OMAHA, NE.- Beginning October 11 and continuing through January 11,
Joslyn Art Museum presents an exhibition of the work of Orly Genger (American, b. 1979). This is the final exhibition in the inaugural year of Joslyns Karen and Doug Riley Contemporary Artists Project (CAP) Gallery. Genger is known for her large, hand-knotted rope constructions that stem from the craft traditions of knitting and crocheting, while also responding to twentieth-century Modernist painting, Land Art, and Minimalist sculpture. Typically site-specific, these rope pieces are labor intensive and can take months to produce.
In 2011, while working on a massive installation for New Yorks Madison Square Park that took more than two years to complete, Genger felt compelled to explore the visual language of her rope sculptures on a smaller scale. Turning to a foundry for assistance, she started to make cast sculptures in a variety of materials, including bronze, stainless steel, and aluminum, among others. Genger has called these tabletop pieces gestures and drawings, referencing the role that she believes intuition plays in creating them.
Josylns exhibition will feature ten of Gengers cast sculptures made over the last two years, in addition to an intricate ink drawing of interwoven human limbs. In the adjoining permanent collection gallery, visitors will encounter a pair of the artists painted rope pieces Lynn and Lee (both 2010). Each measuring six feet in height, these sculptures will create a dialogue with important work from Joslyns post-war collection, including Donald Judds wall piece, Untitled (1982); Sol LeWitts Seven-Part Variations on Two Different Kinds of Cubes (1967-69), and Al Helds minimalist canvas, Untitled (1964).