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Newsletters>
Pictograph Newsletter March 9, 2009
March 6, 2009
Valerie Fraser
The Pictograph Art Gallery is featuring sculptural art this month with an exhibit by Thunder Bay artist Marianne Kyryluk titled "Within Our Grasp". Exhibit opening is Saturday March 7, with the chosen medium jute fiber and gel formed into plaster casts moulds of models hands. the installation is part of an evolving project Marianne has been creating towards completing her HBFA at Lakehead University. As a member of The Big Lake Collective, a group of seven practicing artists that exhibit annually, Marianne is busy preparing and experimenting with new materials and ideas on the subject of self confidence and expectations for an upcoming show in Thunder Bay. Marianne has chosen the sculptural medium of body casting for her current body of work. She finds that the human body is the most interesting subject with which to explore the human condition. "Within Our Grasp" is an interactive sculpture which requires volunteers for its creation. In this case, hands, Marianne will be staying in Atikokan for the three weeks of her exhibit and will be seeking more volunteers to add to the evolving sculpture. The participants are asked to plaster bandages (much the same as they do for setting a broken bone) the model's hand, adding to the rope like structure. The most important aspect of the work is in the process itself, the human contact. Marianne enjoys working with the people and finds that during the mould making session, many levels of connection are achieved through the gratification of creating the work together. Recording of the experience with photos, and audio recording, keeps the shared stories and memories alive. By using the medium of jute fiber the hands have turned into something other worldly, almost eerie, and at the same time, they have been generalized to emphasize our 'sameness'. Marianne had originally been referring to this project as "The Rope Project" until a participant suggested the title "Within Our Grasp" which seemed to add an element of hope to the overall theme of the work. The diversity of age, gender and background of the people who have been involved so far has been amazing. In the early stages of this project, Marianne invited family and friends as participants, one of which was her 86 year old Mother. While she was making her mould, her mother nodded off to sleep, a habit she has had for some time. Mariannes' Son tried to hold his Grandmothers arm in place, but the awkwardness resulted in a much less than perfect mould. Her cast proved to be a weak link in the rope and emphasized the fact that there is always someone who needs to be held a little tighter. Each encounter, whether it is in someone's kitchen, at a camp, in her studio or while traveling to other cities, increases the social enjoyment of the piece, leaving the artist to wonder if the insightful guidance or information she receives during the process is coincidental. What an intimately rewarding experinece it would be to cast hands of your own family memebers in a similar applications!! I will have to ask Marianne about it when I visit.."Within Our Grasp"
"Within Our Grasp" will be certain to captivate and take a hold of you. Visit The Picrotgraph Art Gallery, from March 7 - 28, Tuesday - Saturday, from 12: - 3: p.m.; meet Marianne Kyryluk, and perhaps cast your hand.
Thank you for stopping in to see our Gallery and Gift Shop.
We hope you enjoyed your visit and will return.
The Pictograph Gallery - Atikokan Ontario - 1-807-597-4344
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