February 23 – March 24, 2007
Curated by Ann Krone
Cecille R. Hunt Gallery present’s Paper Working, an exhibition curated by Ann Krone. The participating artists are Shirley Sharoff, Gaelle Pelachaud, Alfredo Garzon and Anne Vorms.
Visitors to France, interested in contemporary art are often surprised and delighted when they see an exhibition of works by artists who do not figure in big museum shows or exchanges. They have the pleasure of discovering themes and ways of working that are different from those found in the United States. Despite the ease of international travel and the internationalization of certain art concepts, works of art are still influenced by cultural traditions and ways of seeing. Paper Working is a cultural visit to Paris where an American audience in the St. Louis area can have an opportunity to compare, contrast and enter a world they would have little access to unless they travel to France. In a world of virtuality, here are four artists of different origins, backgrounds and horizons; living and working in Paris and who share a common interest in work with paper as their artistic medium. Whether medium or surface, paper takes on a new life, whether in the form of a book, shaped and sculpted into paper maché, or cut and glued into a collage. Paper Working is paper doing “its own thing.”
Shirley Sharoff makes color prints and artist’s books on the themes and traces inspired by the writings of various 20th century authors using etching techniques, collage and letter press typography. Gaelle Pelachaud has been making artists' books for several years. Her process is one of dedicated research on the type of paper, the architecture of the book, and the type of print to be used. Currently, Pelachaud has started working with video enabling her to concentrate more particularly on images. Images from the videos are then incorporated into her books combining both traditional and contemporary techniques. Alfredo Garzon captures the intricacy of paper in its structure and texture as he explores the intimacy of paper that enables him to express himself in a novel way by creating completely new images. His works are show a particular interest in the way figures appear spontaneously when paper tears and the mystery of its unpredictable nature. Anne Vorms uses the technique of collage and paper maché, as her subject matter deals with serious games where military men become playing pieces in the game of war.
