-
We'll Meet Again
- A group show of gallery artists
March 2nd through April 7th, 2007. 
BURTONWOOD & HOLMES
MICHAEL J. HOFER
JEREMIAH KETNER
ALAIN DOUGLAS PARK
ANDREW RIGSBY
For five years GARDENfresh has operated as an artist run space often at the margins of the contemporary art scene in Chicago. “We’ll Meet Again” signals a shift in this approach, turning to a more gallery driven model with a new space in the West Loop and a roster of fresh talent. For our March/April exhibition we will be introducing the work of co-directors & gallery artists: Burtonwood & Holmes, Michael J. Hofer, Jeremiah Ketner, Alain Park and Andrew Rigsby.
Burtonwood and Holmes are a collaborative team working in a range of media to produce work that challenges traditional ideas about war and militarism. Their large-scale installations attempt to “bring the war home” to audiences on different levels. Illustrating the consumptive aspect of warfare and defining “materielism” (sic) as an unavoidable component of the global economy. Recent projects include “PRODUCTplacement” at the Open Studio Project (2006) which was featured on ABC7 Chicago and “Influenz-ca” a group show at Allrise Gallery (2007). www.burtonwoodandholmes.com
Michael John Hofer’s colorful sculptures and installations fuse the organic and synthetic. Constructed with tactile nylons, plastics, and vinyls, Hofer’s large-scale pieces carve and redefine space while drawing relationships to the body. His works, which are often interactive are inspired by the public art works of Christo and Richard Serra. Hofer balances his time between managing a Chicago gallery and making his own work - his upcoming sculptures will explore new techniques, architecture, and collaboration.
Jeremiah Ketner, paints charming little creatures floating through pastel dreamscapes. His Japanese pop art influenced imagery tends to describe the a more casual and carefree side of life. Ketner has been busy painting and exhibiting his works all over the USA. Recent exhibitions include, Alcove Gallery; Atlanta, GA and Hotcakes Gallery Milwaukee, WI. www.smallandround.com
Alain Douglas Park is an artist and writer. His work deals with the origins of meaning and the futility/worth of expression. For this exhibit he presents a small sculpture of two rotating orbs made of melted plastic soldiers as well as a large-scale photo installation featuring shots from the "Bayou de Mort", the preserved WW1 trenches in Belgium. Park has an MFA from Cranbrook Academy of Art and teaches at Saint Xavier University. He recently completed an artist residency at Oxbow where the ideas behind these pieces were formed. www.alainpark.com
Andrew Rigsby is a video artist and conceptual painter. Rigsby enjoys playing with the modern psychological conundrum through the lens of popular visual semantics and contemporary logotypes. Typically preferring to work in an installation format using light box photographs, shaped paintings and sculptures, found object and video to create multifarious tableaus. This project will be based around video footage shot at an Anti-War march, centered upon the Chicago water tower. Rigsby has shown both Nationally and Internationally, most recently with GARDENfresh at Bridge Miami.