Where: Ice Cube Gallery
3320 Walnut Street, Denver, CO 80205
When: Now – Oct. 10
Cost: Free
The Ice Cube Gallery in Denver’s RiNO arts district is hosting two curated exhibits with the likes of Colorado-based artists Regina Benson and Ray Tomasso. The two share textile and oceanic themes in their works, which are on display through Oct. 10 for free.
The first exhibit showcases work by artist Regina Benson, who uses her blend of textile installations and paintings to shed light on the water shortage currently hitting many dehydrated states in America.
In her solo show, Benson recreates rivers, sea sides and tide pools through a transformative textile process. Her “distance” pieces are made of paste or soy wax, which she manipulates to mimic the ripples of a river or the lava of a volcano.
Photo Courtesy of the Ice Cube Gallery Website
Benson combines the wax with several types of textiles: silk, velvet or cotton. She then burns or dyes the combined product, adding yet another layer of intricacy to her artistic process.
The end result is a vibrant model and her work is so realistic, it’s as if she took these byproducts directly from the earth itself.
Ray Tomasso similarly uses textiles as a means to make large-scale installations based on environmental phenomena. His main textile of choice is paper, which he uses as a sculptural mold for the base of his pieces.
The paper is altered to create abstract patterns that Tomasso then paints on top of. Tomasso’s paintings are rich in texture and color, resulting in a strong urge to reach out and touch the mountains creases and folds. His works “evoke the floor of an ancient sea turned to stone,” as stated on the gallery website.
Benson and Tomasso use their art as a way to present their interpretations of their surroundings while also begging their audience to view the environment in a different way.
The exhibits are only attendable for a few more days, but serve as a visual reminder of timely issues and provide a unique way of looking at the outside world. For an artistic take on the current condition of our planet, check out the exhibits before it’s too late.
