Coalescence: A Body of Memories

Osvaldo Ramirez Castillo | Kelly Gough
Exhibition runs: Nov 14th – Dec 21st, 2014
Opening reception: Fri, Nov 14th, 2014 at 7 – 10pm
Artist’s performance 
by Kelly Gough

Artist Talk | Panel discussion
Exploring trauma and the artistic process

Nov 26th, 2014 at 7 -9 pm

Coalescence: A Body of Memories unites the work of Kelly Gough and Osvaldo Ramirez Castillo, whose work centres on post-war narratives, addressing issues of collective and personal memory, violence and the impacts of trauma. Approaching these ideas from their unique perspectives and through the use of different mediums, these artists bring together a striking body of work including sculptural installations and detailed multi-media drawings.

As part of Gachet’s mandate to foreground contemporary art dealing with mental health diversities, addictions and trauma experiences, this exhibition seeks, in particular, to delve into the nuances and complexity of trauma.

Kelly Gough was diagnosed with PTSD in 2005 and was released from the Canadian Armed forces after twenty-two years of service. Largely working with sculptural and installation practices, Gough interrogates and challenges her experiences and diagnoses concerning trauma. Using trauma as both a set of experiences and an aesthetic framework, Gough is fascinated with the repetition of seemingly ordinary objects and metals such as copper, brass and aluminum. Beginning with the sensory, obsessively deconstructing and reconstructing, Gough’s sculptural installations transform fragmented experiences and materials into ethereal landscapes.

Osvaldo Ramirez Castillo’s practice portrays a non-linear narrative of personal, cultural and historical experience through mixed media drawings, installation work and stop motion animation videos. His work is concerned with post-war narratives, addressing issues of collective and personal memory, violence and the impacts of trauma rehearsed through a personal lexicon of imagery sourced from Pre-Columbian mythology, Salvadoran popular folklore, North American vernacular and visual culture appropriated in mythic form.

A message from the Artists

We represent the smallest sociological group: the dyad. This dyad forms a microcosm of global diversity. A human metaphor for healing the many breaches in human fabric: we reference all that is possible. The fusion of such diversity achieves common ground. Hope achieved through human intersection.

Two strangers find strength in their parallel experiences. We fill each others’ gaps.

Coalescence can be seen as the merging of adjacent blocks of memory to fill gaps in lost memories. Two strangers can risk trusting and are rewarded with a bond through their shared stories: emerging stronger and creating a legacy of hope for everyone else.

– Kelly Gough

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Salon Shop Exhibition
Function as Art Art as Function
Featuring the artwork of Sue Griese

An experiment on different ways to involve the public and galleries in ways to view functional pottery as an art form.

This show will coexist in two gallery spaces

Nov 8th, 2014 – Jan 4th, 2015 Studio 126,126 Pender St
Studio 126 opening Sat. Nov. 8/14   2pm – 5 pm

Nov 14th, 2014 – Dec 21st, 2014 Gallery Gachet, 88 East Cordova St.
Gallery Gachet opening Fri Nov.14  7pm – 10 pm

Sue Griese is a ceramic artist whose work involves extensive wheel throwing, sculpture, masks and some low relief tiles. As a teenager she lived in the Indian sub-continent, surrounded by interesting architecture and sculptures that influenced her decision to forge a career in the arts. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Emily Carr University and her teacher training at SFU. She has been a pottery instructor for 35   years with Parks and Recreation, currently teaching at The Roundhouse. She has displayed her work in numerous galleries including an International Potter’s Show in Seto, Japan. She has spent time studying and working in Japan, New Zealand, Thailand, Turkey, Ecuador and Greece.

This entry was posted in Events, Exhibitions, News
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