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JESSICA MURRAY PROJECTS New Gallery Hours: Tuesday through Sunday, 12 – 6 PM FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Jessica Murray Projects is pleased to announce Dodecahedron by Judi Werthein, and Headroom by David McMurray. Both exhibitions will open Friday, February 27 with a reception from 7-10 PM and will run through April 18. MAIN GALLERY Entering the gallery we are confronted by a long bisecting wall that leans toward the viewer. This uneasy space contrasts with two color photographs of a well-ordered park in Kassel, Germany. In one of Judi Werthein’s romantic images a saturated green esplanade lined by trees with chocolate-colored bark lead the viewer to a small rectangular light filled void. In her second image, this tree-lined verdant theme continues—a landscape is perfectly inscribed by a body of water reflecting the procession of trees directing us to a disappearing footbridge. In both, an imposed yet harmonious interplay between nature and the man-made creates a mood for self-reflection. After contemplating these scenes a pentagonal door in the angled wall can be opened. Leaving this cool exterior the viewer passes into a warm kaleidoscopic space, titled Womb. Once inside, she is bombarded by abstracted video images of star lined tunnels, melting lava explosions, clouds and fire. From a multitude of angles, the viewer sees parts of herself--her profile, front, the top of her head, and up through her legs—she is the active subject licked by flames, falling into the universe, surrounded by a molten moving floor. This engulfing gem-like interior becomes disorienting -- both expansive and confining; the viewer’s lost sense of space conflicts with the familiarity of her own image. Judi Werthein was born in Buenos Aires and received her Masters of Architecture from the University of Buenos Aires (1993). She was selected for solo exhibitions at the Chinati Foundation (Thoughts Come to Mind); Centro Cultural Borjes (Buenos Aires), Bronx Museum of Art (Manicurated); Kent Gallery (Turismo); Museo de Arte Contemporaneo Bahia Blanca, Ruth Benzacar Galeria (Buenos Aires), Centro Cultural San Martin (Buenos Aires). She has been included in exhibitions at El Museo del Barrio, Apex Art, The Center for Curatorial Studies at Bard (curated by Victoria Noorthoorn); and the 2000 Havana Biennial (Cuba). Her work has been reviewed in Art News, New York Magazine, New York Times, ArtForum, Village Voice, Art Nexus, and Flash Art. She lives and works in Brooklyn and Buenos Aires. DRAWING ROOM Expressionistically sculpted and painted, these larger than life plaster and enamel heads by David McMurray capture both violence and comedy in a range of personae. Red Head emerges from the wall like an animal investigating its prey. Stretching out from the neck, this trophy-like head looks as if it has swollen up from a smaller state. A marbled red and white painted surface references the texture of a toy steak while a clown-like solid red face creates a target bringing the works’ anthropomorphic form alive. In Meathead, McMurray’s character seems blind, talking with a stupid expression. The high gloss exterior looks likes sweat accentuating his unkempt and deformed appearance. David McMurray was born in British Columbia and received his BFA from Parsons School of Design (1994). He was selected for his first solo-exhibition at Apex Art, New York. His work has also been included in exhibitions at Stefan Stux Gallery (curated by Max Henry); Jeff Bailey, and Jessica Murray Projects, New York. He lives and works in Brooklyn, NY. |
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