Gallery Neptune's February exhibition CLOSER entices close inspection of small scale art from three regional artists.
Mars Tokyo's "Theaters of the 13th Dimension" are brilliant miniature worlds composed with images culled from literature, film, politics and psychology. The artist, who lives and works in Baltimore, intentionally works small both as a challenge to herself and as an invitation to the viewer. By approaching work on such a tiny scale, the viewer becomes a unique participant. We move out of our everyday reality and are transported into fantastic worlds, a fraction the size of our common reality. As the artist writes:
"Theaters provided a stage on which visual drama could be composed. They also draw the viewer inside, not only due to their miniature size, but by the idea that drama is taking place within. To some extent the subject matter is narrative, but to a greater extent the content remains open to individual interpretation, which I encourage."
CLOSER also includes new abstractions by New York artist Willie Marlowe. Willie Marlowe's work is informed by travel to both museums and archaeological sites in Europe, the Yucatan and Russia. Architecture, angles of light, the formation of rocks, stars and bodies of water are represented as luminous translucent abstractions that become her personal language of the natural and manmade world.
"My early influences were medieval manuscript illuminations and Persian and Indian miniature paintings. I was attracted to the clear color, intricate detail and sense of space. I continue to be drawn to the focus and presence these images can have. My paintings are small in scale, though not quickly accomplished."
Washington, DC glass artist Michael Janis joins CLOSER with new small scale works, similar to the themes in his solo exhibit at Neptune in September 2007. Deliberate compositions that employ the natural translucency of glass to create layers of imagery result in surreal tableaus filled with mystery and personal symbols.
The sculptures "Uncharted Territory" and "Serving as Witness" each incorporate fused and cast recycled glass, copper electro-formed elements and found objects such as 19th century magic lantern slides to create self contained worlds and touch on issues relating to the environment.
"Separate People on Divergent Paths" and "Losing Myself" each have cast glass faces surrounded by but separate from a world that dances around them. The transparent sculpted faces are in calm repose to the ephemeral frit powder drawings of figures seen as though they are being scrutinized from above.
CLOSER opens on February 6th and runs through March 1, 2008.
The gallery will be open for the Bethesda Art Walk, February 8th, 6-9 PM
A reception for the artists will be held on February 9th, 7-9 PM