OPENING SEPTEMBER 2, 2016 (6-9PM)
UP All NIGHT (EXPECT A MIRACLE)
MATT SPAHR & VALERIE MOLNAR
When growing ficus indoors, it is important to maintain a relatively high humidity around the plant. And if you don't believe us, we suggest you come and visit. Stay Up All Night to enjoy the sunset with your ficus tree (often featured as shelter from danger) while debating on both real and romantic ideas of the inherent and potentially inherent attributes of naturally occurring phenomenon in our universe.
Always check the top of the soil when expecting a miracle. If the top of the soil is wet, do not water as this means they have enough moisture. Give yourself a shot of this every 9 days for achieving greater symbiotic balance and happinesses in you and your botanical partners.
Leaf drop is a ficus tree’s standard reaction to stress but struggle is nature's way of physically and metaphysically strengthening it. Careful observation is the only key to true and complete awareness, and that knowledge is gonna eat you alive from the inside out.
Matt Spahr, a sculptor from California (among other places), and Valerie Molnar, a painter from Cleveland, investigate the transfer of energy and the dynamic exchange within nature with color, form, and complex time based installation. The collaboration began in 2012 as their work collided through their friendship and mutual love for plants. They both teach at Virginia Commonwealth University. Matt earned his BFA from California State and Valerie from The Cleveland Institute Of Art, they both made their move to Richmond for their MFA's at VCU. The duo received a VMFA Professional fellowship this year, they attended Mountain Lake's Art Lab Residency last summer, and have recently returned from this year’s residency at Wave Pool Gallery in Cincinnati Ohio.
EXHIBITION DATES: SEPTEMBER 2 - OCTOBER 1, 2016
SPAHR/MOLNAR statement: We as a collaborative team investigate the transfer of energy and the dynamic exchange within nature with color, form, and complex time based installation. Through plants, residual haunting, sculpture, and painting we experiment and debate on both real and romantic ideas of the inherent and potentially inherent attributes of naturally occurring phenomenon in our universe. We work together to think about and create environments for the happiness of plants and people while researching botanical care and theory. Exploring the idea of home and space for these ‘houseplants’ we ask questions to our domesticated friends about what they might be missing from their native homes. We imagine things that could help with their happiness like being with more mature partners, sunsets, fresh air, bugs, rain showers, and more metaphysical ideas like healing springs water, nonpercussive music and purple tesla plates. We are also interested in assisting plants’ human counterparts to be better partners in order to reach greater symbiotic balance and happinesses. Some of our social outreach projects have included learning to meditate with your plant, dancing with your plant, and exercising with your plant which raise happiness levels in humans creating positive environments for thriving while also producing essential CO2 and humidity through breathing and moving. Or, plants and their people can enjoy a sunset together indoors.
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