Seth Kaufman solo exhibit - LaVerne, CA - Sep 14-Oct 14 '10

[Charles]

Harris Art Gallery
The University of La Verne
1950 Third Street
La Verne, California 91750

909.593.3511 extension 4763
http://www.laverne.edu


SOLO EXHIBITION September 14 - October 14, 2010
Seth Kaufman

Reception: September 14, 2010 6-8pm

Gallery Hours: Monday through Thursday 11:00 am to 4:00 pm, & by appt.

Admission is free.

The Harris Art Gallery of The University of La Verne will present a solo exhibition of Los Angeles area based artist Seth Kaufman.

“Kaufman describes his process as redemption, although calling it the deliberate misuse of materials has a more rebellious, subversive ring to it. Redemption implies a paragon, a rescue, a purification, and begs the question: exactly who or what is being restored to honor and virtue, and from what low place? In the last 20 years, Kaufman has turned eggshells into hefty bricks; carved foam into ceramic totems; crushed porcelain statues into explosive abstractions; cultivated paint shards into floral blossoms; developed Polaroid film without a camera; executed epic murals in beige ceiling popcorn; teased vibrantly exotic formations out of wood-shop remnants; and taken unaltered photographs that prove Photoshop is in the eye of the beholder.

The skill level required in balancing the interests of the material’s old and new qualities in a single object is immense, sometimes risky, and at the heart of the work’s success. To pull this trick off, unlike in theatrical stage magic, the audience must be in on it. His eggshells, bones, and foam form legible and fully realized new things unto themselves, and yet must remain recognizable as their previous selves. By allowing viewers to discover the disguise, Kaufman affords them access to emotions not usually activated in art galleries—surprise, delight, and curiosity. This is a good thing, because as everyone knows, you can’t tickle yourself.”

Shana Nys Dambrot
Managing Editor, Flavorpill LA


Seth Kaufman lives and works in Southern California. He teaches sculpture and design at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA.

Kaufman has had solo exhibitions at Long Beach University Art Museum, Long Beach, CA; Finesilver Gallery, San Antonio, TX and Post Gallery, Los Angeles, CA. His works have been included in numerous two-person and group exhibitions such as “Installations Inside/Out 20th Anniversary Exhibition,” Armory Center for the Arts, Pasadena, CA; “Natural Artifice,“ Torrance Art Museum, Torrance, CA; “Extreme Materials,” Memorial Art Museum, Rochester, NY; “Seth Kaufman - John Morris,” Anthony Meier Fine Art, San Francisco, CA.

For additional exhibition information please contact Dion Johnson djohnson@laverne.edu or 909.593.3511 x 4273