Kim Sandara, 1, 2017, acrylic on canvas. Courtesy of Target Gallery..
Artist Talk: May 2 at 6:30pm
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Target Gallery, the contemporary exhibition space of Torpedo Factory Art Center, presents the 2019 Emerging Artists. Now in its sophomore year, this annual exhibition spotlights emerging artists and the up-and-coming artistic innovators of the greater metropolitan area.
“We have a vibrant arts community in the D.C. region, and it’s our responsibility as a leading cultural institution to nuture these creatives with meaningful exhibition opportunities,” said Leslie Mounaime, curator of exhibitions at the Art Center.
The 2019 exhibition features Kate Gorman, Kim Sandara, Madeline A. Stratton, and Sean Sweeney. The jury panel for this opportunity was Adah Rose Bitterbaum, founder and director of Adah Rose Gallery; Philippa Hughes, founder of The Pinkline Project; and Dawne Langford, founder of Quota.
All four of the artists work in different media but speak to the same level of dedication and skill that exemplifies the talent in the area.
“One of the great pleasures in viewing art is realizing the astounding number of ways there are to be an artist,” said juror Adah Rose Bitterbaum. “The four artists in this exhibition each have their own unique language and yet they all share a love of ideas, materials and construction.”
“These four artists make visual poetry that speaks to the essence of what it means to be human,” said Juror Philippa Hughes. “The work evokes a sense of delight through the use of materials and non-visual art sources in unexpected ways.”
Likewise, juror Dawne Langford said, “The four artists selected all exhibit a fluency in the language of merging mediums and time periods, without appearing to be a mash-up, effortlessly translated into unique forms.”
The opportunity to be featured in this exhibition was open to those living within the tri-state area with no more than five years of experience as a professional exhibiting artist. They also have never had a solo show of their own. Because this exhibition seeks to support artists as emerging professional creatives, each received an honorarium after being accepted.
About the Artists
Kate Gorman (Washington, D.C.) is a multimedia artist whose art is a means of encoding life experiences. Gorman create her work in fabric, watercolor, immersive audio, and performance. The artwork on view in this exhibition uses quilt making techniques as well as watercolor to encode words and emotions into patterns and shapes, creating hidden languages and meanings. Gorman has a master’s degree in media production from Griffith University in Brisbane, Australia, and a bachelor’s in English literature from the University of Missouri.
Kim Sandara (Falls Church, VA) is interested in visual storytelling through her animation and illustrative work as well as abstract paintings. This exhibition features four abstract paintings that document a stream-of-consciousness mark-making process inspired by different musical genres. Sandara’s interests include exploring themes of nostalgia, identity, communication, and escapism through music and visuals. Sandara is based in Northern Virginia with a bachelor’s of fine arts with a concentration in book arts and illustration from the Maryland Institute College of Art.
Madeline A. Stratton (Washington, D.C.) investigates the memory and importance of domestic objects and spaces through her art. In this exhibition, Stratton presents a site-specific installation wherein she recreates interior spaces from her memory. A large panel “floats” between the edges of the gallery corner to create a silhouette that engages the negative space. Stratton holds a master’s of fine arts certificate from Maryland Institute College of Art and a bachelor’s in studio art and history of art from Vanderbilt University.
Sean Sweeney (Washington, D.C.) explores dichotomy in his work, particularly on lightness and gravity. His work in this exhibition takes found derelict objects and common architectural materials and alters them to create something completely new. Sweeney creates tension in his work, toying with different angles and forms, suggesting visual resting points in some and a sense of precariousness in others. Sweeney earned a master’s of fine arts certificate from Maryland Institute College of Art and a bachelor’s of fine arts in painting and printmaking from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Gallery Hours:
- Monday-Wednesday: 10am – 6pm
- Thursdays: 10am – 9pm
- Friday-Sunday: 10am – 6pm
Torpedo Factory is located at 105 N. Union St., Alexandria, VA. For more information, visit http://torpedofactory.org/partners/target-gallery/.
