ART

I am so glad to see a well curated art exhibition with the theme of science fiction, especially in good ol’ New Jersey. After finding a group consisting of 8 unique artists, curator of the Arts Guild New Jersey, Rachael Faillace, put together an exhibition that takes us into another dimension. Close Encounters was a blend of painting, sculpture, video, and photography. Science fiction has always been one of the most imaginative and forward thinking genres in films, writing, and other forms, so it’s no shock that artists like Madeleine Bliss, Liz Brown, Brian Scott Campbell, and Keary Rosen (my personal favorites out of the eight selected artists) are drawn to such a creative genre.

New Jersey based artist Madeleine Bliss, 24, showcased her cosmic space rocks, inspired from her grandfather’s rock collection and natural cosmic and geological phenomena. For Close Encounters Bliss puts together an installation showcasing her pieces in custom-made glass cubes, similar to the glass cases that protect crystals and moon rocks at the Museum of Natural History, giving this an authenticated feel. Most favorite of mine were her ceramic glow-in-the-dark rock specimens that came to life under a black light, replicating cosmic dusting. Along with the rock sculptures was a self-made fictitious Nova-style video all about space minerals and fictional planets, bringing this installation together into a full circle.

Brooklyn based painter Liz Brown exhibited large oil paintings of space ship interior and flying saucers on stretched canvas. Brown’s colorful paintings are both playful and witty while lovingly capturing the sci-fi cheesiness that we all love.

The next artist (who blew me away) was Brian Scott Campbell! His work consisted of slightly abstracted charcoal drawings of uncanny utopian landscapes, angular architectural complexes and distorted spaces with references to cult films and passages from J. G. Ballard novels. Using geometric forms, modernist concepts, and film references Campbell creates environments fit for a science fiction story.

One of the most intriguing pieces from this entire show is the 6 foot tall life-size robot titled, “1.530R The Robot” by multimedia artist Keary Rosen, who looks into the technological past and future for his art inspirations. Most peculiar about “1.530R The Robot” is that he is both menacing in scale, but friendly in expression. “The Robot” is not just a sculpture, but an installation as well. In the past, Rosen has set up a “theatre”, using antique theatre chairs, while projecting films onto the robot’s chest using a 1950′s 16mm film projector and a 1960′s reel-to-reel tape player. “The Robot” also has a Sears styled family portrait, and is described as being both “a family member and a servant”.

As a lover of science fiction and futuristic aesthetics, this had to have been one of the best art exhibitions I have seen since The Incomplete at the Chelsea Museum some years ago. In my opinion science fiction is the most visually stimulating genres, so it’s not wonder it has been making itself prominent in art. Rachael Faillace does a wonderful job curating a show that plays on the relationships between the forward-thinking force of science-fiction and fine art.

For more information + exhibition hours visit the Arts Guild site at www.rahwayartsguild.org

FEATURED ARTISTS:
MADELEINE BLISS
LIZ BROWN
DEREK BUCKNER
BRIAN SCOTT CAMPBELL
ERNEST CONCEPCION
JASON LEINWAND
KEARY ROSEN
DIANE WHITEBAY