When Words Fail
May 2021
Curated by Grace Lang
ABOUT THE EXHIBIT
How do we communicate when we cannot find the words? To verbalize a thought or feeling is an attempt to be understood, either by one’s self or by another. But some experiences seem to go beyond language. They are simply too big to be fully expressed in words. Or perhaps the words themselves are too difficult to speak out loud, so we create an alternative language – a visual language – to do the talking for us. For this upcoming exhibition, we are seeking work that represents these personal languages, the attempts to communicate and be understood without or beyond the need for words.
NOTE FROM THE CURATOR
It was a true honor to spend time with these submissions. The artwork and the artist statements moved me tremendously. Thank you all. In selecting pieces for the exhibition, I looked for artwork that utilizes the power of visual language, seeking a sort of raw, emotional form of communication. I aimed to include a wide array of media, styles and subject matter, while keeping the show’s theme in mind. Some of the selected work captures dark and twisty emotions, while some reflects moments of tenderness or nostalgia. There are crowded scenes and tranquil ones. There are meditations on family, the passage of time, and the evolution of identity. I do not necessarily know for certain what the artists are hoping to say through their artwork, as that is rarely explicit, but I feel the intention. The work speaks to me. I can feel the presence of personal stories behind and inside each of the selected pieces. They are like invitations to create our own little narratives, possibly ones that provide us with some comfort or a feeling of connection to the artist.
— Grace Lang, Artist & Educator
FEATURED ARTISTS
Brittany Reid , Robert Hickerson , Monica Defonseca , Noa Fenigstein , Batoul Ballout , Jennifer McGowan , Abi Salami, Ana Martínez Orizondo , Sarah Crofts , Seohyung Lee , Kirk Gower , Taylor Maroney , Libby Sipe , Margaret Scott , Austin Wells , Katrina Jurjans , Afi Ese , Harsimran Juneja , Scott Wheelock , Chantal Lesley , Eleni Simoni , Hyunhee Doh , Maryam Amirvaghefi , Tricia Townes , Daniel Gamez , Edwin Philpott , Jonathan Wright , Jess Bass , Janet Stafford , Aaron Bos-Wahl , K. Johnson Bowles , Garreth Carroll , Monifa Kincaid , Nasi , Ayna Paisley , Allison Moyers , Linda Smith , Jessica Alazraki
Thank you for visiting!
To inquire about any of the artwork featured in this exhibition, please contact the artists directly via their websites.