I am not a math nerd. I always struggled to like working with numbers and, God-Help-Me, proofs! My father and I would wrangle the homework evening away over missed steps in proofs! But, I will admit the shapes fascinated me. However, we did not do much with drawing or building the shapes in high school geometry and trigonometry class. I was very relieved when my teacher suggested that I was a bit over matched by the accelerated classes I was in.
And so, we come to today and the upcoming show
Much of Kim Matthews' work has always involved the structures of
geometry. She uses unusual
materials to slowly build mostly regular objects. It has been a deep and practical way of working. She developed a modular practice that
allowed her to work in the tiny spaces between a full time job and daily
obligations. That practice also
reflects the rigor and the peace of a decades long meditation practice.
My work has been disparate over the years. I have always worked in multiple
materials developing large bodies of work around themes. For the last 30 years my themes have often been overtly feminist
and political, with naturalistic drawing at the core.
But something happened with the last election. My creative mind was ignited by the
rigid rules and shapes of geometry.
For the longest time, I could not figure out where this was coming
from. It was so different from my
last 30 years practice. But it consumed me and gave me a true sense of peace. Kim suggested that it probably gave me some sense of control
in the chaos. As we talked more
over the months, we concluded that the drive may be more cosmic/spiritual...to
recognize and reflect what we both hope is an underlying order to this life on
earth. And that, my friends, is
fundamentally political. It is
quiet. It is not harsh nor
hateful. But it also asks for a new way of being.
PLATONIC DUALITIES
Susan Hensel and Kim Matthews
opening May 11, 6-9 pm
5004 42nd Ave N
Robbinsdale, MN 55422
763-220-0833
