MISTAKES WERE MADE: Nathan Mason + Catherine Schwalbe, April 29 - June 3, 2017
Former studio mates at Lill Street Studios, Nathan Mason and Cathi Schwalbe have firmly rooted their expansive practices in the earth and mud. In her exploration of the Midwest’s agricultural heritage, Schwalbe has meandered throughout the region, engaging in various festivals and residencies where she daylights practices ranging from genetic modification of corn to the quotidian accumulation of timesheets that are generated by the workers at mills, farms and other rural industries.
Nathan Mason characterizes his current body of glazed ceramic sculpture as “something of a romp” through inspirations that range from prehistoric figurines to Meissen garnitures to Beatrice Woods. A long-time curator of Chicago’s Public Art program, Mason has been producing sculpture and installations for over 30 years, currently working from his ceramic studio in the Ravenswood Art Corridor.
For the exhibit, Schwalbe will be producing interactive labyrinths and outdoor installations in an inventive range of materials both inside the exhibit space and outside in the garden and parking lot of the Albany-Carroll building in East Garfield Park. Mason has reworked an earlier set of glazed ceramic sculptures that he once considered finished. Mistakes were made, Mistakes were embraced.
On Saturday May 6, a labyrinth-making workshop will be given by Schwalbe in the back garden of the building. Participants will build their own fingertip labyrinth on wood using stones, seeds and other small materials. Workshop fee is $20 or $15 if you bring materials to share. For more information, unummunu1@gmail.com
UNUM is located at 3039 W. Carroll in East Garfield Park. Hours are Saturdays, 12 – 5pm and by appointment. Call 312-909-5902 for entry. Artists info follows.
