laith karmo and benjamin teague at the birmingham bloomfield art center
Surviving Outside
“Long time studio mates and friends Laith Karmo and Benjamin Teague present their exhibition, Surviving Outside. The works are a survey of ceramics, photos, paintings, sculpture and furniture. The two artists make work referring to their personal as well as additional professional lives outside of their studio. The title of the exhibition refers to the multiple ways in which they both create work beyond categorization as well as references times they have actually survived outside together and separately. The exhibition also highlights their working relationship in studio as well as the intellectual and aesthetic dialogue between their work.”
The earliest civilizations created vessels from earth’s natural materials for various employments. Karmo and Teague offer modern iterations that transcend function in their beautiful simplicity. Karmo explores contemporary shapes while remaining utilitarian. Teague offers samples from select periods of studio work set as treasures in custom display boxes. For this exhibition, they went on a camping trip—backwoods enough to require bear-bagging—reminiscent of an environment not too far removed from the pre-industrialized landscape their work is influenced by.
Perfectly intervallic vertical lines complement the haphazard porcelain sticks neatly placed in what appears to be a portable for this pristinely white nest.
The softly curved heavy objects melt into their surroundings distinguishable only by shadows and modest differentiation in deep umbers allowing the white’s stark contrast to provide discernible composition. The splash of blue delights in this show’s appreciably neutral palette.
Atypical from expected, this piece reads as a template for Karmo’s ceramic work. The paint transitions with subtle texture also present in roughly cut edges.
Stoneware planters, basket and wood crate with a “rocking horse” bookshelf, exemplify centuries of containers invented to make human life easier to navigate. Karmo makes them handsome as much as useful.
The exhibition is masterfully crafted and quietly contemplative delivered in a visual whisper. I was teaching the afternoon Ben was completing installation and graciously agreed to an ambush interview granting further insight to their intention.
On view through June 5th at Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center 1516 S. Cranbrook, Birmingham MI
*images are mine
direct quote from the artists
**Big thank you to Sherry Washington for her dedicated support to this newsletter. She’s currently curating exhibitions at the Wayne County Community College where she fosters a deeper appreciation for art and culture on the downtown campus. Thank you Sherry!
***Much gratitude for Linda Allen’s continued support of this project from the first reviews. Her commitment and infectious enthusiasm for this community and its artists is steadfast. Thank you Linda!
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