Carte Blanche at Studio Gallery

Only what you can carry with you The first of three exhibitions planned in 2010 by Thomas Drymon Selects.
Works by James Cassell, Peter E Harper, Joren A Lindholm and Zade Ramsey Studio Gallery—2nd floor March 31–April 24, 2010 Opening reception: Friday, April 2, 5–8pm 2108 R Street Northwest • Washington, DC 20008 (202) 232-8734 • studiogallerydc.com
		James Cassell’s past work was highly personal in nature, turning the lens on the inner workings of his extended family. For this exhibition, he has broadened his scope to look at the natural world around him and current events (The News is Disquieting). With these influences, Cassell pulls things apart and reassembles them in a way that makes sense to him. Rather than editorialize, Cassell allows the viewer to bring their own experiences into question.
Peter E. Harper’s earlier figurative work has expanded to include abstraction that is bold, messy and expressive—a reflection of the inner mind. Rough hewn lines empty into pools of flat grey (What lightning do). Structure and form are bisected by scraped paths of color. All of this to say that life has its moments of quiet and solitude, of excitement and passion, and of violence and anger. Harper wrestles to find this balance and encourages you to do so also.
			Joren A. Lindholm takes a thoughtful approach to his work, often creating multiple studies of a piece before completion. His collage work on view has sometimes spawned paintings with a similar content. Once in painting, Lindholm makes intuitive choices about color and shape, abstracting the more literal work of the collage and placing signs for the viewer to discover and discern for himself (The Traveler and the Travel).
Zade Ramsey has found the perfect medium to depict family histories that haunt and shape our psyches. Using materials like antique objects, family photos, and vintage fabrics, Ramsey creates what he calls Memory Boxes. With each, he encourages the viewer to remember events and emotions of the past and reconnect to family long gone and stories left behind. Each piece is a bit mischievous and allows the viewer to create their own narrative derived from the content of the fanciful boxes (Last American Girl). * * *