Exploring “In Situ”: A Global Artistic Convergence at Arts Warehouse
While many artists take inspiration from their lifestyle, experiences or their medium itself, the In-Situ Exhibit features artists that went out of their natural environment to find inspiration. In Situ is a study in Sense of Place and features artists from equally opposite latitudes of the Earth who yielded an intertwined visual conversation of flora, fauna, sensations and spirit.
Angela Bulich (Arts Warehouse Studio Three Resident Artist) attended the Awasi Artist Immersion Residency in the Atlantic Rainforest of Argentina, and approached Grace Gdaniec, Arts Warehouse Program Director, about hosting an exhibition of the other participating artists. Her idea was to bring together several of the participating artists of the residency, to showcase the inspired art from their impactful experience.
Angela also learned that South Florida, particularly the Delray Beach area, shares a latitude line with the same area of Argentina. When realizing this, she thought to invite several artists who are creating in the same “climate” and “environment,” though thousands of miles apart.
This exhibit offers a variety of mediums including sculpture, painting and mixed media, and is one of the largest exhibitions at the Arts Warehouse to date. It utilizes all three gallery spaces: the Front Gallery showcases art from the artists who attended the Awasi Artist Immersion event; the Back Gallery features artists who did not attend the program but whose work focuses on themes of nature; and the East Gallery has a series of videos of the artists who attended the program and their experience while there.
“An element that is enjoyable (for me) about the show is that the curator chose to include artist statements about certain works of art. I think that this information provides the viewer with helpful information and anecdotes that may help them relate to the work in a different way (although interpretation without influence is also important),” said Grace, who usually curates all Arts Warehouse exhibits but enjoyed a fresh perspective for this exhibit. “It’s museum quality, high level of work! Many of the artists are very well known either in the U.S. or their native country. I enjoy the nature elements as well as the mysterious tone that a lot of the pieces have. It’s educational, informative, and thoughtful. And definitely visually pleasing. It has been receiving a lot of great feedback.”
In scientific experimentation, In Situ refers to the experiments conducted in the original location under study. In this exhibit, the artists became the researchers, and the art pieces are the result of location-based experiments.
“The artists were thinking directly about their surroundings while in the creative process. Or the work is showcasing nature. It’s a literal and figurative way of describing the influence that an environment can have on an artist,” Grace said.
In Situ is on view now through July 20. Stay tuned for virtual artist and curator talk videos releasing through the Arts Warehouse social media platforms.
