On Saturday, December 6th 2008 the Laundromat featured new work by artists Patrick Cuffe, Ben Godward and Scott Wilson.
Cuffe’s sculptures are made of finely crafted wood, metal, and plastic elements. His work borrows from the construction, wood working, and metal working trades to create objects that deal with the temporary versus the long-lasting, the hand-made versus the mass-manufactured. His work contemplates the societal shift towards disposable culture while employing a precise and exhaustive craftsmanship.
Patrick Cuffe 2008. Mahogany, plastic and paint.
Detail.
Wilson’s work reflects a transient studio practice afforded by an unusual work schedule. He creates fantastical mechanical drawings in ink on paper napkins. Because his work in the city allows for odd bits of time throughout the day, though not enough for a round trip to the studio, Wilson explores his ideas with the materials that are handy in coffee shops, diners, and cafes. His drawings suggest the inner workings of a mysterious and complex machine, while the margins of the page are often filled with intricate, sweeping cursive explanations of his imagined designs that call to mind the renaissance pairing of art and science.
Scott Wilson x315. 2008, Ink on napkin.
Scott Wilson x198, Ink on napkin.
Scott Wilson x338, Ink on napkin.
Scott Wilson x138, Ink on napkin.
Scott Wilson x302, Ink on napkin.
Godward employs plastic, rubber, found objects and urethane foam to create large, multi-colored combinations of gesture and form. On the surface, his sculptures resemble colorful abstract expressionistic paintings, but a closer look will reveal underlying themes of pop culture, ravenous consumption, even a suggestion of toxic waste. Godward exploits the viewers attraction to shiny, candy-colored objects, while simultaneously repulsing us with the endless cast-offs of our society.
Ben Godward Night Swimming. 2008, Found objects, urethane foam, plastic, black light, fountain.
Detail.
Detail.
Please visit Bushwick BK to read a review of this show by artist Kevin Regan.
Patrick Cuffe is a sculptor based in Utica, NY. His extensive experiences in construction, home renovation and fine wood working are the basis of his practice. He received his M.F.A. in Sculpture from the State University of New York at Albany and won the 2007 Outstanding Achievement in Contemporary Sculpture award from the International Sculpture Center, in Hamilton, NJ. Pat was awarded a residency at Sculpture Space in Utica, NY in 2004. He lives in Utica with his wife, the sculptor Aimee Tarasek, and their dog.
Ben Godward was born in Indianapoils, grew up in the midwest and attended Alfred University in upstate New York. He joined Kappa Psi Upsilon, and eventually completed his B.F.A., despite a one year hiatus taken at the request of the Art Dept. He spent the time away from Alfred working at Shidoni art foundry in New Mexico. Ben received his M.F.A. in Sculpture from the State University of New York at Albany and won the 2007 Outstanding Achievement in Contemporary Sculpture award from the International Sculpture Center, in Hamilton, NJ. His most recent show in New York was at Moti Hassan Gallery in Chelsea. He lives and works in Brooklyn, NY. For more information on Ben Godward, please visit his website: www.godwardsculpture.com/
Scott Wilson studied painting and art history at the University of Kansas, the state where he grew up. He made his way to New York with his wife Eustacia and they make their home in Astoria, Queens. At work, Scott helps people arrange their art in homes, offices and galleries. His influences include mechanics, physics, mathematics, esoteric science and science fiction.
For more information on Scott Wilson please visit his website: www.clockworkatomics.com
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