Caleb Shea ‘Echoed Formalism ism ism’

Utopian Slumps will re-form to host a one-off, temporary exhibition, Echoed Formalism ism ism, from Caleb Shea at Long Division Gallery, Schoolhouse Studios.

Shea’s new series of neo-formalist sculptures merge geometric abstraction with organic form. A low-lying sculpture takes the shape of a claw, while a tall two-legged work images a contorted human body with arms outstretched. Individual pieces made from steel and concrete will combine to create an experiential maze of spatial configurations. Reminiscent of modernist sculptural forms like David Smith, but inflected with a decidedly post-internet aesthetic closer to the digital gradients of Cory Arcangel, Shea’s works are a distorted echo of an earlier mode of formalism.

HOURS:
OPENING SATURDAY 24 OCTOBER 4 – 6PM
EXHIBITION MONDAY 26 TO SATURDAY 31 OCTOBER 12 – 5PM

Sanné Mestrom at Pieces of Eight

Form and Flex, curated by Meredith Turnbull, opens on the 28th of July at Piece of Eight. The exhibition includes work from Bridie Lunney, Sanné Mestrom, Anna Varendorff and Benjamin Woods and continues to 29 August.

Lauren Berkowitz: Gertrude Regional Residency

For Gertrude Contemporary’s regional residency, From the Collection: Chapter Two curated by Emily Cormack, artists are invited to respond to objects within the Latrobe Regional Art Gallery collection and the physical, historical and social context of the Latrobe Valley.

For Lauren Berkowitz’s sculptural installation Energy Fields, she has collected native Eucalyptus species which she has used to create a modernist cube. Drawing on their potential as an alternative energy source, this cube will hang alongside a floor work that quotes Malevich’s 1915 Black Square on a White Field painting, through the use of locally sourced coal briquettes and crushed quartz from the Victorian goldfields. Combined, both works point to the restraint of nature, processing its errant energy and training it into rigid, man-made templates.

The exhibition runs from 1 August to 20 September 2015, further information here.

Three Thousand Apartment, Fitzroy

Utopian Slumps has curated the art in the Three Thousand Apartment, Fitzroy. New works from Fergus Binns, Renee Cosgrave, Thomas Jeppe, Merryn Lloyd and Caleb Shea will soon be available to enjoy through an overnight stay in the apartment on Gertrude Street.

Further details coming soon.

Caleb Shea commission for Central South Yarra

Utopian Slumps and Caleb Shea have completed a sculpture commission for the foyer of Central South Yarra, a new apartment development on Yarra Street. The commission is comprised of two formalist wall-based sculptures – a large aluminium ring and an intersecting black steel form.

Thomas Jeppe’s Art Basel tea garden

Thomas Jeppe will host a temporary tea garden during Art Basel with Peter Granser. Read about it here.

Nathan Gray ‘The Gesture Project’

‘The Gesture Project’ from Nathan Gray opens this Sunday 31 May in St Arnaud, from 2.30pm.

www.thegestureproject.blogspot.com.au

Thomas Jeppe at M J, Geneva

‘Der Spiegel’ from Th0mas Jeppe opens at M J in Geneva on 28 May 2015.

Thomas Jeppe at Sazmanab Centre for Contemporary Art

Thomas Jeppe is currently exhibiting at Sazmanab Centre for Contemporary Art, Tehran, with an exhibition entitled Compass Trouble Again.

Compass Trouble Again focuses on cultural histories, vernacular aesthetics and semantic reconstruction. It is the thematic followup to Compass Trouble, which was held in Guadalajara Mexico in May 2014.

The visit of Thomas Jeppe to Tehran and Sazmanab has been made possible through the support of Arts Victoria and KAAF.

The exhibition will take place from 27 February to 17 March 2015.

www.sazmanab.org/program/compass-trouble-again/

Gallery closure

After eight years of operation Utopian Slumps closed its doors on Monday 22 December 2014.

Thank you to all of the artists and curators who have been involved in Utopian Slumps’ program, especially to our represented artists, and to our supporters.