It was curious collection of art work that decorated Grace Church on Third Street in Jersey City this week as part of the “Structure, Strength and Soul,” exhibit, curated by Kelly Griffin.
Fabric was the key to these creations, stained, dyed, torn, weaved, painted or part of mixed media, providing a conspicuously experimental show. Al Preciado’s fragile “Daedalus & Icarus,” partially suspended from the ceiling, was a two part creation of wire, screen and clothing, showing mythological flight and crash of Daedalus.
Pat Falconer’s “The Lady Spews” was another particularly interesting work that presented a three-dimensional cloth rendition of the traditional still-life, fruit falling out of the frame, caught in the midst of falling, each piece dribbling down the wall. Nancy Wells, who seems to have talent in every art form, presented several strong pieces, though the most haunting was “The Shaman,” a mixed media work showing a seated figure of clay and cloth. Wells’ “The Birthing of the Lizard Woman” dominated a whole side of the church, a walking ten-foot high mummy with rags trickling from its huge form.
More traditional in form, yet extremely experimental in content was Christine Benson Vos, of Hoboken, who presented several great tapestries. In one five by ten foot tapestry two blue women stand beneath a large brown tree with a red tricycle at their feet, the sharp contrast in color and shape, reminiscent of early 20th century painting. Vos’ “Taking the Veil” was even more impressive, sparkling white and grey figures on a red background that took on texture only when viewed from a distance.
Few of the works displayed by these artists and the others were cheap, ranging from $500 for a typical painting-sized piece to over $8,000 for some of the tapestries. While some clearly needed more space than an average apartment, all shone in the open space of Grace Church.