Blog #8. October 22, 2022
On Friday October 21st, Marta Smith's solo show opened at the Alter Works Studios, 30-09 35th Avenue, in Long Island City, Queens. It will be on view 12 to 9 daily until November 4th. The title of the show is based on a Greek expression Ωραια Μερα - Beautiful Day. To quote from the written explanation Marta provided
The Greeks coined the word for beautiful (ωραίος) from the word for time (ώρα). In a sense, then, beautiful is what is timely. Like August figs or Autumn persimmons. Or perhaps shaped by time. Like rocks on the shore and pebbles on the beach. Sometimes beautiful is what takes time. Like clay slowly taking shape, then hardening into a pot.
Art is engagement with time, ultimately, whether it is itself timeless or ephemeral (from ημέρα/μέρα, by the way: lasting only for a day). In any case, it was about time this ωραία μέρα came, when I have the joy of presenting some of my new work at the Studio, hoping you will find it, well, ωραία.
~ Marta Smith
The show includes of watercolors, pen drawings, acrylic arrangements (some of them in blues that reminded the Aegean Sea colors) and ceramic bisque non-glazed bowls as well as some glazed and salt fired smaller pots.
Alter Works Studios is a communal work area that offers artists a multitude of resources and tools to create artwork of all disciplines. Access is based on membership. There are ceramic art classes, sewing, woodworking, a dark room spaces. Artists can also benefit from residency opportunities. The studios were founded by Tina Stipanovic, an accomplished potter with an MFA from Parsons, as a major resource for contemporary artists, helping them create new work and advance their careers by offering them access to affordable workspace, tools, classes, workshops and public exposure.
Marta's show will be up until November 4th and art workshops are on-going at Alter Work Studios.
Catherineabramsartworks.com
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