olivia guterson at louis buhl & co.

In the Wild Beyond

Aug 15, 2024

“Through a dynamic use of materials such as bones, shells, beads, sand, and rocks, the artist constructs textures, gestures, and rhythms that reflect on the human condition as inherently disorderly and fluid—a poignant response to the idea that humans are fixed, contained beings. Choreographing the histories, movements and stories of her materials together in different figurations,
Uplifting the historic value of materials in her offerings, such as trade beads and cowrie shells, Guterson engages with and investigates traditional notions of her African ancestry. Originating from European traders, these beads served as currency, adornment, and symbolism in African cultures; cowries played similar roles, also used for divination and rituals.
Central to the featured body of work are the shaped panels that channel avenues of wayfinding, placemaking, and honoring. Inspired by the Jewish tradition of laying specially selected stones on the graves of loved ones that overtime develop cairns, the forms symbolize a permanence of memory and allow for spiritual communication.”

*Climbing Higher Mountains* oil, acrylic, glass seed beads, African coconut shell, sand, steel wire on canvas 84x48

Working on unprimed canvas allows its texture to remain while providing the surface for a Frankenthaler-esque soak-stain background granting depth and movement. Copper, black and silver beads track across the warm, sienna construction.

*At the End of Daybreak* oil, acrylic, glass seed beads, crushed quartz, bone, shell, sand, wood beads, African coconut shell, steel, wire, sawdust on canvas 84x48. Image courtesy of the gallery

At the End of Daybreak‘s colorations are arranged to the right with hot pink beads effervescent on mars black. The left’s monochrome is broken through a web of tiny bits of quartz, bone and shell.

*Didn’t It Rain?* oil, acrylic, cotton thread, glass seed beads, bone, shell, sand, wood beads, crushed quartz, glitter, African coconut shell, African fish bone, steel wire, sawdust on canvas 84x48

The viewer becomes mentally submerged in Didn't it Rain? Evenly distributed beaded kelp and coral accompany tightly packed buttoned barnacles embedded along the stretcher’s edges completing the virtual dive.

*Dark Was the Night #3* acrylic, glass seed beads, crushed quartz, glitter, African coconut shell, steel wire on canvas 24x36

Guterson offers a few smaller works with metronome pattering. Fringed shapes read like watery centipedes dancing entwined across the page.

Newly graduated from Cranbrook Academy of Art, Guterson’s tenure there reveals an evolution from small, exclusively black and white pieces to stacked large-scale paint-saturated canvases. Her familiar shaped canvases with their fastidious intricacy connects previous to rescripted.

“I am thinking about brokenness, refusal, and fugitivity,” she expresses. “And because I do not yet feel at home in my body and I am not yet fluent in the mother tongue of my spirit, I struggle to articulate that for which there is no language.” —Olivia Guterson

On view through September 4^th at Louis Buhl & Co 1260 Library Street (Alley) Detroit

*images are mine unless otherwise noted

direct quote from gallery materials

Real Art Detroit is offering a new support level where a gallery or individual may contribute $250/year or more therefore distinguishing themselves as FRIENDS OF DETROIT ART who will be listed every week after the Shows Open Link List. Much gratitude for the Janice Charach Gallery in their initiation of this Founding Member Level. You can join them by clicking the link below, enter any amount beginning at $250 in the Founding Member section and you will be added to the list next week! Thank You!

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