Gage Academy hosts an unusual exhibit this month guest-curated by talented artist Elana Winsberg:
“Any Day is dedicated to the sensitive exploration by artists who are compelled to make work illuminating the many facets of death, life before death and life after death.” The exhibit runs through September 19th, and the opening is Thursday August 14, from 6-8 PM.
Gage Academy of Art
1501 10th Avenue E.
Seattle, WA 98102
(206) 323-4243
When I was asked to be part of the exhibit I initially told Elana I had nothing to offer on the subject. Ha. This must be denial at a pretty strong level, since I have done several bodies of work on the theme, both from a personal and political perspective. With a little bit of coaxing I submitted a piece from “What Does Heaven Look Like” and two others of a more personal nature from “Drawings in Dust.” This is a great opportunity to show among artists I admire greatly. Participants include Mitch Albala, Josie Furchgott Sourdiffe, Sam Hamrick, Emma Jane Levitt, Kathy Liao, Greg Lundgren, Memuco, Pamela Durga Robinson, Kurt Vance, Margaret Swanson Vance and Elana Winsberg. Greg Lundgren will present a lecture on ritual, legacy, memorial and the role of the contemporary artist Thursday, September 18 at 7:00PM. Greg is an innovator in the field of contemporary memorials and monuments and this will be a lecture not to be missed.
You will have to attend the show to see my three drawings, (suspense….) but here are some additional ones from the series I did on mourning and loss, using the vehicle of the decoy as a resonant object.
Drawings © Iskra Johnson
Morgan Brig says
Iskra, I LOVE these! Lovely and mysterious, the line quality is beautiful.
Elana Winsberg says
The best thing I did was to “coax” (pester) the amazing Iskra Johnson to be part of “Any Day: Artists on Death,” at Gage just knowing that something was there, up, and would be nothing but compelling.