private investigations of the image.  She states that “I am attracted to the notion of a figure trapped somewhere between the public and private, the intimate and the spectacle, representation and memory, the painting process and me.” 

Adsit’s figures are often found in odd poses, sometimes partially hidden from view, floating suggesting a back-story that in not completely revealed to the viewer.  Her work evokes mystery compelling the viewer to further investigate and ponder the inner thoughts of the artist.  Adsit does not leave the door wide open for the viewer but does leave it cracked allow the viewer to further investigate her encrypted tale.  Like a dream this story must be deciphered and its layers must be unveiled to reach the core of the artist’s expression.

Elisabeth Higgins O’Connor creates creatures made from recycled fabric harvested from thrift shops. These life-sized sculptures evoke memories of children’s fairly tales strangely familiar but twisted. Twisted however with unexpected turns.  Alarming and grotesque at first Higgins O’Connor’s sculptures exude an innocence and vulnerability when one spends more time with them.  (Not unlike the Cowardly Lion from the Wizard of Oz).

Higgin O’Connor like Adsit creates an inner world culled from the artist own vivid imagination but unlike Adsit hers is a world of fantasy.  

Jennifer Vanderpool creates large multi-media installations that transform the gallery space into a psychedelic world culled from the artist’s own imagination.  She is a collector of stuff, often colorful in nature these consumer items are transformed creating a world where the kitsch meets the organic. Along with the myriad of collected materials the artist also blends mechanical and electronic elements. Buckets from Home Depot are transformed into a fountain.  Animations are projected and on monitors.

Vanderpool creates a world of Technicolor, a world of color where the tantalizes the senses from all directions. Like Adsit and Higgins O’Connor Vanderpool invites the viewer into the artists’ inner imaginative process.  Her installations envelop the viewer and for the time that they reside within that space they live in world of Vanderpool.

Matthew Causey / Molly Painter is a collaborative artist team who originally met Portland, Oregon.  After both had been traveling the world exploring and creating Americana they decided to work together and as they describe “sharing a similar sensibility for all things pun-derful and bright, they've begun a collaboration that celebrates the communities and cultures they've encountered.” 

Their work explores the American Vernacular through recontextualizing of the detritus of our culture.

Robin Adsit, Elisabeth Higgins O’Connor, Jennifer Vanderpool, Matthew Causey / Molly Painter all explore the inner and outer worlds through their own investigative process.  Whether creating a universe of own or recontextualizing existing paradigms these artists present the viewer with insight into their own personal expression.