"Delusions of Grandeur: Ascension"" Parish Gallery-Georgetown

"Delusions of Grandeur: Ascension" 
Painters
Jamea Richmond-Edwards
 Amber Robles-Gordan
Shaunte Gates
  Opening Reception
Friday, August 19, 2011, 6:00 - 8 PM

 Showing through September 16, 2011

This exhibition is the result of an artistic dialog about the "delusions of grandeur" that each artist possesses in order to continue progressing in their careers and most importantly in their artwork. Ascension, the act of rising to an important position or a higher level, is the theme adapted for this current body of work. Each artist presents his individual interpretation of the act of ascending.

Artist, Shaunté Gates' work combines multiple processes and genres, by taking appropriations and gestures from pop culture and print media which are combined to create elusive narratives. His works seduce us into an imaginary world of juxtaposition and fantasy, a place where the contradictions of culture and the human psyche collide. His mixed media paintings capture the beauty in subjects that may, at first glance, appear bleak to the average eye. Gates' ideas are derived from the pain, joy, and the beautiful way everything is connected universally.

Jamea Richmond-Edwards work explores the contradictions of female and cultural identity making reference to Greek Mythology, African folklore and international fashion. She examines how mythologies from ancient times translate into today's culture and time allegorically. Her figures are empowered by their survivalist adaptation to circumstance. Their sharp features are inspired by both high fashion models and the everyday women in her community.

Amber Robles-Gordon'smixed media artworks draw upon her journey through motherhood, genealogy, healing, and being alive today. They represent her technical and scholarly growth as an artist, and are supported by her professional development in the Washington, DC area. Her two- and three-dimensional pieces fit within an expansive notion of painting and sculptural form. She uses wood or painted, stretched canvas to support an accumulation of media in low- or sharp-relief. These assemblages require a close look to interpret their individual parts. Collectively, these parts form a visual energy comprised of the previous "lives" of the objects, their former owners, and the artist's hand.

Parish Gallery
Georgetown
1054 31st St. NW
Washington, DC 20007
www.parishgallery.com