On display at Orange Coast College's Frank M. Doyle Arts Pavilion from Jan. 29 until March 21, "Monroe Isenberg: nowhere is here" summons light and sand, transforming banal, man-made materials into reflections on time, space, and the natural world. These sculptures emerge as futuristic monoliths. They are both foreign and familiar, questioning relationships with the interior space they inhabit and their outdoor origins. Video projections and performances further connect to the Nordic Isles and changing environments.
The exhibits' sculptures, videos, and books blend references to fiction and the natural world. Specifically, the monolith (titled "Nonolith") draws inspiration from Stanley Kubrick's film "2001: Space Odyssey." Its smooth, reflective surfaces emerge like a beaming relic from the future. By contrast, other works are grounded in the ever-changing present. The 13-channel video "A Different Arch" captures the sunset on the beach in Bergen, Norway. The scene might seem otherworldly in its serenity or calming as it beckons the viewer.
"nowhere is here" is a meditation on the natural world and industrial objects. Its surfaces are luminous, offering a blanket of light seemingly untouched by the sands spread around them - or the waters summoned in its video art. The Frank M. Doyle Arts Pavilion is proud to showcase the art of full-time sculpture faculty member Monroe Isenberg, whose art was previously exhibited at Winston's Los Angeles in 2023.
“Monroe Isenberg: nowhere is here” is curated by Dakota Noot, Director of Programming at The Doyle.
Concurrent exhibitions at The Doyle in Spring 2024 include “Roger Whitridge: Order and Chaos,” open from Jan. 29 - March 21, 2024.
Preview reception: Thursday, Feb. 1, 4-6 p.m.
Opening reception: Saturday, Feb. 3, 1-4 p.m., with a short artist walkthrough at 1 p.m.
Admission is free for all exhibitions. Gallery hours: Monday to Thursday, 11 a.m. until 5 p.m., and First Saturday (Mar. 2), noon-4 p.m. The gallery is closed on Fridays and school holidays. The Doyle is located next to OCC’s Parking Lot D, off Merrimac Way, building 180, between Starbucks and the Art Center classrooms. For additional information, call (714) 432-5738, or visit The Doyle website.