Lauren Fensterstock
June 26 – September 21, 2014
Sienna Patti @ Independent Art Projects
1315 MASS MoCA Way, North Adams, MA
Reception: Thursday July 31, 6-9 pm
Artist Lecture: Sunday August 3, 11:30am
Sienna Patti is pleased to present a selected group of recent work from artist Lauren Fensterstock at Independent Art Projects in the MASS MoCA complex, North Adams Massachusetts. Fensterstock’s site-specific installation work and wall pieces depict nature by incorporating meticulously cut and curled paper, charcoal, and Plexiglass to create floral and garden scenes. Fensterstock’s work and practice references French and English garden design of the 1500s to 1700s, the 18th century practice of “quilling”—sculpting paper by wrapping around a quill—along with a nod to, and reflection upon, 20th century American earth art and the work of Robert Smithson.
‘Both tempting and threatening, Fensterstock creates objects of desire whose beauty draws us in, only to repel with intimations of dark secrets. This tension culminates in an illusion of depth and motion that leaves viewers with the eerie sensation that these shadowy gardens have a sinister life—one that will cause them to grow and change long after we have left the room.’ Carol Diehl, from Radical Sentimentalism: The World of Lauren Fensterstock
About the Artist
Lauren Fensterstock is an artist, writer, and curator based in Portland, Maine. Lauren’s work is held in private and public collections in the US, Europe, and Asia. Her work was the subject of a major solo exhibition at The John Michael Kohler Art Center in 2013. Other recent exhibitions include Arthouse-The Austin Museum of Art (TX), The Bowdoin College Museum of Art (ME), the San Francisco Museum of Craft and Design (CA), the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art (OR), The DUMBO Art Center (NY), The Dorsky Gallery (NY) and the Oliver Sears Gallery (Ireland). ). Lauren’s work is represented by Sienna Patti Contemporary in Lenox, MA. Outside the studio, Lauren recently served as a visiting faculty member at the Rhode Island School of Design. She previously served as Academic Program Director of the Interdisciplinary MFA in Studio Arts at Maine College of Art and as Director of the Institute of Contemporary Art at Maine College of Art. Her curatorial projects and published writings have been featured internationally. Lauren holds degrees from the Parsons School of Design (BFA 1997) and SUNY New Paltz (MFA 2000).
