Published February 14, 2007
Contractions of an Amorphous Solid
February 9th - March 3rd 2007
Exit (a gallery space)
2688 W.14th St. Cleveland Oh, 44113
330-321-8161
Contractions of an Amorphous Solid
Anyone mesmerized by the "Coffee and Milk" piece at SPACES' recent Misdemeanor show will love this one -- a new photo-and-video installation by Houston husband and wife Stephan Hillerbrand and Mary Magsamen. Here the duo address a space theme, and instead of liquids, they're using bubble gum to mimic luminous, planet-like orbs hovering serenely in the firmament. The photos, few as they are, steal the show. Utter blackness shrouds most of the evidence of humans blowing large, pale bubbles reminiscent of the moon and its bumpy surface. Meanwhile, creative positioning of a flashlight lends atmosphere and context, revealing the planetoids in the glow of some imaginary, unseen sun. The most striking photo shows a small bubble passing before a larger one, while light from behind illuminates them both. In the real solar system, this would be an eclipse, and here the visual effect is rather similar. Yet the artists assign it a drab, scientific label: "IMG_1113." Just another satellite image, perhaps. The video, "Amorphous Solid," displayed on two bare walls, offers more of the same; yet here, the bubbles are alive, blowing up and popping to the eerie rumbling sounds of a washer and dryer. With some suspension of disbelief, it's possible to imagine twinkling stars and imploding planets. They're all rather frivolous, of course, these silhouette games with gum. Then again, it's also nice to be reminded through art that our planet is fragile and that everything may be just an illusion. Through March 3 at Exit Gallery, 2688 W. 14th St., 330-321-8161, www.exitgallery.com. -- Zachary Lewis