An untitled piece from the “Accordance” series by Joe Chesla

Gallery 210 will expose St. Louis to the work of three talented local artists. “Exposure 13,” the University of Missouri–St. Louis gallery’s annual exhibit of St. Louis artwork, will open Aug. 26 and display ink drawings by Martin Brief, a water-and-bag installation by Joseph Chesla and clay bowls by Asma Kazmi.

The trio’s influences and studio practices can be traced back to the progressive art movements of the late 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. They have adapted elements of minimalist, conceptual and process art to the more recent philosophical and theoretical framework of post-modern theory and relational art practices. As a result, their works have a common formal language that includes elementary forms, repetition of standard units and a nontraditional approach to media and technique.

Brief’s meticulous ink drawings of the contours of text that make up the entries of the 1966 Webster’s Third New International Dictionary is concerned with language, thought and information.

Chesla’s installation, made of 2,000 light-refracting bags filled with water, addresses themes of inclusion, transformation and harmony.

Kazmi’s installation of 150 hand-built clay-pinched bowls is inspired by Sufi (Islamic mystics) begging bowls. By begging, the Sufis rely on their community for sustenance, and in return, they provide their communities with spiritual guidance.

The “Exposure” series is a long-running program created by the St. Louis Gallery Association and previously presented in the Hunt Gallery at Webster University in Webster Groves, Mo. UMSL’s Gallery 210 now runs the program, and “Exposure 13” will be the seventh exhibition in the series housed at the gallery.

The curatorial process for “Exposure” has taken many forms over the years, from invitational to competition. But the overall goal remains the same, which is to present new and challenging work by local artists, said Gallery 210 Director Terry Suhre.

“Exposure 13” will run through Dec. 4. An artists’ reception will be from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 26 in Gallery 210. The exhibit and reception are free and open to the public.

The exhibit is co-sponsored by the Department of Art and Art History at UMSL, Center for the Humanities at UMSL, Missouri Arts Council and the Regional Arts Commission.

Gallery 210 is in the Telecommunity Center on UMSL’s North Campus, One University Blvd. in St. Louis County (63121). Regular gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

More information:
http://gallery210.umsl.edu

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Ryan Heinz

Ryan Heinz