On Friday, January 31, 2020, the Art Students League of Denver will launch “The Plasticene,” an exhibition that examines the nature of plastic through its wildly varied presence in art. The exhibition will run through March 15, 2020, and feature 16 artists in more than 10 mediums.
Exhibition artists will incorporate plastics into their artworks through the use of acrylic paint, single use plastics, 3D printing, nylon fabric, and more. These plastics will be seen in sculptures, printed resin, inflatables and more. The artworks tell the story of plastics and create a conversation around their use in our world.
Said Rachel Basye, executive director of Art Students League of Denver:
“Plastic touches every aspect of our lives. It’s in clothing, housewares, toys, medical devices, vehicles and infrastructure. It coats our walls, transports our water, encases our food, fills our cavities, even prolongs our lives. Plastic has a varied and ubiquitous presence in our world and in art. ‘The Plasticene’ exhibition showcases just that.”
Featured artists include Nicole Banowetz, Brandon Bullard, Taiko Chandler, Marcus Eriksen, Laurie Frick, Dylan Gebbia-Richards, Linda Melvin Graham, Heidi Jung, Will Lee-Ashley, Kalliopi Monoyios, Sarah Mortlock, Helping Hands of Littleton e-NABLE, Andrew Roberts-Gray, Joel Swanson, Sarah Winkler and Zelda Zinn.
The exhibition is curated by Kalliopi Monoyios, a visual creative dedicated to communicating the wonder of the natural world to a wide and varied audience.
On January 31, 2020, 5:30-8pm, “The Plasticene” opening reception will take place at ASLD, 200 Grant Street, Denver, CO. The event is free and open to the public.
On February 7, 2020, 6pm-7:30pm, the Art Students League of Denver will host a panel discussion featuring panelists Stephen Nash, Marcus Eriksen and Michael Readey to discuss “The Past, Present and Future of Plastic.” Tickets are available for $5 at asld.org.
On February 27, 2020, exhibition artist Laurie Frick will offer an artist talk at the Art Students League of Denver, followed by a workshop February 28-29, 2020, 10am-4pm.
The Art Students League of Denver (ASLD) provides an inclusive art community where professional artists guide individuals of all abilities to reach their highest potential. The Art Students League of Denver first opened its doors in 1987 with a handful of recognized artists teaching 100 students in its first year. Today, located in the historic Sherman School in the West Washington Park area at 200 Grant Street, ASLD directly connects with over 55,000 members in seven counties of the Denver metro area. More than 14,000 students attend classes, workshops, teen studios and summer camps, and more than 130 professional, noted artists teach fine arts classes in a wide range of media throughout the year. A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, ASLD is supported by private donations, tuition, foundation grants, corporate sponsorship and the Scientific & Cultural Facilities District.
For more information, visit asld.org, or engage with ASLD on Facebook or Instagram.
Source: Stephanie Blake and Cristina Palombo, Blake Communications
