'Force of Nature' at Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art

CHARLESTON, SC - The Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art at the College of Charleston and the Van Every/Smith Galleries at Davidson College are partnering with the College of Architecture at University of North Carolina-Charlotte, Clemson Architecture Center-Charleston, Winthrop University Galleries in Rock Hill, and McColl Center for Visual Art in Charlotte, for an innovative exhibition entitled Force of Nature.  Ten Japanese artists will be in the United States from August 30 through October 15, 2006, for this project.

This collaborative exhibition includes ten artists from Japan who will each be in residence with one of the participating institutions for approximately six weeks.  The participating artists come from all over Japan and include Junko Ishiro, Yamamoto Motoi, Aiko Miyanaga, Yuri Shibata, Ayako Aramaki, Akira Higashi, Yumiko Yamazaki, Rikuo Ueda, Takasumi Abe, and Noriko Ambe.

This exhibition explores the relationship between humans and nature through the minds and hands of these contemporary artists.  Collectively, this exhibition poses the question: are we a part of, or apart from nature?  Each artist will address the theme utilizing locally available natural materials (salt, wood, dirt, plant life, etc.) or natural elements and processes (wind, fire, water, decay, evaporation, erosion, etc.) in a temporary installation.

This exhibition, co-curated by Mark Sloan and Brad Thomas, is intended to provoke a dialogue and discussion with members of each host community while bringing the work of these young artists to the attention of audiences who would have few opportunities to view contemporary Japanese art.

For information about the project, artists, and institutions, please visit the exhibition website at www.halsey.cofc.edu/fon.html.