Symbolic Immersion: Prints and Installation Art
Jessica Kronika
Opening Reception:
June 15th, 2012 6-9pm.
Exhibit runs through July 6th, 2012
At Expressions Graphics, 29 W. Harrison St.,
Oak Park, IL 60304
Gallery Hours: Friday & Saturday, 1-4pm
Evoking a journey of discovery, the artist takes us into a
contemporary experience of visiting prehistoric cave and early stone temples
during a storytelling. Using cutting edge LED technology in the place of oil
burning lamps, the illuminated spaces of Kronika’s installation invite you into
the mysteries. Working with mixed media, the artist turns everyday materials
into glowing crystalline and substantial spaces. Using printmaking, bookmaking,
sculpture and photographic processes, the evolving series of two-dimensional
art works and documentation capture the strangely universal yet undecipherable
symbols that illuminate the exhibit.
A strong thread of recycling ties the various media to one
another, as the printed works play off the stenciled hand motifs of early
caves, the plates they are printed from evolve into the silhouettes for the led
projections within the installation’s ephemeral and translucent cavern, and
delicate brass pendants with patina’s that reflect an ageless sense of the
relic.
The photographic works include time exposures of the
installation interior as viewed in its various site specific presentations: May
2009 at Columbia College Chicago, May-June 2009 at Fly’n Gypsy Art Studio in
Oak Park, May 2010 at Bridgeport Art Center of Chicago, March 2011 at Life
Force Arts Center of Chicago, July 2011 RAW Artists Chicago at Evil Olive of
Chicago, and September 2011 at Next Wave in Elgin, IL. The artist has printed
unique editions of these still photographs as ready to frame original photos,
greeting cards and postcards. All formats will be on display at the opening reception.
Supporting materials that allow insight into the artist’s
process and inspirations include original and printed sketches, reference
images and text, artist drawings, spatial renderings and diagrams, model, and
books. Each format continues the distinctive
symbols and incorporates the evolving trail of materials.
This cycling and re-cycling builds
layers of meaning and interprets the context of each unique site and exhibit
theme to add levels of audience interface. Prime examples include the book which pairs each symbol as a
print with a poem exploring its meaning as a gesture or constellation, the
adaptation of the form to highlight its relation to the original temple of
Gigantia at Malta for the Electro-Sexual exhibit at the Bridgeport Art Center,
and the poem statement which accompanied the installation at Life Force Art
Center’s The World of Fairy exhibit.
For more information: J. Kronika 847-722-7032,
artist@flyngypsyart.com OR Expressions Graphics:
www.expressionsgraphics.org
(708) 447-9262
