The Space We Hold

Our April exhibit, The Space We Hold, features the work of sculptor Alexander Perrine, printmaker Valerie Syposz, and multimedia artists Melanie dai Medeiros and Adrienne Wooster. The show’s title, The Space We Hold invokes a space for four artists to showcase works that explore their inner lives in the midst of an ever-changing world.

Melanie dai Medeiros is interested in the residual impact left on a space by the presence of people, both from the memory of an event and from the physical evidence left behind. Her art is inspired by our collective impact on the land and the consequential environmental shifts, intersected with imagery from daily life.

Through his art, Alex Perrine asks us to consider the following question: “Daily, an American generates almost 4.5 pounds of trash – more than a ton annually. Will all of our trash simply outlast us? Or will it overwhelm the environment and ultimately destroy us?” His project, Bodies of Waste is a series of sculptures using discarded and found objects and based on the human figure. Through his creations, Perrine seeks to encourage the viewer to think about humanity’s effect on the natural world.

Valerie Syposz observes that she has always been inspired to create art from direct observation. For this exhibition, she has developed each image instinctively, first by drawing, cutting, rearranging, and then calling upon instinct throughout the platemaking and printing process. The resulting prints form a series of portraits that reflect on existence and perceptions of self. Her current work is created with lithographic and relief printmaking techniques that allow her to print by hand.

When it comes to art (and life) Adrienne Wooster is both a minimalist and a collector, and collage works well for these dual interests. She likes watching and listening to life, noticing the overlooked corners of each place or person, and piecing things together to make a whole or part of a whole. Fascinated by the concept of integration, both biblically and emotionally, she seeks to “walk alongside instead of run from” the emotions, truths, and demons that haunt us because “these are the very things that make us whole.”

Melanie dai Medeiros is interested in the residual impact left on a space by the presence of people both from the memory of an event and the physical evidence left behind. Her art is inspired by our collective impact on the land and the consequential environmental shifts intersected with imagery from daily life. From found objects, invasive species, and changing coastlines to domestic and industrial patterns, she captures the spaces we hold in both individual captured moments and accumulative collections in her work. Medeiros makes conscious choices in her materials as she strives to make her practice more sustainable in an attempt to lessen her impact on our environment.

Daily, an American generates almost 4.5 pounds of trash – more than a ton annually.  Will all of our trash simply outlast us? Or will it overwhelm the environment and ultimately destroy us?

I have always been inspired to create art from direct observation. For this exhibition, the starting point has been life drawings, transformed from objective representation into more subjective depictions. Starting from sketches of the model, I develop each image instinctively, first by drawing, cutting, rearranging, and then throughout the platemaking and printing process. The resulting prints form a series of portraits that reflect on existence and perceptions of self.
My current work is created with lithographic and relief printmaking techniques that allow me to print by hand, without the need for a specialized printmaking studio. What attracts me to printmaking is the unique aesthetics of each print technique as well as the importance on both the creative and technical aspects. I love the entire process of printmaking—planning, preparing plates, printing, problem-solving; the craftsmanship involved. I think there is something very special about indirect art techniques. All the extra steps required make the final artwork ever more rewarding.

Originally from Upstate, NY, I now reside in Providence, Rhode Island where the dissonance of new, old, light and dark within the city has significantly shaped my work.
When it comes to art (and life) I am both a minimalist and a collector — collage works well for this dichotomy. I like watching and listening to life, noticing the overlooked corners of each place or person, and piecing things together to make a whole or part of a whole.