Opening at Kehler Liddell Friday night during Westville ArtsWalk Opening Night

Kehler Liddell Gallery
873 Whalley Ave., New Haven, (203) 389-9555
Susan cLinard & Alexis Brown: Paper Wood Bone
Through May 31, 2009
Opening Reception: Fri., May 8, 6—9 p.m.

Press release

Paper Wood Bone is an exploration of nature's forms—animal and human, distorted and perfect, found and inspired. Susan Clinard and Alexis Brown share a mastery of their individual crafts and mediums and present a thrilling emotional tour of nature's truths. Here are the fine lines between human and animal behavior, art reflective of life which contains the ugly and the beautiful without interruption.

Susan Clinard's sculpture expresses a strong affinity with nature and a compassionate connection with humanity. Whether sculpting from life forms in resin and terra cotta or carving wood, she strives to reveal nature's truths - the duality of chaos against perfect symmetry. Her inspiration is often in life cycles.

"I am continually humbled by how people find inner strength; the breathe to continue living and loving even when conditions seem unbearable." Over the past decade, Clinard has moved from sculpting figures for the figure's sake to experimentation with a wider range of materials; primarily found natural objects. This integration has simplified her forms and figurative elements. The resulting sculpture is open to the intuitive and interpretive response of an audience, rather than the single narrative intention of the artist. The work draws on and layers nature's puzzles with personal and political themes of inherently deep emotion.

Alexis Brown draws and paints animals as objects. Much like a taxidermist she asks, "How can I recover the essence and vitality of an animal that is implied, what is absent in skeleton and present only in skin?" She favors careful proportions, gestural aspect, and the implied movement of open lines. Drawn, painted, etched and printed, the animals move from object to subject as attitude overlays draftsmanship. This deliberate anthropomorphic manipulation by Brown invites the viewer to look more carefully at what is human as well as animal.

There will be an artist reception on Fri., May 8, 6 - 9 p.m. during the Westville ArtWalk Opening Night. Join the artists, Kehler Liddell Gallery members and community in celebrating this exhibition. Gallery Admission and Reception are free.

There will be Artist Talks with Susan Clinard & Alexis Brown on Sun., May 17, at 2:30 p.m. Technique, process, personal vision—how it all comes together. Meet the artists and join the conversation!