Pair's multimedia exhibit touches on growth - Sarasota Herald-Tribune - by Kevin Costello - 5/20/07
Robyn Voshardt and Sven Humphrey will be showing new drawings, video and photography at Greene Contemporary from Saturday, May 5th through Saturday, May 26th, 2007. A preview of the exhibition will be held Friday, May 4 from 6 to 9 pm.
Voshardt/Humphrey's exhibition, Controlled Growth, will focus on recent collaborative projects exploring issues of control and intent on an environmental, political, and personal scale: such as controlled growth in urban planning, natural decay and regeneration, and the surrender of control over to chance in their selection of materials and process. Much of this work originated during an artist residency in Oregon in late 2005, followed by an extensive trip to rural Nova Scotia in 2006 - both journeys to areas on the brink of over-development and exhaustion of natural resources.
On view will be several large ink drawings on found paper that record marks the artists challenged themselves to make using only the power of their own breath or gravity. The masses of fine tangled lines or bold rolling marks contrast with the physicality of the different papers they employ, ranging from luminous glassine to recycled shopping bags.
As a counterpoint to the black and white drawings, bursts of jewel-like color appear in the recent series of small ink and gouache paintings on panel inspired by tide-pools and layers of mossy undergrowth at the base of ancient trees.
A selection of color photographs and video documents decay and intricate ecosystems discovered on treks into the forest and coastal highlands. Recognized for their large-format color photography, Voshardt/Humphrey's work with video is an extension of their strong color sense and need for spontaneity. Rather than work from a script, the artists gather footage on location combined with multi-layered sound recordings of their own voices, natural and electronic sounds. They are interested in video's ability to transform and occupy physical space and present their work as large projections or on LCD monitors with accompanying original audio.
Voshardt and Humphrey have been working collaboratively since they met at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, where Robyn received a Studio Diploma and Fifth Year Certificate and Traveling Scholars Award. She also holds a degree in Visual and Environmental Studies from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and studied typography at Rhode Island School of Design. Sven received his BFA from Tufts University/School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
Their work has been shown throughout Florida and is in the permanent collections of the John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art, Tampa Museum of Art, and Gulf Coast Museum of Art. Exhibitions in Massachusetts include the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Danforth Museum of Art, Framingham, and Boston Public Library. Voshardt/Humphrey's work is in private collections throughout the U.S. Recent and upcoming exhibitions include the DiVA 07 (Digital & Video Art) Fair in New York, V/07 Video Fair in Venice, Italy, Bridge Art Fair Miami and Chicago, screenings with Little Song Films in the UK, and Bleu Acier, Tampa. Voshardt was awarded a Florida Artist Fellowship in 2006 and will show drawings in an exhibition touring Florida museums in 2007-08. Both artists received a Caldera artists' residency in 2005. They live and work in New York.