October 04 – November 15, 2008

Opening reception: Saturday October 4, 6–8 pm

Artist Talk: 7 pm

Lora Reynolds Gallery is pleased to announce our first solo exhibition by British artist Susan Collis. Why did I think this was a good idea will be the first exhibition in our new space, and is, in many ways, engaged with the transition of spaces.

Collis’ pieces disguise themselves as ordinary tools used for constructing, cleaning and hanging an art exhibition. As such, at first glance the exhibition might lead viewers to believe the gallery is still under construction. Further investigation of the space however will reward the viewer, leading him/her toward Collis’ notions of hidden labor, within a complex network of contradictions and revelations.

Collis creates works in dialogue with industrial and handmade processes. Throughout our exhibition manufactured objects will appear with her handmade additions. In “100%
Cotton” a pair of overalls appear to be splattered with paint. Upon closer inspection however, we become aware that the ‘splatters’ are in fact embroidered gestures. In another series of works, “We all want to be loved”, what appear to be left behind screw heads, nail holes, anchors and pencil marks are interventions into the space. Created using precious materials from white and yellow gold to red jasper and black onyx, these trompe l’oeil objects delight in their trickery and again with their opulence. Collis’ methods include drawing, embroidery, inlay, and casting and molding in order to create these trompe l’oeil effects. “Trojan Horse”, also in the exhibition, appears as your average end table with water marks and a few unsightly scratches. Mother of pearl and other opalescent gems are the Trojan horse in this case, inlayed in the wood of the table to appear as damage when in fact these marks are what transform and enliven the object.

The labor, like much labor needed to make art and objects in general, is easy to overlook initially, but when our attention is called to it, we see that it is the work that is giving
objects their character, history and craftsmanship. We might at first appreciate the call to look twice and then appreciate the exquisite nature of Collis’ work.

Susan Collis was born in Edinburgh in 1956. She currently lives and works in London. Her work has been shown in numerous exhibitions in Europe including Out of the Ordinary at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London and is in important collections including the Israel Museum and the Paul Smith collection.