“Let Me Talk” at The Brand Art Center has a lot to say. Curated by artists Ada Pullini Brown and Jill Sykes, the group exhibition’s inspiration comes from a fierce quote by Toni Morrison, stating “In times of dread, artists must never remain silent.”
This varied body of work examines the state of the world from environmental to social issues, in sculpture, paintings and photographs, compelling viewers to talk about the works’ meaning, and through that conversation, spark change.
Catherine Ruane’s General Pico (2021)
Catherine Ruane’s astonishing large-scale charcoal and graphite work, General Pico (2021), gives viewers an intimate look into the branches of an ancient-growth tree, and the threats of climate change that face it. Laura Larson’s exquisite world of endangered forest creatures, In the Mourning, also have an urgent story to impart. Created between 2012–2021, these 3 inches to nine inches bronze figures poignantly ask for a world in which every living creature is valued, rather than subjugated to man.
Laura Larson’s endangered forest creatures, In the Mourning
Cynthia Minet likewise addresses the plight of sentient animal life with her glowing warning of imminent disaster, Seconds to Last, a 2021 inflatable sculpture illuminated with hauntingly lovely sequenced lighting; Sierra Pecheur’s series of wall-mounted sculptures, The Ghost Hearts, reminds us the time to act to save our planet is not finite. Leigh Salgado’s delicate hand cut paper in Virgin, among other 2020 works, serve as a reminder of the perfection, idealization, and expected roles assigned to women.
Sierra Pecheur, from series The Ghost Hearts
Bibi Davidson is more pointed with her intense 2017 acrylic and wood female figure Shut the Fuck Up, Let Me Talk. Brown’s 2019 triptych, Living Veiled, presents icon-like images against gold leaf backgrounds. Addressing religious tolerance, feminism, and societal rules, she inextricably links habit, burka and veil. Theodore Svenningsen’s undated Communication uses a collage of stamps and letters with a printed overlay decrying the mind-numbing social and political discourse of the day.
Cynthia Minet, Seconds to Last, 2021
Curator Sykes offers lustrous, hopeful floral panels, Victory Garden (2021), and The Marchers, 2017, in oil and acrylic, demonstrating the resilience of the natural world. And in a resolute call to action, Margaret Griffith demands that we take a look from where one sees with her large 2022 steel sculpture. Start by seeing this exhibition, which includes 24 artists in all; through March 19th.
Group Exhibition
“Let Me Talk”
The Brand Library & Art Center
Glendale, CA
Genie, Thank you for the thoughtful comment about one of my pieces in the show “Communication”. Theodore Svenningsen
So glad you like!
Thank you Genie!
A well deserved review for an excellently curated show. 👏🏻
I agree with Serena Potter. Thank you so much for giving this show it’s due.
Thank you so much for giving this show it’s due.
Thank you Genie!
thank you so much for all of this, Genie – more appreciated than you know! & I am also so pleased you saw my florals as being “hopeful,” because they are indeed all of that!