ECOCA’S OPENING “REFLECTION”
THE ELY CENTER HIGHLIGHTS THREE SOLO EXHIBITIONS, EACH UTILIZING EVERYDAY ITEMS TO HOLD A MIRROR TO THE HUMAN CONDITION, AND “INTERVALS”, A GROUP EXHIBITION REFLECTING ON THE MOVE.
Located at 162 James Street, since their CitySeed move, the Ely Center hosted its opening reception on February 8, showcasing the works of multiple interdisciplinary artists.
Image courtesy of ECOCA
“What Remains Tied” by Diana Abouchacra is an opportunity to experience her emotions, memories, and feelings of safety and belonging. Utilizing bread ties of various colors, sourced from her late mother's kitchen drawer, Diana invites the viewer to join her on a journey through her own experiences. An immersive installation, it features childhood videos projected as their audio echoes through the sea of her “memory ties,” which hang from the ceiling and encourage viewers to explore how memories grow with us and keep us connected to every version of self.
Artist: @Chacra.art / Image courtesy of JunglexJulia
By utilizing sconces to examine how light shapes how we see and experience our physical forms, Dario Mohr’s “Ensconced” dissects how society interacts with the black male body. Exemplifying the different ways black bodies have been objects of consumption, a spectacle, or, in his own words, “illuminated, obscured, or monumentalized under inherited visual regimes.”
Artist : @Dariomohr_art / Image courtesy of JunglexJulia
Lauren Flaaen delves into the manipulation of everyday objects, like steel and fabric, into anthropomorphic forms. “small tears, cuts, and scribbles” explores the viewers' relationship with set norms and expectations around states of being. Giant sculptures protruding from the walls display patchwork fabrics in unexpected shapes, inviting you to come closer and explore their construction and fragility.
Artist : @LaurenFlaaen / Image courtesy of JunglexJulia
“Intervals”, a group exhibition from the Ely Center, reflects on “the spaces between places and moments of change”. Presented by volunteer artists and curators who make up ECOCA’s curatorial and program advisory committee, the group work responds directly to the gallery’s relocation. “Intervals” highlight the importance of community-built spaces, no matter how fleeting, and their lasting impact.
Artist : @Mariamarkham0 / Image courtesy of JunglexJulia
After weeks of chaos and collaboration, the space came together in such a beautiful way. If nothing else, the gallery opening speaks to the importance of community and the inherent artistry of it.
