Author Description

Seeker, presented by Neumeraki, features the works of Jamie Powell and Melissa Staiger. Powell and Staiger explore colors, forms, patterns, and textures in their vibrant, abstract works – as a means of navigating their lived experiences and pushing the boundaries of painting and sculpture. The artists’ unique assemblages cultivate a sense of play – suggesting movement and energy. Powell’s modest upbringing in a family of farmers and factory workers in West Virginia has influenced the artist’s use and re–purposing of textile–related materials. Focusing on a soft edge in her work, Powell tears, cuts, braids, and dyes canvases to create brightly colored, sculptural paintings through an intuitive process. Acrylic and spray paint act as dyes for the canvas. With references culled from popular culture, Powell’s pieces explore domesticity and femininity while subverting conventional notions of display. By revealing the underlying support, her work suggests many dichotomies, including absence and presence. Employing humor, Powell formulates titles and compositions that imply a human personality.For Staiger, paint – along with other materials, including paper, marble, wood, and rigid plastic – become sculptural elements. Embracing the hard edge, the artist methodically assembles and arranges gestures, shapes, and lines – layering textures and structures – to create collages and sculptural paintings. Staiger explains, “When working with materials, I listen to their demands.” Seeking stasis, the artist makes connections between the body, mind, and soul. Powell and Staiger investigate the use and re–use of materials as well as their personal histories. Chance, spontaneity, and discovery are part of the artists’ practices – capturing dynamic and animated sensibilities in their works.The exhibition is on view at The Yard: City Hall Park (116 Nassau Street, Floors 5 & 6, New York, NY) from January 29 to May 1, 2019.Eileen Jeng Lynch