LINKS: Press Release Full description of ARCHI+TEXTURE Information about the artists Example of artworks Photos of the exhibition new! DVD Catalog of the show
		photo: Rona Chang
	ARCHI+TEXTURE An Exhibition of Contemporary Fine Art Curated by Samantha Mae Dorfman "In fact, since men first began using enclosures, the notion of what a boundary is has undergone transformations which concern both the facade and what it faces, it’s vis-a-vis. From the fence to the screen, by way of rampart’s stonewalls, the boundary-surface has been continually transformed, perceptibly or imperceptibly." Paul Virilo from the essay "The Overexposed City" 1984 Post-modern critical theory interpreting the nature of urban development, the creation of systems, the history of architecture, ecology, globalism, the "wiring" of the planet, and surveillance are topics imbedded in the selection of work for "ARCHI+TEXTURE". These themes were inherent in many of the selected artist’s works. Along with the implicit compositional features of the works, there exists an emotional factor portrayed in the depiction of structured space. The idea of dimensionality arose in some of the selected works suggesting the bending of perspective or the invention of an imaginary space. The works are expressive of each individual’s relationship to their environment, emphasizing various points of consideration, such as isolation, alienation, migration, remembrance, contemplation, redefinition of the landscape by constructed roads and buildings, investigations into deconstructed space, creating maps, leisure, and function. These key issues represent the flow of creativity in embodying the combination of observation, emotional response, the context of internal and external space, and stylistic articulation in the artist’s choice of subject matter- ie: the depiction of their ontological environment. Architecture suggests the objectification of personal space and it’s outgrowth from within the landscape. The artist’s works selected for "ARCHI+TEXTURE" reflect their personal interaction with the visual world around them as defined by constructed space. Some of these spaces are treated as metaphor for emotional states, socio-political conventions, idealized utopias, and as pure aesthetic inspiration. These works embrace the interference of what may be considered banal such as telephone poles, disposable architecture, convenience stores, urban sprawl, and tenement blocks. This sense of vision seeks to transform the mundane vistas into linear form, color, and pattern. The artworks invite the viewer to place themselves within this world-view without judgment. The art becomes an expression or compositional study of existing spatial relationships. The works suggest the awareness of decay, the economy of "poor" design, finding one’s own sense of peace in a facade of urbanization, and eventually, celebration of the pure compositional elements of a, possibly, flawed structure. Does this seemingly cynical attitude suggest a nihilistic acceptance of one’s surroundings whether ugly, mundane, or confusing? It’s up to the viewer to decide on the inherent beauty of simple form or to critique our culture for constructing our world in such a manner. Other works will be offered to present a transformation of the idea of encapsulated space into a future vision of reconfigured networks and systems for a new concept of structured space. The idea of architecture as object identified in art history is contrasted with current theories of synergistic living ecologies creating informed technological structures, hopefully, incorporating a remembrance of classical ideals of beauty and human scale.