“It’s Okay,” by Katelyn Evans, is one of two solo shows to be featured at the BOX Gallery in Summit Artspace, starting Jan. 19.
The BOX Gallery in downtown Akron is hosting two solo shows from Friday, Jan. 19 through Saturday, Feb. 17: “In The Dark and The Day,” by Emily Duke and “Be Good,” by Katelyn Evans.
The public may meet the artists at an opening reception on Friday, Jan. 19, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the BOX Gallery.
Emily Duke earned a master’s degree at the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University in 2016 and a bachelor’s degree from the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, in 2009. Her work has been shown nationally in Texas, Georgia, Florida, and other states across the country. Duke has been featured in Hyperallergic, Ceramics Monthly Magazine, THE Magazine, and the Akron Beacon Journal. She is a current faculty member at Kent State University.
The work exhibited in Duke’s solo is a reflection on themes of modern design, closely looking to seminal historic objects and events: the Charles and Ray Eames walnut stool series of 1960, Eliel Saarinen’s “Room for a Lady” exhibited at the The Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1934, and the archetype of the ever-evolving dressing table throughout the 1900s. Her interest lies in the complicated relationship between modernism and the space of the home. The mixture of these reference points has led Duke to the inclusion of handmade gridded ceramic tiles, light fixtures, fabrics and mirrors to emulate a utopic domestic space.
Katelyn Evans is a multi-disciplinary artist rooted in formal exaggeration—vibrant colors, simplified and abstracted shapes and patterns— while exploring the everyday and personal interests. Primarily working in screen-printing and collage, the artist seeks inventive ways to push the material beyond fine art practices to create playful and inviting pieces. Evans’ work has been exhibited locally as she completes her final semester at Kent State University for a bachelor’s in Art Education with a minor in Printmaking.
Emily Duke, a Kent State University faculty member, will display a solo show at the BOX Gallery, called “In The Dark and The Day.” The exhibit opens Jan. 19.
“Be Good” emerged from a creative block of sarcastically drawn explorations of symbols and phrases. Evans became lured by these phrases because of their universal, catchall intentions that can apply to many things but relate to people differently.
In her creative process, Evans began to pair the phrases with her visual language, and this combination became her entryway into exploring drawing in printmaking. Her featured works include uniquely made monoprints, a temporary wall drawing and a special silkscreen zine in a limited-edition of 40. These pieces showcase her creative process and connects the theme of her work.
The BOX Gallery also will be open on Saturday, Feb. 3 for the Akron Artwalk, from 5 to 9 p.m. in addition to its regular hours. Admission is free and open to the public.
In 1978, Artists of Rubber City (AoRC) was founded by a group of University of Akron art students looking for places to display their work and for a way to stay connected. AoRC is a member-based visual arts nonprofit with the mission to advocate for contemporary artists and Ohio art. The BOX Gallery, which opened in 2009, is an artist-run gallery owned by the Artists of Rubber City. Gallery exhibit proposals are open to the public and may be acquired at the gallery or at ArtistsofRubberCity.org. Accepted artist and curator proposals have the opportunity to be featured in two exhibition spaces: the Big BOX and the small box.
