Carbondale Arts presents two new exhibitions opening Friday, October 9th on display through November 9th featuring artwork from Chris Hassig, Jim Harris and Vanessa Porras. Though there won’t be an opening reception, we will host an outdoor artist talk (weather permitting) at 5:15pm.  

Chris Hassig
Printmaker | Carbondale, CO

“Saiopor” represents 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 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. 

Jim Harris
Printmaker | Carbondale, CO

In the five years following an accident in the Chilean Patagonia that left Jim Harris paralyzed, he’s experienced an improbable rebound. He progressed from hospital bed to wheelchair to walker to crutches to cane. Then as recovery slowed, Jim’s focus shifted from regaining mobility to rebuilding a sense of identity and purpose. Where his attention once pointed outward towards incredible places and the people, Jim has had to learn to turn that observation inward. The inner terrain is as convoluted and rugged as any place stamped in his passport.

Vanessa Porras
Printmaker | Carbondale, CO

Vanessa Porras’ “Entanglements” series explores heredity through patterns and line work found in hair and nature. As she works, allowing her tools to carve the trail ahead, the image begins to present itself. What began as an exploration of line work, has now transformed into abstract prints inspired by undulations, topography, braids and lineage, reminding us that we belong to nature just as much as we belong to those who we call family.

Both exhibitions are 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.