La Incubadora

Posted on 12. Jan, 2010 by AdamWallace in Arts, LAB Gallery

January 14 – February 10, 2010

Wednesday, December 16, 2009 The LAB (for installation + performance art) in association with SLAG Gallery, has been converted by Grimanesa Amorós into ”LA INCUBADORA”, which will be featuring “You Cannot Feel It…I Wish You Could” a sculpture installation arising out of her personal experiences during and immediately following her pregnancy with her daughter Shammiel. The installation explores the interplay between biology and society and particularly the concept of male pregnancy.

“During my pregnancy with my daughter, and afterwards when I was nursing her, I noticed how curious her father was about my experiences,” recalls Amorós. “I wanted to create a piece around motherhood, and the unbridgeable gulf between the male and female bodies, specifically in the area of reproduction. Then I began to imagine ways in which that gulf might be bridged. I am re-envisioning The Lab Gallery as a warm human incubator, in contrast to the cold exterior of Manhattan, yet concurrently reflecting its sterility. This is a new way to present “You Cannot Feel It…I Wish You Could” that works with my current sensibilities while still staying true to the original sculptures.”

The installation is comprised of eleven “clones” of a new kind of human body: a pregnant female torso with the same male head attached to each of them. The casts were taken from a mold made from the artist’s body one week before she gave birth to her daughter. The floor beneath and around the body-casts is covered with soft, pale sand referencing the earth as a foundation for biological manipulation.

The lighting in the space and the music, a collaboration with composer Meshell Ndegeocello, who created a piece of music made specifically for the installation, reinforces the magical quality that many of us feel when confronting the wonders (or monsters?) of modern science.

Photos: Amorós Studio

Grimanesa Amorós is an interdisciplinary artist with diverse interests in the fields of social history, scientific research and critical theory, which have greatly influenced her work. She often makes use of sculpture, video, and lighting to create works that illuminate our notions of personal identity and community. Amorós utilizes her art as an agent for empowerment to involve viewers from all different backgrounds and communities. She was born in Lima. Lives and works in New York City and Peru.

For more information or to schedule an interview with the artist or for an invitation to the opening night dinner please contact Danika Druttman at ddruttman@rogersmith.com or call (212) 339-2092.

THE LAB (for installation + performance art) is a New York based, converted storefront turned fishbowl producing 20+ fast paced performance art and installation exhibitions annually. Aimed at the furious midtown foot traffic, THE LAB’s programming is designed to confront modern relationships between art and audience and seeks to force interaction between high energy, “outrospective” exhibitions and nearly 25,000 daily passersby. For more information, call 212-339-2092, or email rogersmitharts@rogersmith.com. www.thelabgallery.com

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Inspirational, Stylish, Dramatic, Progressive, Sophisticated, Artistic, Detailed.

Posted on 10. Nov, 2009 by AdamWallace in Arts, Community

Interview with Dave Prutting

173 Park Street, New Canaan, CT.

“Prutting & Company’s Attention to detail and budget has created excellent relations with our clients. David’s strength of character permeates through his staff; As a result, the construction process is organized, personal and clear. We can recommend Prutting & Company to our clients and fellow architects without reservation.”
- Malcolm Robertson

Robertson + Landers, New Canaan, CT

Joeb Moore + Partners Interview

“This is more than Sculpture, were interested in really thinking about architecture as a social medium, as a social art and a performative art.” -Joeb Moore

Joeb + Partners Architects, L.L.C. is a firm specializing in architecture, interiors and design. The focus of the office is to provide owners with highly personal and powerful design solutions that merge practical everyday needs with beautiful spaces and construction details.

James Knowles Sculpture Installed

It has been several months since James Knowles started working on this bronze sculpture, and today he releases it and sends it on the next leg of its life. The piece is now installed at 173 Park Street, New Canaan, CT. and is settling into its new watery home.

