Jessica Murray Projects is pleased to announce "Grotto." This exhibition will open Friday, June 28 with a reception from 6 - 9 PM. Gallery hours are Friday through Sunday, 12 - 6 PM. "Grotto" will run through August 4, 2002 (closed 4th of July weekend).

Grotto will include works by over forty artists installed salon style, floor to ceiling. Beginning with the grotto as an artificial cave, the gallery's 19th century garage will be transformed into a summer shrine filled with paintings, drawings, photography, sculpture, and video. This plethora of artworks tightly arranged will convert the space into a sanctuary for meditation and pleasure. Works by the following artists will be included: Amanda Alic, John Bauer, Ben Beaudoin, Barton Benes, Matt Bua, David Burke, Bonnie Collura, Rob Conger, Ethan Crenson, Susan Daboll, Carrie Dashow, Daniel Davidson, Alejandro Diaz, Brady Dollarhide, Chris Doyle, Peter Eide, David Ellis, Bill Feeney, Stacy Greene, Oliver Herring, Matt Keegan, Tricia Keightley, Peter Krashes, Jennifer Lane, Ron Loranger, Franco Mondini-Ruiz, Bob MacDonald, David McMurray, Dennis Oppenheim, Jason Paradis, Stephanie Patton, Sheila Pepe, Nicole Pillorge, Vicki Sher, Becky Smith, Lee Stoetzel, Scott Teplin, Mark Dean Veca, Judi Werthein, Aaron Wexler and Gang Zhao.

Franco Mondini-Ruiz creates "J'Adore," a cityscape of desired and discarded objects (foil wrapped incense, diamond studded broaches, silver plastic toys and souvenir models of New York landmarks--Chrysler, Empire State and the beloved World Trade Towers) that construct an exquisite study of our daily relationship with urban culture and consumerism.

In Scott Teplin's watercolors "Butter Flat" and "Butter Stuff" the artist continues his exploration of the connection between what we desire and what makes us uncomfortable. A dissected stick of melting butter exposes a four-room apartment equipped with sectional couch, steamy bathroom mirrors and a discarded pair of men's briefs.

Bonnie Collura's sculpture, "Helmut for Helen," begins with William Merrit Chase's 19th century painting of his daughters entertaining themselves during their vacation on Long Island. Included in Chase's image is Helen playing in the summer sun, her face concealed by her bonnet. Collura's sculpture exposes the girl, transforming her into porcelain and reflective surfaces. Collura captures Helen, elongates her to the point of disconnection, freezing her in a state of reverie or ecstasy.

Brady Dollarhide continues his series of tree portraits with "I'm Only Now." In this painting, a giant conifer is pulled between the force of a streak of light and an enigmatic cable. Set in a nighttime sky, two weather systems accentuate the fleeting urgency of tree's experience.

Mark Dean Veca's canvas floor painting based on a Savonnerie Carpet for Louis XV's palace at Fontainebleau incorporates the historical designs of Pierre Josse Perrot with imagery inspired by Dr. Seuss and Mad Magazine. Swirling these images through a palate of burnt sienna, pink, yellow, and light blue, the artists revives the eccentricity and political punch of the 18th century while connecting this seminal era to the dissonance that surrounds contemporary culture and politics today.

Taken from video footage of professional wrestling, Chris Doyle's hand drawn animation "Throw" features one wrestler repeatedly tossing off the other. Combining sources that already confuse the differences between reality and artificiality, Doyle's video aims to make a cartoon super-hero from the choreography played out by an athletic actor. Doyle's exercise begins an exploration into the erotic possibilities in fantasy and violence.

Becky Smith contributes a painting called "Lance" based on a Victorian love letter. Smith's work uses sentimental flowers and decorative imagery associated with women to explore their relationship to attraction, desire, lust and disappointment. Lance (named after her current boyfriend) investigates the power of society and nature in determining her happiness.

Jessica Murray Projects is located at 210 North 6th Street in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Programming includes solo and curated exhibitions of works in all media by emerging artists, drawing room presentations, publications and other events.

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