Bonnie Crawford Kotula
Perforations
E. Avery Draper Showcase Jan. 21 - May 15, 2011
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Perforations, 2011, Electrical circuitry, wood, and mixed media
Site-specific installation for the DCCA, Courtesy of the Artist
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"Kotula explores light as knowledge and electric circuitry as a symbol of consciousness." -Maiza Hixson Gretchen Hupfel Curator of Contemporary Art
Wilmington, Del. - 21 January 2011 - The Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts announces the solo exhibition of Baltimore artist Bonnie Crawford Kotula titled Perforations. The exhibition will be on view in the E. Avery Draper Showcase from January 21 through May 15, 2011. In this exhibition, Kotula creates an installation of discarded consumer materials, and LED diode lights that change as the viewer enters the darkened room. The installation beckons the viewer to come into the space and become part of the experience. The artist will lead an informal gallery talk regarding her installation at 6:30 pm during the March 4 Art on the Town. Kotula will also speak at the April 28 Art Salad, A Free Lunchtime Lecture Series at the DCCA at Noon. The press is invited to attend. Please contact Sara Teixido, Director of Marketing and Communications for any further information. Visit our website for a pdf download of the exhibition brochure at: http://thedcca.org/exhibit/perforations.
About the Exhibition
Installing a miniature universe in the DCCA's Draper Gallery, Bonnie Crawford Kotula creates a darkened space to exhibit a constellation of small electric light sculptures. Multiple light-emitting diodes (LEDs) hang from the ceiling and each light blinks faster or slower depending upon the amount of ambient light surrounding it. Kotula explores light as knowledge and electric circuitry as a symbol of consciousness. Querying how we formulate thought, the artist states, "Scientists develop hypotheses to find objective truth. Art is different in that it produces subjective knowledge."  | Perforations (detail), 2011
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Kotula cites artists James Turrell (b. 1943) and Sarah Sze (b. 1969) as significant influences. Turrell builds contemplative environments to call our attention to the sculptural possibilities of natural and artificial light and Sarah Sze assembles large and intricate gallery installations out of ordinary consumer objects. Kotula also collects individual fragments of discarded plastic packaging and other mass-produced items to make her site-specific works. Likening her art to nature and natural organisms, she states that each distinct sculpture forms a larger community. Similar to the benefits of natural observation, Kotula believes that being open to the creative process rewards the act of looking. -Maiza Hixson Gretchen Hupfel Curator of Contemporary Art
RELATED EVENTS Bonnie Crawford Kotula discusses her multi-media installation during these two upcoming events. Press is invited to attend. -GALLERY TALK
Art Loop Night March 4, 2011 at 6:30 PM -ART SALAD A Free Lunchtime Lecture Series at the DCCA Thursday, April 28, 2011 from 12 - 1 PM
About the Artist _____________________
Bonnie Crawford Kotula (BALTIMORE, MD) SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS 2008 - Illuminations: Sculpture by Bonnie Crawford Kotula, Greenbelt Community Center, Greenbelt, MD SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS 2010 - Mattin Center Courtyard, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD - Hive, Area 405, Baltimore, MD - Betascape at Artscape, Baltimore, MD 2009 - 23rd Annual Critics' Residency Program, Maryland Art Place, Baltimore, MD 2008 - Into the Light / Into the Dark, School 33 Art Center, Baltimore, MD - Station North Works: A Full Service Garage, Artscape, Baltimore, MD - MFA Thesis Exhibition, Center for Art, Design and Visual Culture, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 2007 - Open Studio Tour, School 33 Art Center, Baltimore, MD - Robot Fest 2007, Historical Electronics Museum, Linthicum, MD 2006 - Robot Fest 2006, Historical Electronics Museum, Linthicum, MD 2005 - Watcher, Baltimore, MD 2003 - Thursday Night Special, Mills College, Oakland, CA - Touch Me, Anna Akhmatova Gallery, St. Petersburg, Russia - 192 Hours, Transformer Gallery, Washington, D.C. SELECTED AWARDS AND RESIDENCIES 2009 23rd Annual Critics' Residency Program, Maryland Art Place, Baltimore, MD 2007 RTKL Fellowship Award, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, MD 2001 Colonel Wharton Award, University of Maryland, College Park, MD EDUCATION 2008 MFA, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 2001 BA, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
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