Community members are invited to a free reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, celebrating the opening of two new solo exhibitions at ArtYard in Frenchtown, N.J.
“Kendall Buster: What Blooms” and “Lucia Monge: While a Leaf Breathes” (Mientras una Hoja Respira) submerge visitors in the artists’ distinctive dreamlike visions of a future where balance with nature is restored.
Also opening is “You Come to Life,” the second ArtYard and Studio Route 29 collaborative exhibition. It features works by artists BJ Armour and Ricky Bearghost, who are supported by progressive studios Studio Route 29 in Frenchtown, N.J. and Elbow Room in Portland, Ore.
Curated by ArtYard Artistic Director Elsa Mora, “What Blooms” is a solo exhibition of Buster’s work comprised of two new sculptural installations and an ongoing drawing project reflecting the artist’s interest in the merging of organic forms with speculative built spaces. Operating as scale models for imaginary buildings and a cataloging of curious specimens, these works are informed at once by dreamed places and biological morphologies. It is on view until Jan. 21.
An artist talk with friends and fellow artists Kendall Buster, Ledelle Moe, and Siemon Allen is at 2 p.m. Sunday. Following the talk, which begins at ArtYard’s McDonnell Theater, Buster and Moe will lead a tour of “What Blooms” and “Monuments.” The five large-scale outdoor works “Monuments” comprises were created by Moe, a South African-based artist. This is Moe’s first visit to Frenchtown since the installation of the works was completed in fall 2021.
Also curated by Mora, “While a Leaf Breathes” (Mientras una Hoja Respira) is a solo exhibition about plant respiration by Monge, an Amherst-based Peruvian artist whose work explores the ways humans position themselves within the natural world and relate to other living beings, especially plants. The exhibition explores life cycles and material transformations happening both on the duration of an exhale and on the kind of timescales that measure soil growth.
The works are composed of materials created in collaboration with other species, such as fungi, algae, bacteria, and plants, along with biodegradable glues, dyes, and stitches that bind the work together. It is on view through Jan. 28.
During a gallery talk at 11 a.m. Sunday, Monge will guide visitors on a walk through the gallery as she provides insights into the works she created for the exhibition. The talk begins at the first-floor River Gallery.
“You Come To Life” brings to ArtYard two artists whose works give form to stories and histories of places remembered, imagined, and dreamt. Armour is an artist, musician, and performer from Lambertville, N.J. In rhythm with the spell-like rapture of his dreaming, Armour’s drawings and paintings bring into this world lovingly entangled visions of another world, in which pop culture heroes, loved ones living and no longer, alter-egos, and his own powers to move through time offer companionship, love, affirmation, and agency.
Bearghost lives in Portland and is a member of the Three Affiliated Tribes — the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation. In his woven work, Bearghost gathers together objects that refer to places and people of importance to his life. Curated by Studio Route 29, “You Come to Life” is on view through Jan. 28.
Registration for the opening and the two artist talks is requested. For information, please visit www.artyard.org.
ArtYard is located at 13 Front St., Frenchtown. Free public hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday and late night Thursdays until 7 p.m.
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