Esther Solondz: So Lightly THere

On View: January 5 - 27, 2017
Reception: Friday, January 5, 6 - 8pm

In her home in New Hampshire, where Solondz spends the summers, she started noticing more closely the remnants and traces of animals and insects. Ants would invade her mudroom and crows were eating her berries. Instead of working to extinguish their existence, she used them to create art. She placed paper on the ground onto which she placed paper cups full of sugar water. The ants would be attracted to the sugar water, get trapped in the cups, and the crows would then come and eat the ants. When the sugar water was gone and the ants had all been eaten, Solondz found tracks and marks surrounding the cups. It was, in essence, a performance, the residue from which became the art.

Barley There/Ant Collaboration (process documentation)

2017, marks on paper on panel, 18×26”

Barely There/Ant Collaboration

2017, marks on paper on panel, 18×26”

Falling Apples (process documentation)

2017, marks on paper on panel, 23.5×29”

Falling Apples

2017, marks on paper on panel, 23.5×29”

Crow Collaboration (process documentation)

2017, marks on paper on panel, 17.5×19.5”

Crow Collaboration

2017, marks on paper on panel, 17.5×19.5”

Pond Drawing (water bugs) (process documentation)

2017, marks on paper on panel, 19.5×17.5”

Pond Drawing (water bug)

2017, marks on paper on panel, 19.5×17.5”

Woodpecker Collaboration

2017, wood on panel, 24×19.5”

Rain Drawing (daylillies)

2017, marks on paper on panel, 27.5×22”

Milkweed Tower

2017, milkweed, monofilament, 7’x30”

Rose Petal Tower

2017, marks on paper on panel, 24×18”

Fingerprints (anonymous prints left on dorrways)

2017, marks on paper on panel, 25.5×31.5”

Tower of Roses with Mica

2017, Mica and marks on paper on panel, 33×24.5”

Silicone Towers

2017, silicone, thread, wire, sizes variable

Glass Cylinders

2017, various materials growing in solution, sizes variable

Rust and Salt Tower

2017, rust and salt crystals on wrapped iron wool, 10×7×7”

Mud Towers

2017, earth cobb, sizes variable

Girl's Head

2017, carved soap, 5×3.5×2”

Esther Solondz

Esther Solondz work examines relationships between the past and the present and between our ordinary plane of existence and others.

Solondz's work is in the collections of the Harvard University Art Museums, the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, and the Museum of Art, Rhode Island School of Design.