Winter Exhibitions Reception
Friday,  January 24, 5:30 – 8:00 PM
The evening will also feature the new exhibitions, Escaping Earth: The Kinetic Work of Casey Curran and Drawn to the Work: Illustration and Craft in Conversation, as well as open studios by the current resident artists.  Beer will be generously provided by Buffalo Bayou Brewing Co.

HCCC is pleased to present the 12th edition of In Residence, an annual exhibition in celebration of the Artist Residency Program, which has supported artists working in the field of craft for almost 20 years. In Residence: 12th Edition features work in clay, metal, wood, fiber, and mixed media by 2018 – 2019 resident artists:  Antonius-Tín Bui, Zoe Gross, Heather L. Johnson, Eunsil Leem, Joyce Lin, Robert Raphael, Jared Theis, and Meg Wachs.

The Artist Residency Program at HCCC gives resident artists a space for creative exploration, exchange, and collaboration with other artists, professionals in the field, and the public. HCCC Curatorial Fellow María-Elisa Heg notes, “The artists in this edition of In Residence embrace change, diversity, and openness in their explorations. Their work brings vital new perspectives to the field as we move into the second decade of the 21st century.”

Antonius-Tín Bui and Heather L. Johnson’s work centers around narrative and community. Bui reclaims the Asian craft tradition of paper cutting to honor friends and activists within the community of queer people of color (QPOC), by using large-scale portraiture to command physical space in honor of historically marginalized people. In Search of the Frightening and Beautiful chronicles Johnson’s motorcycle travels, during which the artist searches for stories that create connection in a time of division. She creates embroideries inspired by the stories she collects, leaving them in the hands of the storytellers or out in the open to be found by a stranger.

Jared Theis’s sculptures and videos evoke the multi-media artist’s imaginary world. Gloves, necklaces, and masks bring characters like “Dark Rider” and “Yellow Maiden” to life. Though the pieces are whimsical and colorful, the presence of sharp claws and teeth in his costumes lend a slightly menacing quality to Theis’ fantastical stories–a reminder that the hardships of real life are present in the world he has created.

The process of transformation inspires ceramic artists Zoe Gross and Robert Raphael. Gross evokes the mysteries of nature with clay forms that curve, swell, and decay like living things. Using raw canvas and paper, she creates forms that mimic nests or cocoons. Raphael’s work explores strength and sexuality through interpretations of the Neoclassical revival of ancient Greek imagery. Raphael questions the historical weight of ornamentation by interpreting it as physical weight. His process embraces change, with his pieces often warping during firing.

Eunsil Leem and Meg Wachs explore psychology through metalsmithing and jewelry. Leem addresses governmental and social control and the phenomenon of fake news in both South Korea and the United States. She translates her drawings into silver and copper reliefs, replicating gestures that reinforce complicity. Wachs uses Masonite panels, canvas, and paint in a series that combines color theory and the gestural qualities of painting. She uses color in her jewelry as a tool that can influence the mental and emotional state of the wearer.

Joyce Lin reimagines furniture in an age of impending resource scarcity. Her deconstructed chairs, vacuum-sealed plants, and plastic-encased vases are the sterile furnishings of a futuristic living room. Lin’s subversion of familiar forms provides a glimpse of what the lived environment might look like in a future in which the finite materials that remain on the planet must be protected or lost forever.

In Residence: 12th Edition was curated by HCCC Curatorial Fellow, María-Elisa Heg.  Learn more about the Artist Residency Program here.

Image credits:

1. Zoe Gross, “Vespertine,” 2019. Porcelain and mixed media. 12 x 6 x 5 inches. Photo by Katy Anderson.
2. Robert Raphael, “Herma” (detail), 2018. Porcelain, glaze, wood. 62.5 x 13 x 10 inches. Photo by Elisabeth Bernstein.
3. Robert Raphael, “Herma,” 2018. Porcelain, glaze, wood. 62.5 x 13 x 10 inches. Photo by Elisabeth Bernstein.
4. Antonius-Tín Bui, “Always Act Up,” 2019. Cut paper. 18 x 22 inches. Photo courtesy of the artist.
5. Antonius-Tín Bui, “Not Sorry for the Trouble,” 2019. Cut paper. Dimensions vary. Photo by Ruben Diaz.
6. Zoe Gross, “Heartsore and Hands Busy” (detail), 2018. Stoneware. 27 x 16 x 22 inches. Photo courtesy of the artist.
7. Heather L. Johnson, “Triumph,” 2013. Cotton floss on linen burlap. 69 x 75 inches. Photo courtesy of the artist.
8. Eunsil Leem, “Ephemeral Justice”(detail), 2018. Sterling silver. Found brush, steel, brass, wood. 13 x 7 x 1 inch. Photo courtesy of the artist.
9. Eunsil Leem, “You Are So Naive,” 2019. Fine silver, sterling silver. 6 ½ x 11 inches. Photo courtesy of the artist.
10. Joyce Lin, “Flat Houseplants (Peace Lily),” 2017. Peace lily plant, PETG, soil, resin. 15 x 20 x 5 inches. Photo courtesy of the artist.
11. Joyce Lin, “Skinned Chair (Skin),” 2019. Found furniture, epoxy clay, steel. 18.5 x 18.5 x 38 inches. Photo courtesy of the artist.
12. Jared Theis, “Cape,” 2019. Ceramics, fabric, wire, paint, rhinestones, epoxy. 45 x 47 x .5 inches. Photo courtesy of the artist.
13. Jared Theis “Gold Gloves,” 2019. Ceramics, fabric, wire, paint, rhinestones, epoxy. 18×12.5×3.25 inches. Photo courtesy of the artist.