Bonfoey Gallery is excited to presents
Amalgamation
March 18th - April 30th, 2022
Featuring collage works by:
HARRIET MOORE BALLARD |
RUTH BERCAW |
MARY BURKE |
JEFF KALLET |
TRUDY WIESENBERGER |
OPENING RECEPTION
Amalgamation will open Friday, March 18th with an all-day opening event. We ask that you please schedule an appointment to visit the gallery and view the show - appointments are available from 10:00am-6:00pm. In order to adhere to CDC guidelines regarding COVID-19, we ask that all unvaccinated visitors please wear a face covering for the entirety of your visit to the gallery.
For more information, please contact the Bonfoey Gallery at (216) 621-0178 or [email protected].
About the Exhibition
Amalgamation features works from Harriet Moore Ballard, Ruth Bercaw, Mary Burke, Jeff Kallet, and Trudy Wiesenberger. Each artist’s work and viewpoint are beautifully presented, but together these works merge to create an incredible show of collaged artworks.
Collage is recognized as an art that results from an assemblage of various materials. The works in this show are just that, containing materials such as old maps, ticket stubs, tissue paper, envelopes, photographs, old book pages, and even a cigar box. The blending of these elements is a merging of accident and intent.
Several of the artists cite the prevalence of chance when it comes to creating collage. Jeff Kallet says chance plays a large role in his creative process, calling it “a regular visitor when you have a table full of cut-outs that are frequently being auditioned for different roles.” Trudy Wiesenberger agrees, noting that “when images connect and work, you just know it.”
Similarly, Harriet Moore Ballard mentions the use of improvisation and spontaneity, both of which allow for “a more playful immediate imagery” in her work.
Of course, not all collages are a result of such serendipity. Some stem from intentional choices the artists make, and others include a combination of both. Mary Burke says “accident and intent work hand in hand” as she creates. Ruth Bercaw is more intentional in that she aims to “provide a treat for the mind and senses of an observer, to stimulate thought, and offer pleasure.”
Regardless of which method an artist may choose, it is the method itself that makes collage such an interesting medium. It is difficult to look at a piece of collage art and not wonder how it was created: What is it made of? Did the artist intend for this result or did they envision a different outcome? How did all of these miscellaneous parts make such an effective whole? All of these questions are what make collage so interesting. The amalgamation of seemingly random objects effortlessly fuse into a work so unique it could never be replicated. We are thrilled to showcase such a strong collection of these pieces.
