Chris Malone, But You Cannot Have My Power, 2022, Mixed media. Image courtesy the artistOpening: Friday, May 19 from 7pm to 9pm
VisArts, in partnership with Morguard North American Residential REIT (the REIT) is pleased to present GATHERING, an exhibition of Chris Malone’s mixed media ceramic works, in the 355 POD Space Gallery through July 31, 2023 (viewable 24/7 from the sidewalk and street).
Chris Malone started making dolls in 1992. When they first moved to Washington, DC, they came upon a shop called Angie’s Doll Boutique in Alexandria, Va. The ladies in the shop asked if Malone was looking for a gift for their mother or girlfriend. They replied, “I’m a doll maker. What would I need to start making dolls?”
Malone’s recent work has evolved from representative doll making to metaphysical figurative sculptures. They believe their creations come from their unsettled African past, stemming from a history they never learned properly. When Malone’s ancestors came to this country, chained in the belly of ships as cargo, they were taken away from their language, families, and way of life – including their gods.
Malone says, “When I am creating my work, I have exotic fabric, beads, and feathers on a table in front of me and I let the universe (spirit) guide me in what to do with it. I believe, in part, that my guidance in creativity is coming from my unknown ancestors, perhaps telling me stories that I have never heard, showing masks and painted faces that I have never seen. Something mystical and spiritual comes to play that I get to manifest through my work.”
About the Artist
Chris Malone is a self-taught artist born and raised in the Midwest. Their work is rooted in traditional African doll making, but Malone takes it a step further, using it as medium to explore spirituality and ancestry. They describe creating the sculptures as a balance between imaginative play and spiritual practice. Malone currently resides in Washington, DC. They have exhibited their work nationwide, including in New Orleans, La.; New York; and Washington, DC.
https://www.visartscenter.org/event/chris_malone_/
About VisArts
VisArts, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is a hub for the visual arts that engages nearly 30,000 visitors annually through contemporary art exhibitions, a studio artist program, art classes and camps, VisAbility Art Lab (a supported studio for artists with disabilities), community art programs, the annual Rockville Arts Festival, and event space. Founded in 1987, VisArts is committed to our mission of transforming individuals and communities through the visual arts.
VisArts is in Rockville Town Square, three blocks from the Rockville Metro station, at 155 Gibbs Street, Rockville, Md. Galleries are open Wednesday-Thursday/Saturday-Sunday, 12-4 p.m. and Friday, 12-8 p.m. Exhibitions are free and open to the public. Visit www.visartscenter.org or call 301.315.8200 for more information.
About the 355 POD Space Gallery
VisArts and Morguard North American Residential REIT (the REIT) have partnered to provide opportunities for local artists to bring their ideas to life with site-specific art installations at the 355 POD Space Gallery.
Directions to the 355 POD Space Gallery from VisArts: Exit VisArts and turn right on Gibbs Street. Turn right on Beall Avenue. Turn right on Hungerford Drive (Route 355). The 355 POD Space Gallery is on the right, just after the entrance to the parking garage.
About Morguard North American Residential REIT
The REIT is an unincorporated, open-ended real estate investment trust established under and governed by the laws of the Province of Ontario. The Units of the REIT trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol MRG.UN. With a strategic focus on the acquisition of high-quality multi-suite residential properties in Canada and the United States, the REIT maximizes long-term Unit value through active asset and property management. The REIT’s portfolio consists of apartment communities located in Alberta, Ontario, Colorado, Texas, Louisiana, Illinois, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland. For more information, visit the REIT’s website at www.morguard.com.
355 POD Space Gallery is located at 355 Hungerford Drive, Rockville, MD.
