OUR FUTURE IS FORWARD

BACK TO THE FUTURE OPENS

CarriageHouse Arts received a generous grant from Suffolk County's Office of Film and Cultural Affairs to highlight the work of former Carriage House residents in Back to the Future, an exhibit in which contemporary artists drew inspiration from historic objects in the Suffolk County Historical Society's 24,000 piece Permanent Collection. The exhibition was so popular it was extended through December. There's still time to see it. Click on the Suffolk County Historical Society's website for days and hours.

Cara Barer photographs sculptures she makes from old books. Their wave-like shapes suggest a state of flux. They are metaphors that ask us to consider the fate of books and archives like those in the SCHS collection that are about to digatalized.

Karen Shaw's map installation questions the arbitrary nature of man-made borders. It was displayed next to antique maps that show the outlines of American Indian territories on Long Island that no longer exist.

Judith Condon's ceramics, with their warts-and-all sensibility, update traditional tropes of the portrait bust.

Donna Sharrett memorial wreaths are made of human hair, buttons, clothes and other items that had intimate contact with the deceased. They were inspired by 19th Century hair wreaths in the Suffolk County Historical Society's Permanent Collection, by mandalas and by the Rose Windows at Chartres.

Andy Warhol's Souper Dress commented on our disposable society. The dress was meant to be thrown away at the first sign of wear and tear. The iconic work was exhibited next to an elaborate mourning costume from the Suffolk County Historical Society's archives--a dress meant to be saved and cherished for generations. With thanks to the Woodward Gallery for this loan.

Our invitations featured the work of Judy Richardson and Keith Long.

Susan Hoeltzel's drawings of farm implements are based on historic tools in the SCHS collection.

Keith Long created dresses from furniture parts in his "Ready-to-Wear" series of sculptures.

Katherine Frey was inspired by formal dinnerware in the SCHS collection. Her pieces are made of plastic and contain scenes of her own apartment and the random items she has collected over the years.

Judy Richardson created an installation of vessels made of old bicycle tires which she staged on top of an historic buffet from the Suffolk County Historical Society collection. Her work evokes the depictions of property and wealth in Dutch Master paintings. 

The Suffolk County Historical Society has an unusual collection of taxidermied birds of Long Island. Inspired by birds of prey, Elizabeth Duffy created collages from materials she scavenged on Manhattan streets. Her images were based on the work of Audubon and environmentalist Rachel Carson.

Rob Carter also exhibited a video that used pop-ups made of paper to illustrate the rapid growth of major urban cities.  

CarriageHouse Arts continues to support artists and artists' projects in 2014. Let us hear from you!