Living modern — Green design brings intrigue to downtown
http://www.prutting.com/

http://www.joebmoore.com/

http://www.rogersmithlife.com/

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FIRE: James Knowles Pouring Bronze

Posted on 26. Sep, 2009 by AdamWallace in Arts

Exploring the Elements. James Knowles is hard at work with Fire in the foundry. The ability to transform molten bronze in a solid sculpture. The heat from the sand-molds is released as the artist begins to break the mounds. The ground smokes. This is one piece of 19 that will become the final sculpture.

The sculpture will be installed in a fountain at 137 Park Street in New Canaan CT.

James Knowles Pouring Bronze

A note from James Knowles’ project journal:
I have had one pour. The problems I encountered, some have been addressed. There was a break in the wall of the steel container. I had to work through welding issues similar to the ones you faced the other day. I went back to the books, the Lincoln bible on welding and studied what rods are used for what. Then I stopped in to the welding supply shop on Bruckner blvd where I bought the welder for Feng. We discussed it briefly and he assured me that what he gave Feng was precisely what I should use. It was not what I had figured out in my research. Feed wires long enough. Welding rod ok. New chain fall. Let’s try a melt. I’ve not figured out the lighting of the furnace very well so when I light the thing with air blower going and Propane torch on top to ignite. A volume of gas and air accumulates in the furnace and whaaaaboooom it explodes as it lights. Not good. But it gets the thing going. So I slowly add air and then gas to bring it up to a roaring intensity pchhhhhwhhhhhhhhhhhhh kind of thing. But hot gases are flowing out through the furnace lid joint in many directions. Furry green blue flames. Losing heat and making it difficult to approach the furnace as the flames are waist high. I shut it down to consider how to resolve that. I attempted to remove the lid. Hooked up the steel jig i welded up. Took too long over the hot furnace. Removed the lid. Found the refrractory joint loose and friable. Stop consider. I need a means to apply a soft refractory mud between the Lid and the fire box. Consider: what do I have? Clay to bind and silica sand a refractory. I made up a slurry of the two and put a drooly layer on the joint and replaced to top. Seemed to sit well. Cranked up the heat. Flames look ok. Some fuzz but ok. Metal slumping as the temperature rises. Start up the second blower, add more gas. Feisty robust full bodied flame and gutteral roar. Look up. Uhoh. Looks like I wired the whole. Barn just over the furnace area. Fire and heat impinging on the cord and then zap. Blew a fuse somewhere. Consider: Shut down all breakers. Cut the wires. Re direct them around the pouring system. Devise heavy wire connectors. Isolate the joints with electricians tape. Reset all breakers. Test. OK. Now redesign the lid removal system which takes too long to remove. Consider: Pipe rigid top and bottom. Pipe sliding over the rigid pipe. Weld moving pipe to the lid (with new welding sticks) Rig up a lever and counterweight to lift the lid easily and rotate it to the side. Test it. Fix it. Test it. Fix it…….. Works. Heeehaaaa. Order metal 250 Lbs. Order castable and ramming refractories. From a good group in Lancaster pa. That is where I am. Molds ready to pour. System now redesigned. Getting closer. I have one casting In hand. 19 to go.

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Giving 3D Life to the Urban Crystals

Posted on 11. Aug, 2009 by admin in Arts

This series of videos show three dimensional rendering of the Urban Crystal sculptures by Artist James Knowles, president and CEO of the Roger Smith Hotel.

1. The creation of these animations involve a two step process. The first step is to model the parts of the sculpture in a computer environment. The second step is its animation, showing how they are formed and placing them in their environment.

2. The building of these piece involve bending and twisting the piece, like Mr. Knowles does in stainless steel.

3. One of the most fascinating things about the Urban Crystals is their ability to interact with built environments. This animation show the formations of the pieces and their interaction with an urban environment. It is a rendered image built in a 3D modeling program.

4. This is a 3D modeling of some of Mr. Knowles scultpures. The idea is to show how it is built. It shows the movement of the peices, how they are bended and twisted, giving life to the sculpures.