Saiopor: Chris Hassig
San Salvo in Yellow - Ralesis (copper-plate etching on panel with resin) by Chris Hassig
“Mapmaking and its imaginative possibilities have been a constant interest in my art practice since the seventh grade.”
Carbondale Arts presented “Saiopor”, a solo exhibition by Chris Hassig, at the Carbondale Arts R2 Gallery. “Saiopor” was on exhibition October 9 - November 9, 2020. The public was invited to an outdoor artist talk on Friday evening, October 9, at 5:15pm at The Launchpad to hear Chris speak, along with along with Jim Harris and Vanessa Porras, whose 2-person show “Shadow Entanglements” began the same day.
“Saiopor” represented the first exhibition devoted primarily to exhibiting Chris Hassig’s 20-year fictional mapmaking project. Mapmaking and its imaginative possibilities have been a constant interest in his art practice since the seventh grade. The featured work depicted the city of Ralesis, capital of a fictional country called Saiopor. It was a work meant to be appreciated aesthetically, but more so meant to be read close-up as a springboard to an imagined city of the mind. It was also a vaguely utopian vision at odds with the current state of the world--one that can be appreciated as a subtly surreal escape or as a constructive fantasy of a future kind of city. Most of the work was created using an open-bite copper-plate etching process sealed to panel with resin.
“Saiopor” was generously sponsored by Kat and Pete Rich who are super awesome supporters of the arts and are constantly inspired by the power of creativity here in our community.
This exhibition opened the same dates (October 9 - November 9, 2020) as well as “Shadow Entanglements”, a 2-person show by Jim Harris and Vanessa Porras.
Chris Hassig, printmaker, Carbondale, CO
Chris Hassig is an artist from Carbondale, Colo. This is the first exhibition devoted primarily to exhibiting his 20-year fictional mapmaking project. Mapmaking and its imaginative possibilities have been a constant interest in his art practice since the seventh grade. The featured work depicts the city of Ralesis, capital of a fictional country called Saiopor. It’s a work that’s meant to be appreciated aesthetically, but more so meant to be read close-up as a springboard to an imagined city of the mind. It’s also a vaguely utopian vision at odds with the current state of the world--one that can be appreciated as a subtly surreal escape or as a constructive fantasy of a future kind of city. Most of the work was created using an open-bite copper-plate etching process sealed to panel with resin. Chris’ previous exhibitions with Carbondale Arts have featured intricate drawings of grass and abstract drawings inspired by geology and landscape. Chris is a champion of the Carbondale Creative District as an artist, KDNK DJ, community member, and volunteer.