Arts Fort Worth



DALE BROCK AND VISITING ANGELS GALLERY


Tension of Connection


Dale Brock and Visiting Angels Gallery - Tension of Connection

Exhibition on Display: March 3 - April 1, 2023 | Works by Sarita Westrup

North Texas-based artist Sarita Westrup (Rio Grande South Texas, born 1989) is known for her graphic handwoven wall sculptures that suggest tunnel-like forms of movement with moments of concealment. A self proclaimed craft based artist, Sarita weaves her sculptures by hand, taking singular strands of reed and twining them together. She first methodically maps out the form and integrates woven wedges to create three dimensional undulating contours. Sometimes she forces straight woven tubes into curved shapes creating waves in the work caused by tension within the woven structure. She then rubs the sculptures with mortar to harden the forms and create textures similar to cement. Finally the sculptures are spray painted and dusted with layers of graphite to achieve a slight metallic quality. Materials such as wire and ixtle are occasionally combined adding energetic marks and textures within these looping icons referencing movement, migration, borders, and the non-linear route life often takes. Sarita's process often begins with drawing her ideas for sculptures in her sketchbook and on butcher paper using black and white acrylic paints. She then uses the drawings as a reference while weaving.

In the installation of the works, one encounters intimate fences made from cement covered nets, shadowy loops, fuschia inks, wire wrapped plant fiber, painted creature-like rocks connected by curves, twisted infinity forms, and knotted construction twine. All these works are connected by the artist's curiosity in contact and boundaries. The overall monochromatic color palette of The Tension of Connection, with flat cement greys, matte blacks, and dried wheat colored ixile is a translated memory of international Texas-Mexico border checkpoints that the artist walked by foot and by car while growing up. The palette momentarily is disrupted by the flash of bodily cochineal pink watercolor paintings and hot pink twine suggesting a sense of alertness. The colors and textures recall the anxiety and excitement of transitioning from one country to the other. This exhibition is a glimpse inside the artist's work and process during her past year as Emerging Artist in Residence of Arts Fort Worth for 2022.

ARTIST BIO

Sarita is a craft based artist and art educator of mixed Mexican descent living in Dallas, TX. Rooted in weaving techniques and bricolage, her sculptural basketry works are inspired by where she was born and raised, the Rio Grande Valley on the Texas - Mexico border. She received her MFA in Fiber arts from the University of North Texas in 2012. Most recently her work has been shown in "Materials Hards and Soft" at Greater Denton Arts Council in Denton, TX and in "Staked Out" at Blue Spiral 1 Gallery in Asheville, North Carolina. This past summer she was accepted into the 2022 American Craft Council Emerging Artists Cohort receiving a $10,000 accelerator grant. This summer of 2023 she will be teaching sculptural basket techniques at Penland School of Craft in North Carolina and the National Basketry Organization Conference in Tacoma, Washington. Visit www.saritawestrup.art .

 

ENRICHING THE COMMUNITY THROUGH ART

The mission of Arts Fort Worth, formerly known as the Fort Worth Community Arts Center, is to provide a quality event, visual and performing arts venue for all of the community. This historic and dynamic arts complex boasts seven indoor galleries, an outdoor gallery, artist and performance studios, and office suites nonprofit arts organization, is managed by Arts Fort Worth on behalf of the City of Fort Worth.

Arts Fort Worth also provides educational programming, promotes experienced and emerging artists. Arts Fort Worth's three theater spaces hosts a wide-range of performances by local and nationally known artists and organizations- the Hardy and Betty Sanders black box theater, the traditional William Edrington Scott Theatre, and The Vault, which hosts Fort Worth Fringe acts.

HISTORY

Located at 1300 Gendy Street, Arts Fort Worth is part of the most architecturally significant museum districts in the United States. The striking modern Herbert Bayer building (with a later O'Neil Ford addition) opened to the public in 1954 as home to one of the most prestigious and oldest collecting organizations in the state of Texas, the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. When, in 2002, the Modern moved down the street, the Fort Worth Community Arts Center opened. Now known as Arts Fort Worth, the building continues to exhibit world class art and support the performing arts for more than half a century.

LOOKING FOR A UNIQUE SPACE FOR YOUR EVENT?

Arts Fort Worth provides versatile spaces to meet a variety of rental needs. Whether you require well-lit exhibition areas, unique rooms for meetings, special events, or the comforts of an accessible, professional-quality performance venue, this dynamic arts complex includes the black box Hardy and Betty Sanders Theatre, the William Edrington Scott Theatre, which seats 498 guests, seven galleries, and studio and office spaces, including a conference room overlooking the Cultural District towards downtown. These spaces are adaptable to a wide range of uses, including conventions, special events, weddings, workshops, and theater productions. If you're interested in more details contact us!

 

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