Christopher Kurtz: Christopher Kurtz: Foldings

Christopher Kurtz: Foldings is comprised of nine painted carved wood and mixed media sculptures will be exhibited. Kurtz’s body of work Foldings advances his study of making objects, seeing and recognizing, and prolonging the brief moments that give us pause. Some of the sculptures in this group quite literally reference folded paper – freezing a casual folded form into a wooden artifact to be studied. Other sculptures examine a more metaphoric interpretation of folding, referencing reflections and twin ships.

In a discussion with the curator Elisabeth Akkerman, Christopher Kurtz states: “Many of my pieces have depicted familiar artifacts from our contemporary life. By representing these objects in another material, mainly wood, I want something surprising to happen in the translation. The sculptures suggest a narrative. Each piece potentially offers significant information, yet the story and its moral remain unclear.  The work can seem playful or even soothing at first, but upon closer inspection the story begins to ferment. The notion of being caught between familiarity and surprise, between peace and disturbance, is very interesting to me. These are the transitory moments that I want my work to exist in. My work has a tendency to rely quite heavily on craftsmanship. By using a traditional material, wood, I am revisiting the “object” as a way of making sculpture.  My pieces are built, carved, and sometimes painted to trompe l’oeil effect.  There is, however, always an element that reveals its artifice, such as wood grain, knots, joinery or tool marks left showing. This is part of the concept.”

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Christopher Kurtz: Foldings is curated by Elisabeth Akkerman and is sponsored by the Time Equities Inc. (TEI) Art-in-Buildings Program. TEI is committed to enriching the experience of our properties through the Art-in-Buildings Program, an innovative approach that brings contemporary art by emerging and mid-career artists to non-traditional exhibition spaces in the interest of promoting artists, expanding the audience for art, and creating a more interesting environment for our building occupants, residents, and their guests.