Denise Bibro Fine Art / Platform
529 West 20th Street, Fourth Floor, 212-647-7030
Chelsea
February 7 - March 6, 2008
Reception: Thursday, February 7, 6 - 8 PM
Web Site
Featuring the work of Amy Chan, Cheryl Molnar, and Karla Wozniak, who met during their undergraduate studies at Rhode Island School of Design, these artists share an affinity for depicting America’s ever-evolving architectural landscape, addressing issues such as the juxtaposition of the vernacular, natural, and imagined landscapes; the relationship of industrial development to historical sites; and the homogenizing effect of suburban sprawl.
Amy Chan’s works on paper utilize a gradated color field lithograph as a background. Executed in gouache, her landscapes are populated with vernacular architecture as well as fantastical structures resembling igloos, castles, or monumental arches. Repeated patterns and stylized forms are reminiscent of silhouette portraiture, as well as antique wallpaper and fabric designs. The work is at once nostalgic and romantic, yet often conveys a sense of impending danger. Chan is currently enrolled in the M.F.A. program at the Virginia Commonwealth University.
Cheryl Molnar’s mixed media works are a meditation on the changing landscape of New York City- the works may be representational, conflated, and/or imagined. Working with oil on paper and aluminum leaf on wood panel, Molnar explores the contrasting geometry created by industrial and residential architectural spaces. Her compositions encompass both futuristic structures, as well as remnants of historical material culture, such as the ubiquitous Air Stream trailer. Molnar received her M.F.A. from the Pratt Institute.
Karla Wozniak’s works on paper depict suburban sprawl, rendered in water color, acrylic and pencil on paper. These inter-changeable landscapes might depict the outskirts of any American city, featuring chain stores, hotels, and fast-food restaurants beckoning with glaring, over-sized polychrome signs. While the work points to the generic nature of the landscape, the artist’s gestural hand is clearly evident. Woznaik holds an M.F.A. from Yale University.