It’s a Wrap / IFeel Monsters / Giving Voice
It’s a Wrap / IFeel Monsters / Giving Voice
Access Gallery
909 Santa Fe Drive, Denver, CO 80204
October 6-November 17, 2023
Admission: Free
Review by Paloma Jimenez
In collaboration with Nicole Banowetz, Access Gallery artists DILLPhoenix, Heather H., Jareth J. Charles, and Skylar K. have created an installation of soft sculptures brimming with textural delight and dynamic colors. Abstract fiber forms inspired by a variety of natural organisms activate the entire space from floor to ceiling. Alongside the installation titled It’s a Wrap, two community projects offer generative tactile experiences as outlets for people who have been affected by bullying.
An installation view of the It’s A Wrap exhibition at Access Gallery featuring works by DILLPhoenix, Heather H., Jareth J. Charles, and Skylar K. Image by Paloma Jimenez.
Working in a process primarily inspired by Judith Scott’s cocooned objects, the artists who worked on It’s a Wrap wrapped fabric, yarn, and string around armatures constructed from recycled materials. Patterned cotton and multicolored threads obliterate the shapes of the objects beneath. Scattered throughout the gallery, the lumpen sculptures seem to reach out towards each other in joyous welcoming; the spirit of collaboration involved in their creation informs the larger emotional effect of the installation.
A view of a tree wrapped sculpture in the It’s A Wrap exhibition. Image by DARIA.
An installation on a column in the It’s A Wrap exhibition. Image by DARIA.
Some of the objects group together, while others float in isolation on the wall like singular cells in the earliest stages of evolution. A small cluster stretches around a column’s corner. Sky-blue, floral-specked cotton encased in fuzzy, turquoise yarn extends a strand towards the bold stripes of a mustard yellow, red, and midnight blue scrap of fabric. The heavy contrast between the impressionist pastels and cubist stripes is just one instance of how the artists create visual tension to express the “cyclical concepts of light and dark or life and death.” [1]
A three-pronged wrapped sculpture installed on a blue felt puddle. Image by DARIA.
A wrapped sculpture in primary colors installed on a blue felt puddle. Image by DARIA.
A detail view of a blue and orange work in the It’s A Wrap exhibition. Image by DARIA.
The string and yarn that bind the forms together evoke the meandering intention of a mycorrhizal network. Some objects have been wrapped loosely, resulting in frenzied blooms of delightfully tangled yarn. One form sprouts a mop of unruly yarn and leans with awkward tenderness, like the bandaged limb of a multi-colored Joshua tree. Other objects are bound with a methodical precision verging on optical illusion. In a small detail of one shape, safety orange yarn protectively and systematically wraps around a more muted periwinkle jersey fabric. These shifts in linework keep the installation engaging at both the macro and micro scales.
A detail view of a red and yellow work in the It’s A Wrap exhibition. Image by DARIA.
A yellow work made with patterned cotton fabric, velvet, and yarn. Image by Paloma Jimenez.
The artists also utilize textures and patterns to create visual depth. A monochromatic shape wrapped in yellow ochre velvet and buttery yarn emits a warmth similar to late afternoon light. It leisurely rests against the complementary baby blue of some gathered gingham. Unexpected color choices and patterns clash in an enlivening way throughout It’s a Wrap.
A detail view of monster sculptures made by Access Gallery artists in collaboration with the artist Enchanted Dichotomy (Alli Broderick) for the IFeel Monsters project. Image by DARIA.
A project displayed on the opposite wall also reveals an unlikely harmony in the maximalist use of textures, organized by the artist Enchanted Dichotomy (Alli Broderick), presents an eclectic group of knitted monsters created by the Access Gallery community members. Buttons and beads affixed to the faces depict a wide range of emotions and animated tufts of hair lend each monster a distinct personality. Together, they form an oddball crowd where all are welcome. In collaboration with The Bullying Recovery Resource Center, each monster will be given to someone who has suffered the emotional impacts of bullying.
Buttons made using the button-making station that is part of the IFeel Monsters and Giving Voice projects at Access Gallery. Image by Paloma Jimenez.
Visitors are also encouraged to express their own notes to their bullies by using a button press. The vibrant dots of color hold physical space for an emotional release. Enchanted Dichotomy explains, “When we are bullied our voice can be silenced. It takes time for us to find our voice again or simply remember that we have one in the first place.” [2]
Posters made in collaborations between Access Gallery artists and AIGA Colorado designers for the Giving Voice project, as well as the button-making station in the gallery. Image by Paloma Jimenez.
A poster made as part of the Giving Voice project by artist Saddey and AIGA designer Audrey. Image by DARIA.
Also on view are posters designed by Access Gallery interns with AIGA Colorado as part of the Giving Voice program. In collaboration with graphic designers, young artists living with disabilities expressed their own experiences with bullying. Rendered in a variety of graphic styles, the wall creates a forum for the artists to assert their perspectives.
An view of the It’s A Wrap exhibition at Access Gallery. Image by Paloma Jimenez.
The tactile exuberance of the collaborative soft sculpture installation and the emotional generosity behind the accompanying community projects in the gallery immerse the viewer in a distinct spirit of growth. A visit to the inclusive space of Access Gallery will remind you that there is a wellspring of strength to be found in the controlled chaos of collective energy.
Paloma Jimenez (she/her) is an artist, writer, and teacher. Her work has been exhibited throughout the United States and has been featured in international publications. She received her BA from Vassar College and her MFA from Parsons School of Design.
[1] From the It’s a Wrap exhibition statement on the Access Gallery website: https://www.accessgallery.org/exhibitions.
[2] From the IFeel Monsters exhibition statement on the Access Gallery website.
