PLATTSBURGH — “Organic Matter” is the second exhibition curated by gallery manager and associate curator Elsa Koop-Angelicola at the Strand Center for the Arts, 25 Brinkerhoff St., Plattsburgh.
Opening reception is June 12, from 5 to 8 p.m., and the show features six artists — Ali Della Bitta, Susan Granfors, Sienna Martz, Peter Russom, Dennis Smyth, and Caro Worley.
“Overall, the show is a bit of a mix of things. It is bringing attention to the connection between us as human beings and our psyche, our minds, and then connecting that to the natural world and all of the organic things that are in our world and on planet Earth and how the artists in this exhibition also use those things as part of their artwork,” Koop-Angelicola said.
The exhibition also makes a statement about the power of traditional art and the skills of the artists in the exhibition, which ends Aug. 22.
“As lots of things are changing on Earth, including technology and how far that has advanced, and as that’s casting sort of a looming shadow over the traditional arts,” she said.
Koop-Angelicola reached out to a handful of different artists and invited them to be part of the exhibition. Now, she is in process of sorting and determining placement of the works —what should be grouped together or near another person’s work.
“As human beings, we are innately organic and connected to nature, the earth and everything in between. Everything, in this sense, can be considered organic, alive and a part of the human experience,” she said. “It is certainly not uncommon for artists to take these organic elements that are found in nature and everyday life, including in our own lives, and turn it into something spectacular.
“As organic beings, it almost seems innate for humans to be enamored and inspired by the organic parts of nature and life around us, and this can be said for the artwork that will be presented in this exhibition.”
Each of the artists will have between eight and 16 pieces in the show.
“I think it’s going to be a very exciting exhibition to install and put together and see how all of the ends of working with each other,” Koop-Angelicola said.