Room Enough For You And Jack, by Noel Kassewitz, dye, cyanotype, canvas, found net floats, buoys, pool noodle, 42” x 81” x 8”, 2021On View: September 23 – October 31, 2021
The 2021 Athenaeum Open, ART OPTIMISM, features works by artist living or working in DC, Virginia, and Maryland exploring concepts related to optimism for improving our footprint on the planet and finding productive ways we can meet the associated challenges of climate change.
Works juried into the exhibition range from Noel Kassewitz’s 7 foot wide Room Enough for You and Jack referencing the ill-fated character from the Titanic movie who froze in the cold waters of the Atlantic, but offering a brighter future – with both its visible and hidden buoyancy elements, it doubles as a raft capable of supporting the bodyweight of two people.
Carolyn Marshall Wright promotes the benefit of adding seaweed to the diet of cattle to reduce their methane emissions into the atmosphere by 82% in her painting, And How does it Taste? that incorporates real seaweed onto the surface.
Marcel Deolazo’s sculptural Koi Carp Swimming Upstream, twists gently against the wall as it shows and encourages creative use of recycled plastic.
There are 41 pieces in the exhibition representing a broad range of artists’ perspectives on the challenges of the climate change situation and positive, creative means of coping.
Gallery Hours:
- Thursday – Sunday: 12pm to 4pm
Athenaeum is located at 201 Prince Street, Alexandria, VA. Contact the gallery at 703.548.0035 or online via nvfaa.org
