Navigating nuanced space at Westbeth Gallery exhibit

Artists who “challenge the boundaries” take center stage in the opening show of Westbeth Gallery’s 2024 season.

“Beyond the Surface: Constructing Destruction,” opening Fri., Jan. 5, and running through Jan. 25, features artwork by Gail Biederman, Lily de Bont, Daniel G. Hill, Kathleen Kucka, Steven Millar, Gelah Penn, David Rhodes, Mary Schiliro, Howard Schwartzberg and Jan Maarten Voskuil.

Curated by Vida Geranmayeh, “Beyond the Surface: Constructing Destruction” brings together a diverse group of artists who challenge and expand the boundaries of painting, drawing and sculpture.

Varied mediums and artistic elements include works that utilize felt and yarn, radically reimagine the painter’s linen, explore the physical and metaphorical roles of gravity in art, and employ transformative burning techniques. The exhibit features wall constructions that blur the lines between sculpture and drawing, works inspired by a range of allusions, navigating complicated realities and psychological unease, and extends painting into the third dimension.

The exhibit, per a press release, “navigates the nuanced space between creation and disruption, with a focus on transformative techniques and the integral role of materials in the creative process. The exhibition recontextualizes the traditional mediums of painting and sculpture, as each artist explores the dynamic interplay of contrasting transformations. In an era marked by global challenges, the exhibition positions art as a platform for dialogue and positive change. It confronts self-censorship, extends the reach of artistic expression, and encourages viewers to investigate uncharted territories. By reexamining the familiar, these artists discover new paths within established genres, inspiring viewers to question and reconsider prevailing artistic notions. The exhibition underscores the importance of mastery of craft in achieving innovation, often leading to an expansion of artistic boundaries.

The artist reception and opening is Fri., Jan. 5, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Westbeth Gallery, 55 Bethune St. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Sunday, noon to 6 p.m. and by appointment. The closing event/artist reception will be Thurs., Jan. 25, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. For more information, visit www.westbeth.org.