Material Transformations

The artists of Material Transformations, Angela Ellsworth, Alison Foshee, Johnston Foster, Kirsten Hassenfeld, Rune Olsen, Lucrecia Troncoso, and Paul Villinski all find symbolism in the very unconventional substances they use to construct their works of art. They find inspiration in the stuff of life, items we frequently encounter, use, and discard with rarely a second thought such as aluminum cans, cleaning sponges, construction debris, corsage pins, masking tape, office supplies, and wrapping paper. 

Manipulating and transforming these humble and common objects, the artists address a multitude of ideas including our culture’s preoccupation with goods, along with other cultural and social issues of the twenty-first century. Removed from their normal use, and modified into inventive works of art, the artists give these ordinary products an extraordinary second life. In their altered form, these new objects form intriguing works of art that challenge us to question our relationship to the consumer-based foundations of our modern lives while leaving behind established hierarchies between art, craft, and design.