Luminescence. Grains of sands. Relics of unknown origins and impossible futures. Monroe Isenberg transmutes mundane, human-crafted elements into reflections on the dance of time, the expanse of space, and the untamed essence of the natural realm. These sculptures ascend as monoliths, foreign yet intimately familiar. Through the alchemy of fusing, sanding, and even projectioning video—intricate connections are woven, resonating with the mystique of Nordic isles and the ever-shifting tapestry of environments in flux. Nowhere is truly here.
Within nowhere is here, sculptures, videos, and books coalesce, marrying the realms of fiction and the organic. The "Nonolith," a monolithic opus, finds inspiration in Stanley Kubrick's film, 2001: A Space Odyssey. Its sleek, reflective countenance beams as if transported from a temporal future. In stark contrast, other creations anchor themselves firmly in the ephemeral present. Witness the 13-channel visual symphony titled "A Different Arch," an homage to the sun's descent on the shores of Bergen, Norway. The scene, serene and seemingly from another realm, extends an invitation that both captivates and soothes the beholder. nowhere is here unfolds as a contemplative ode to the natural world entwined with industrial artifacts. The exhibit is a moment both here and anywhere. Liminal and truly possible.
Curated by Dakota Noot, Acting Director, Frank M. Doyle Arts Pavilion.
About the artist:
Monroe Isenberg is an interdisciplinary artist known for his sculptures, installations, and time-based media works. His work has been showcased at the Aesthetica Symposium in the UK, the Media Architecture Biennale in Australia, and Pacific Standard Time quadrennial in Los Angeles. He has exhibited both nationally and internationally, with support from esteemed institutions like the J. Paul Getty Museum, the Delaware Contemporary Museum, and the Museum of Art and History in Lancaster. He currently serves as an Assistant Professor and Area Head of Sculpture at Orange Coast College.
Follow Monroe Isenberg: Website | @monroe_isenberg
Dates:
Reception: Thursday, Feb. 1, 4-6 p.m.
Campus reception: Saturday, Feb. 3, 1-4 p.m., with short artist walkthrough at 1 p.m.
Artist talk: Tuesday, Mar. 5, 1 p.m.
Concurrent exhibition: Roger Whitridge: Order and Chaos
