An exhibition by Jason Green entitled “Past and Present” is currently on display in the Ortlip Art Gallery. The exhibit is open until March 7, and there is an opening reception on February 23.
Entering the exhibit evokes a sense of quiet. All but two of the pieces on display are mid-sized and evenly spaced along the walls, leaving the center of the gallery open and empty. This bare space is oddly inviting. It draws the eye to the individual pieces and necessitates movement to examine each work up close.
“Jason’s work is pretty exciting for our gallery, we haven’t had an exhibit like it in a while– a full ceramics show,” said Hannah Jennings. According to Green’s artist statement, his current work grew out of his “experience as a builder, renovator and maker of temporary architectural installations.”
Green’s work in this show is comprised mostly of tiles, “thick, gorgeous, and oversized,” described Jennings, and the pieces do seem to hearken to a tradition of building and construction. They are raised slabs on the wall, coated in designs that call to mind Eastern temples.
Indeed, Green cited travel as one of his main influences, listing off China, Mexico, France, and Italy as major sources of inspiration. He works to incorporate “themes, ideas, and motifs that are shared between different cultures and different time periods.”
The two pieces on display that most notably reflect this concept are the two free-standing pieces. Green has created stacks of interestingly shaped, repetitive tiles that are coated with ornate texture. They look as if they had once been part of an ancient greater structure, now worn away.
Green himself reinforced this impression by sharing his intent behind the patterns, stating, “Decorative patterns lifted from history recall how layers build up over time, each having given a contribution to the memory and story of the space.” The two free-standing pieces are by far the most conservative in color choice, as the rest of the wall-mounted tiles integrate bright blues and greens.
In addition to the color, close examination reveals that these tiles are also covered in intricate, overlapping patterns and textures. In some cases, the clay itself will create a 3D texture that contrasts with glazed designs, and in others, multiple layers of glaze create depth and crisscrossing patterns. Some of these forms are geometric, repeating, and solid, while others are more organic and flowing, and the two styles work together within the clay.
Green said, “The geometry of my arrangements is tempered by the fluid characteristics of glazed surfaces that evolve during multiple applications and firings. Some works use fields of modular units that suggest the vastness of landscape and the results of weather and erosion.” The pieces are both beautiful and also intriguing, making it a mystery as to how they are created.
“His work would be interesting to a lot of people, I think, because of the process, which is something he’ll be talking about during the opening reception,” said Jennings.
The reception will be from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Ortlip Gallery on February 23. Green’s artist talk will start at 7:30 p.m. and there will also be live music and refreshments, so be sure to check it out and find out how Green makes such stunning and intricate artwork.