on the nature of here
2024
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to mend and to break, in opposition
and in harmony with the other.
on the nature of here explores the relationship between creation and destruction, inviting viewers to contemplate the inherent tension and harmony between these forces. through a diverse range of mediums the participating artists explore concepts relating to renewal, fragility and resilience.
presented by honest to god press at squirm gallery in denver colorado. on view from january 27th 2024- march 7th 2024.
thank you to all the exhibiting artists for your trust. and special thanks to anise aiello and nick d’alessandro for help with installation and to cyrena rosati for documenting the work and helping with the lighting.
ry la
under the eternal sun, again and again until i am whole
graphite on paper
2024
15” x 22”
cyrena rosati
passing through
steel, pantyhose, fiberglass insulation
2024
51” x 55”
scout beckman
fountain
2024
28"x 29"
camille garcia
quilt
2023
60”x 80”
secondhand silk, linen, wool, velvet and cotton. cotton batting.
dominic cutilletta
what if i wanted to be 1million meters tall
3”x 2”
2022
twine, drawn steel, and indigo dye
nick d’alessandro
red40 thistle
37” x 32” x 22”
2023
rusted steel, found polyester sun faded t-shirt, construction tape, four color
print patches printed with grass pigment, stick pigment, kool aid pigment, and copper, red40 dyed cotton thread, nonfunctional cable
nick d’alessandro
grass fence
56” x 60”
2023
grass dyed cotton t-shirt, four color prints on patches comprised of pigment from grass, sticks, kool aid, and copper, found steel, concrete, nonfunctional cable, plastic, lace, t-shirt hem, grass dyed cotton thread
ruby sumners
vienna
various sizes
2023-2024
glass, solder, emulsion lifts, braided hair, bells, risograph prints
anise aiello
june 24, 2022: texas, mississippi & utah (quilt)
24” x 24”
2024
acrylic, serigraph, embroidery, sea beads
anise aiello
june 24th, 2022: texas, mississippi & utah (mono print)
16” x 24”
2024
acrylic, serigraph, mammography film
ry la + ruby sumners
until two becomes one 20” x 24”
2024
large format print encased in stained glass
cv
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artist statement
,my name is ruby sumners, originally from denver, i graduated from school of the art institute of chicago in fall 2022 and recently moved back to my hometown. near the end of my tenure at SAIC my art practice became centralized in stained glass and printmaking, more specifically the risograph and the capabilities therein. since graduation i’ve expanded into film photography and image transfer processes as well. in my work i’m interested in concepts related to intimacy and ephemera. i utilize dream logic and symbology to express moments of sentiment and nostalgia. my utilization of stained glass in my work process is about metaphorically harnessing the reflection of light. i hope to use this material in parallel to its spiritual signifier but not in direct reaction to it. stained glass functions on the same level as I want my work to function in. it pays homage to something of significance. the drawings and prints that the stained glass encases are collaged automatic drawings and writings. this part of my practice comes from diaristic intention. i hope that through this I can write my life experiences into the art, ritualizing the mundane.
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education
2022
bfa from the school of the art institute of chicago
emphasis in print and sculpture
exhibitions
2024
on the nature of here
curator and exhibiting artist at squirm gallery, denver co
losing, looping, forgetting
group show at campsite, list í ljósi, seydisfjordur iceland
2022
ongoing
heaven gallery, chicago il
school of the art institute of chicago, undergraduate exhibition
SAIC galleries, chicago, il
sounds about riso
juried group exhibition, usagi NYC
no body, only spirt
group show at apocalypse alley, chicago il
tha dream is certain, nd it’s interpretation trustworthy
group show at The John Mooney Foundation, chicago il
curatorial projects
2023- present
resident curator
squirm gallery, denver co
2023-present
honest to god press
denver co
2024
on the nature of here
squirm gallery, denver co
awards and residencies
2024 LungA artist’s residency, seydisfjordur iceland
2022 oxbow school of art and artist’s residency, saugatuck mi
2018 merit scholarship school of the art institute of chicago