Parallel: Wewer Keohane & Andrew Roberts-Gray
“Embracing Mystery” by Wewer Keohane
“The continuity in my work is not visual, it is the source, my dreams, that is the consistent factor. My dream symbols and the energy of my dreams, what I call “the felt sense”, that is the thread of my creativity.”
Carbondale Arts presented “Parallel”, a two-person exhibition by Wewer Keohane and Andrew Roberts-Gray, at the Carbondale Arts R2 Gallery. “Parallel” was on exhibition September 4 - October 2, 2020. The public was invited to an outdoor artist talk on Friday, September 4, which began at 5:30pm. The R2 Gallery was open late til 7pm that evening and held up to 10 visitors at a time (masks and social distancing enforced).
“Parallel” represented the long-term creative friendship with artists and 2018/19 Aspen Art Museum (AAM) Fellows Wewer Keohane and Andrew Roberts-Gray who have known each other for over 25 years and had many “parallel” experiences along the way.
For Wewer Keohane, “Parallel” represented the unfolding of a truly memorable and transformative dream she calls “Embracing Mystery” which provided inspiration for the full AAM Fellowship and is still bringing her creative fulfillment in her present work. All work exhibited here by Wewer was completed during her AAM Fellowship from September 2018 - July 2019. The continuity in Wewer’s work is not visual, it is the source - her dreams - that is the consistent factor. Her dream symbols and the energy of her dreams (what Wewer calls “the felt sense”) that is the thread of her creativity.
Andrew Roberts-Gray’s AAM Fellowship presentation was comprised of a 12-minute art performance piece entitled, “Stalking the Muse”, in which Andrew invited internationally recognized violinist MinTze Wu to play Samuel Barber’s “Adagio for Strings” and projected a video on the violinist. There was also a 3-piece band as Andrew evoked the Hindu God Ganesha by wearing a handmade elephant head while performing a choreographed dance. Several props and still images from “Stalking the Muse” are included in this exhibition.
Andrew’s paintings in “Parallel” were taken from his recent studio practice in which he creates layered, painterly, and image-driven works that draw on a number of distinct cultural disciplines such as the development of the computer, the history of the landscape, the iconography of the Hindu God Ganesha, and the realm of science fiction.
“Parallel” was generously sponsored by S.A.W. (Studio for Arts+Works). Designed as a space for creative professionals and professional creatives, SAW was remodeled from an auto mechanic shop into minimalist, industrial-style, artists studios on a modest budget using non-toxic, salvaged and recycled materials wherever possible. The tenant mix at SAW (potters, painters, jewelers, sculptors, print makers) showcases our commitment to enhancing the vitality of our community through our work. Though SAW doesn’t have regular hours (as the tenants are working artists and keep their own day-to-day schedules) SAW is open to the public by appointment. Learn more about the 25+ SAW artists at sawcarbondale.com or on Instagram @sawstudio.
This exhibition was also open the same dates (September 4 - October 2, 2020) as “Self-Reflected Universe” by Brian Colley.
Wewer Keohane
Mixed media artist | Carbondale, CO
Wewer’s art is in the permanent collections of the Denver Art Museum, New Orleans Museum of Art, National Museum of Women in the Arts, Brooklyn Library, Musee L’Eventail (Paris), Powers Collection, universities, corporations and libraries. Her work is represented and collected internationally and included in many publications. A body of music, inspired by Wewer's Tea Ceremony, was composed and performed by ArsNova in Denver in 2016. She is also an Inaugural Fellow of the Aspen Art Museum and the founder of the Art Saves Lives scholarship offered by Carbondale Arts.
Wewer is the author of Artful Dreaming, holds Ph.D.’s in Creative Arts & Psychology of Dreaming and is an avid art collector, animal lover and yogi.
Andrew Roberts-Gray
Mixed media artist | Carbondale, CO
Andrew Roberts-Gray is an artist whose layered work references a number of discreet cultural traditions including science fiction, the history of the painted landscape, and the development of the thinking machine. His studio is located at SAW, (Studio for Arts and Works) in Carbondale, Colorado. He enjoys the art mentoring process as well as collaborating with other artists. His studio work involves practicing brushwork, materiel experimentation, printmaking, the metamorphosis of mistakes, and research. Mr. Roberts-Gray is represented by Michael Warren Contemporary in Denver, Colorado. He lives with artist Annette Roberts-Gray in Carbondale, Colorado.
