This is a short reflection on the exhibition, Containment Strategies by Sarah Kusa running September 10-Oct 23, 2022 at The Catherine G. Murphy Gallery, Visual Arts Building, 2004 Randolph Ave, St. Paul, MN 55105, (Open Mon-Thu: 8am-8pm; Fri: 8am-6pm; Sat-Sun: Noon-6pm). The format of this reflection is seven sentences and images. In printed form, the text is arranged to form a grid reminiscent of the installation. Check out the printed zine.
Sarah Kusa, “Containment Strategies” (2022) installed at The Catherine G. Murphy Gallery
Wavy irregular grids of feather-light insulating foam are assembled into pink cube forms.
Sarah Kusa, “Containment Strategies” (2022) installed at The Catherine G. Murphy Gallery
Tricks of reflected light and shadow play out with some of the pink surfaces painted red, while others retained sporadic red printed type from the foam manufacturer.
Sarah Kusa, “Containment Strategies” (2022) installed at The Catherine G. Murphy Gallery
The lightness of these cages is further emphasized with multiple pieces pinned to the ceiling.
Sarah Kusa, “Containment Strategies” (2022) installed at The Catherine G. Murphy Gallery
Barely perceptible pins hold these delicate structures together at the seams.
Sarah Kusa, “Containment Strategies” (2022) installed at The Catherine G. Murphy Gallery
Close-looking reveals that these were all hand-cut.
Sarah Kusa, “Containment Strategies” (2022) installed at The Catherine G. Murphy Gallery
Some of the most interesting looking occurs at the densest points, with several overlapping cubes providing a near-moire pattern as layer upon layer anxiously melts together.
Sarah Kusa, “Containment Strategies” (2022) installed at The Catherine G. Murphy Gallery
Ideas of the individual versus the collective come to mind as these cubes are stacked and clustered, looking similar at first pass, but clearly all unique upon closer inspection.