Friese Undine |
Friese Undine The Trial of Proconsul
Ian Weaver The Black Knights of the Black Bottom
Packer Schopf Gallery
942 W. Lake St Chicago, IL 60607
www.packergallery.com
Exhibition Run: April 2 - May 8
Gallery Hours:
Tuesday - Saturday 11:00am to 5:30pm
Opening Reception
Friday, April 2nd 5 - 8 PM
Ian Weaver lecture the day after the artist’s reception
Friese Undine The Trial of Proconsul (painting/sculpture)
It is common for children to imagine that one of their parents is an imposter; that through some grand deceit a better, more honorable parent was replaced. What is called in psychoanalysis, "family romance" might reflect the popular dis-ease with human evolution. In The Trial of Proconsul the parent of all primates, Proconsul himself, is interrogated through paintings and mixed media works. Figures from the history of primate evolution are re-cast with characters from Undine’s paternal lineage. His family history is thrown into the tableau of 50 million years of unheroic beasts.
Ian Weaver The Black Knights of the Black Bottom (drawings/sculpture/fiber)
Ian Weaver
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On the heels of a successful solo exhibition at the Saint Louis Art Museum, Ian Weaver’s new body of work goes on display for his second solo show at Packer Schopf Gallery.
Informed by history, memory, identity, mythology, and anthropology, Weaver’s continuing project centers on the Black Bottom, an early 20th century black community formerly located on the near west side of Chicago. This community was destroyed under the urban renewal programs of the 1950’s. Weaver constructs fictive histories for this lost community utilizing a variety of faux elements. A series of drawings, maps and a blueprint comprise the majority of the exhibition, along with two sculptural objects and a quilt. This body of work peaks not only to the loss of this particular history, but also to the concept of how we construct our own narratives, identities, and memories.
All elements have a constructed narrative and provenance. For example, the Black Power Helmet and Black Knight Gauntlets, are some of the only remaining artifacts, left from this razed community. More versions of sculptural elements like these, are sure to be "discovered" as this project continues. The work on paper allows for a wider interpretation. Some of the drawings are to be considered originals, and some are contemporary reconstructions. Taken together as a whole, a picture of a solid and thriving group emerges.
This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.
Stephen Warde Anderson’s show will be up in the Lab for two more weeks. Stephen will also be at the opening on the 2nd.
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